Document Type : Research article
Authors
1
Dept. of Hygiene & Zoonoses, Fac. Vet. Med., Alex. Univ.
2
Dept. of AnimalHusbandry, Fac. Vet. Med., Alex Univ.
3
Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Fac. Vet. Med., Alex. Univ.
Abstract
Thirty male and thirty female goats, 8-12 months of age, reared in the goat project belonging to Animal Husbandry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University were allotted into two groups, each consists of thirty goats, 15 males and 15 females. One group was subjected to clipping of their coats and the second was kept as control. Behaviour was observed and blood serum cortisol was estimated to know the ability of existence in different situations to improve their welfare and to test their performance. The obtained results revealed that clipping resulted in significant increase in feeding and rumination times. Furthermore, clipped goat spent more time resting than unclipped ones. Standing and walking frequencies were significantly increased, however, running was found to be decreased. Except resting and running, all these behaviours were influenced by sex, in favour to males, however, the differences were not significant. Social interaction between members of the flock was found to altered by clipping, where clashing frequency was significantly increased. On the other hand, vocalization and sneezing frequencies were significantly decreased. However, these behaviours were significantly higher in males than females. Clipping was found to increase body care activities since clipped animals had, significantly higher tail wagging, ear flicking, pawing, scratching and rubbing. Moreover, males were engaged in great deal of rubbing, tail wagging, ear flicking and pawing than females. Blood serum cortisol level was significantly higher in clipped than unclipped goats and in males than in females. Generally, reducing a heat stress by clipping of goat's coat resulted in significantly higher weight gain and body weight, although at the start of the experiment the average weight of control group was higher than clipped group.
Keywords
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