Juvenile goiter in a herd of goats in Northwest Germany

A continuous increase in the circumference of the thyroid gland was observe d in four goat kids (44.4%) of the breed of White German Goat between the t hird and fourth month in a herd comprising White German Goats and Coloured German Goats. Clinical, laboratory diagnostic and chemically analytical res ults have been obtained illustrated and compared with the equivalent parame ters from healthy control herds without pathological findings. The thyroid secretion rate and the milk iodine content were highly significant reduced in the affected flock in comparison with the control group. The feed which was given to the affected group did not cover the nutritional requirement o f pregnant, lactating and growing goats. At 40-50 mg/l, the nitrate content of the water was close to the tolerance of 50 mg/l. It can be deduced from the findings available that the case described above is a synergetic combi nation of a primary iodine deficiency, based on an inefficient iodine suppl y and of a secondary iodine defiency resulting from a superelevated nitrate content of the drinking water.