Goat Eyelid Color Chart

6. Immediately hold the FAMACHA color chart next to the exposed eyelid and compare the color of the animal's membrane to the color blocks on the card. Do this in good light (preferably natural daylight).

Decide which color category (1 through 5) the eye color matches best. Honestly, FAMACHA is a very simple method of observing and recording the color of the individual goats mucous membranes. The inside lower lid of the eye is the easiest and most available to check, and that is where the testing is done.

If you're a goat owner, you probably know this feeling: a routine check of eyelid color turns into an emergency situation when you pull the lid down and it reveals a pale, unhealthy color; or worse, the lid is white! FAMACHA scoring is the scoring of the color of inner eyelids to gauge the worm. The FAMACHA© card, developed in South Africa, was introduced to the U.S. by the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (www.acsrpc.org).

It is a tool that matches the color of the eye mucous membranes of small ruminants with a laminated color chart showing 5 color categories that correspond to different levels of anemia. Category 1 represents "not anemic" with category 5. Dr.

Faffa Malan developed a five color FAMACHA scoring chart that corresponds to a sheep or goat's bottom eyelid color. Pale pink to white indicates anemia; the animal should be dewormed. It is based on a simple, color-coded chart that correlates the color of a goat's lower eyelid with levels of anemia.

The redder and healthier the eyelid, the less likely the goat is anemic, meaning fewer or no parasites. Conversely, pale or white eyelids indicate anemia and potential parasite overload, meaning the goat may require treatment. A chart of five different colors, it corresponds directly to the color of a goat or sheep's lower eyelid.

If your sheep's eyelids are pale pink to white, they are severely anemic and need to be dewormed ASAP. A color chart system developed to use with the checking of the inner lower eyelid allows the goat owner to quickly identify the need to treat for parasites. 5 Point Check* System - Developed to be used with the FAMACHA* system.

A. FAMACHA© is a color eye chart that estimates the level of anemia (blood loss) in sheep/goats (and camelids). Anemia is the primary symptom of barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) infection.

It is also a symptom of liver fluke disease. The FAMACHA© card displays five color and treatment categories. The FAMACHA© eye color chart system was developed in South Africa to help producers monitor and evaluate the level of anemia without having to rely on laboratory testing.

In this method, the lower eyelid mucous membranes are examined and compared to a laminated color chart bearing pictures of sheep eyes at five different levels of anemia..