Do you need prescriptions for your goat chemicals?
Key points
- Prescriptions are required for all Schedule 4 products (antibiotics, hormones, injectable pain relief) and for off-label use of drenches.
- Goats always need higher drench doses than sheep – even if a drench is sold over the counter, you still need a prescription.
- Withholding periods are essential to protect food safety and industry reputation.
- Work with your veterinarian to ensure you have the right prescriptions and records in place.
The use of chemicals for livestock management has become an integral part of raising healthy and happy animals, disease management, feed efficacy and animal welfare.
In Australia, many chemicals are registered for use in cattle or sheep but as goats are considered a ‘minor’ species, chemicals can require prescriptions.
Registering a product for goats requires extensive research into safety, efficacy, and residue testing – which is costly. As a result, many products are only registered in sheep or cattle, leaving goats reliant on veterinary prescriptions for off-label use.
What is considered off-label use?When a product is used on a species in a different dose or way that is not on the label, this is called off-label use. By law, off-label use requires a veterinary prescription in every Australian state and territory. For more information on your responsibilities, contact your local agricultural authority. Examples of off-label use in goats:
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How do I get a prescription?
A prescription is a written document from a veterinarian that allows you to legally use certain scheduled medications or chemicals. These include antibiotics, hormones, injectable pain relief, and other veterinary medicines. Your veterinarian tailors the prescription to your herd or a specific animal. It will detail:
- the correct dose
- how often to administer the product
- the withholding period.
In order to receive a prescription, you must have a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship. The specifics of requirements vary:
- by state or territory – each jurisdiction has its own regulations
- by veterinarian – some vets require herd visits every six months, others annually, and some at every animal health issue.
Your veterinarian will advise what applies in your situation.
Withholding periods – why they matter
Withholding periods ensure that animal products (meat, milk, fibre) entering the human food supply are free from unsafe chemical residues. They are linked to government-set maximum residue limits.
If residues from antibiotics, drenches, or other medicines are found in goat products, this can:
- pose risks to human health (e.g. antibiotic resistance)
- damage consumer confidence
- lead to serious consequences for the goat industry (e.g. market access and trade restrictions).
Audits and compliance
To ensure guidelines and requirements are met, producers may be subject to audits and will need to provide copies of prescriptions for their herd. Keeping accurate records protects both your business and the industry.
If you would like to discuss chemical use for your goats, please reach out to Dr Marisa Wood DVM.
