@article {3672,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Investigating the pattern of lameness in dairy goats across the first two years of life},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {35-38},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Lameness is a painful condition with significant welfare and economic implications. There are few data about the high-risk periods of lameness in dairy goats, therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate how lameness occurrence changes across the first two years of life. Eighty female goats of approximately five months of age were enrolled. Gait-scoring assessments were completed at 9, 13, 17, 21 and 25 months of age. Gait scores were assigned using a 5-point gait scoring system. As there were a low number of 3, 4 or 5 gait scores recorded, a binary outcome variable was created to compare non-lame (score 1) to an impaired gait (score >= 2). A logistic regression (PROC GLIMMIX) was used to test if there was a difference in the proportion of goats with an impaired gait among assessments. When compared with the nine-month assessment, the odds of a goat having an impaired gait were greater by a factor of 2.15 (95\% CI: 1.02 {\textendash} 4.54, P<0.05) at the 13-month assessment and 3.79 (95\% CI: 1.90 {\textendash} 7.57, P<0.001) at the 25-month assessment; as these assessments were both following kidding events, this suggests that parturition may increase the risk of lameness in dairy goats.


Keywords: gait score; uneven gait; impaired gait; parturition; welfare},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Deeming L and Beausoleil NJ and Stafford KJ and Webster J and Zobel G}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {Changes in rumination behaviour after abrupt or diluted-milk weaning methods in goat kids},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {77},
	year = {2017},
	month = {06/2017},
	pages = {161-163},
	address = {Rotorua},
	abstract = {Rumination development is vital during weaning, when kids are transitioning from a reliance on milk to hard feeds.  This study analysed rumination behaviour prior to, and following, two weaning methods: abrupt milk removal, and dilution of milk with water; both are common weaning practices on farm. We hypothesised that the dilution weaning method would better prepare kids to cope with the transition to full rumination. Thirty, 13-week-old Saanen cross goat kids were housed in pens of five. Two kids were nominated, for observation, from six pens (n=6/treatment). Kids had free choice access to hay, straw, water and a pelleted ration. Rumination behaviour was continuously recorded for two 24 h periods, before weaning and after weaning. Weaning treatment had no effect on rumination behaviour, though, both daily rumination time and number of boli regurgitated increased following weaning (3.6 vs. 5{\textpm}0.4 h/d, and 289 vs. 403{\textpm}29 boli/day). Rumination may be unaffected by using either weaning method, provided the kids have had access to forages and are not weaned too early. Early development of rumination allows kids to cope with milk removal and the switch to solid food, and quantifying its development is important to create best practice guidelines for the weaning period.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Freeman HBR and Webster JR and Zobel G}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Immediate removal of dairy goat kids from the doe as a strategy to manage colostrum intake},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {76},
	year = {2016},
	month = {07/2016},
	pages = {169-171},
	address = {Adelaide},
	abstract = {An impeded transfer of antibodies between the
maternal and fetal circulatory system results in goat kids
lacking immunity at birth (Hurley \& Theil 2011). The
dam{\textquoteright}s colostrum, which supplies energy, nutrients and
growth hormones, also passively provides immunity via
immunoglobulin G (IgG) (Hurley \& Theil 2011). Without
colostrum, morbidity and mortality increases (O{\textquoteright}Brien \&
Sherman 1993). Unfortunately, colostrum is also a source
of disease, such as caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE)
(Reina et al. 2009). Therefore, removal of the offspring
prior to maternal colostrum transfer is often practiced
(Reina et al. 2009) because it allows for feeding alternative,
disease-free colostrum. For goats, colostrum alternatives
include: bovine, heat-treated caprine, and artificial bovinebased
replacer. While incorrect heat-treatment can reduce
IgG content (Tyler et al. 2000) and some artificial replacers
fail to improve immunity acquisition (Constant et al.
1994), few adverse effects (e.g. reduced kid survival) of
these alternatives have been noted (MacKenzie et al. 1987;
Moretti et al. 2012).
Worldwide, farmers are attempting kid removal and
alternative colostrum feeding, but it is not known to what
extent this practice occurs, nor how successful farmers
are at preventing colostrum ingestion from the doe. Since
bovine and caprine IgG can be measured in serum, presence
or absence of either can help determine the colostrum type
ingested. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to:
1) determine the prevalence of immediate kid removal,
and 2) compare the farmer-reported percentage of kids
successfully removed to the percentage of kids with caprine
serum IgG (an indicator of doe colostrum ingested).},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Zobel G and Tan BL and Deeming L}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Variability in growth rates of goat kids on 16 New Zealand dairy goat farms},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {76},
	year = {2016},
	month = {07/2016},
	pages = {137-138},
	address = {Adelaide},
	abstract = {Average daily weight gains (ADG) in early life are
associated with health, welfare and future production
potential of dairy animals. While this has yet to be
established for goats, research in cows demonstrates a
positive relationship between growth in early life and milk
production (Shamay et al. 2005, Soberon et al. 2012). Early
growth rates are largely determined by the management
practices from birth onwards. It is therefore unsurprising
that large differences in ADG under different management
systems have been reported. In lambs, Mahgoub et al.
(2000) reported a large range in ADG (84-154 g/day).
Similarly, in calves, Bartlett et al. (2006) reported ADGs
ranging from 251 g/day to 703 g/day. The ADGs reported
in goats have not been as variable (152-170 g/day: Galina
et al. 1995; 167-173 g/day: Goetsch et al. 2001); however,
these were small, controlled studies. To our knowledge,
no research has yet quantified variability in the ADG of
goat kids on a large, multi-farm scale. Therefore, the aim
of this study was to describe the variation in growth rates
on multiple dairy goat farms in the Waikato region of NZ,
providing a benchmark for dairy goat farmers.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Deeming LE and Beausoleil NJ and Stafford KJ and Webster JR and Zobel G}
}
