Answer to Dr. Broughton’s Mystery Photo- June 2021
What’s your diagnosis? Goiter
Cause? Iodine deficiency or toxicity
Comment: The cause of this abortion is attributed to hypothyroidism secondary to hyperplastic goiter. Adequate thyroid hormone production is required for normal fetal development. The most common cause of goiter in goats is feed deficient in iodine. Goitrogenic compounds include plants in the Brassicaceae family (white clover, rape, kale, broccoli), couch grass (Cynoden), and linseed meal. There are several sheep and goat breeds that are known to carry autosomal recessive genes associated with inherited dyshormonogenic goiter, including Corriedale, Dorset Horn, Merino, and Romney sheep breeds, along with Saaneen dwarf goats.