Hair Loss in Angora Goats - Hypersensitivity Dermatitis
By Dr Mackie Hobson BSc(Agric),BVSc

A case of hair loss (alopecia) in 1500 Angora goats was investigated in the Aberdeen district in May 2020.

1550 Angora goats had been grazing peppadew lands in May 2020 after they had been frosted. The goats were coming up to their 6 month shearing. The adult goats grazed for 10 days and the young goats 4 days when the hair started falling out. The young goats experienced a far greater loss of hair than the adults and nearly all the goats were effected with some being totally bald.

The peppadews had leaves and green peppers which had not ripened yet (see Angora goats in peppadew land below).

The goats had previously been treated with expel plus and Eraditick 250 and on examination no external parasites were present. The hair broke easily when pulled by hand at the skin surface.

See video below

Skin scraping and skin biopsies were taken for microscopic examination, culture and histopathology.

Results:

Culture and microscopic examination: only contaminants were identified.

The histopathology report: Hypersensitivity dermatitis suspected.

Although hypersensitivity dermatitis can be caused by external parasites (not identified in this case), contact, environmental (atopy) and adverse food reactions can be the cause of hypersensitivity dermatitis.

With the clinical history, examination, pathology and culture results the Hypersensitivity dermatitis was very likely due to the peppadews.