Thermoregulatory responses of Alpine goats during thermal stress

Eight non-lactating Alpine goats, averaging 57kg, were paired according to weight and assigned randomly to 2 groups of 4 animals, control (CG) and treatment (TG) with feed and water ad libitum. An adjustment period of 7 days with all animals at thermoneutral conditions was followed by a 28-day period when TG was exposed to air temperatures averaging 35.0 degrees C, from 0800 to 1700h, including simulated solar radiation, and thermoneutral conditions from 2700 to 0800h. CG remained under thermoneutral conditions. Respiratory frequency was greater, tidal volume lower, and respiratory minute volume greater for TG than CG (176 vs 30 breaths/min, P<.001, 105 vs 293ml, P<.01; 18.4 vs 9.21, P<.05). Respiratory evaporation and sweating rate as well as rectal and skin temperatures were greater for TG than CG (14.59 vs 6.32 kcal h(-1), P<.01; 43.97 vs.00 g m(-2) h(-1), P<.001; 40.0 vs 38.9 degrees C, P<.001; 39.3 vs 35.8 degrees C, P<.01). There was no difference between groups for hematocrit and feed intake, but water consumption was greater for stressed goats than control ones (28.3 vs 29.7%; 1.44 vs 1.49 kg/day; 3.07 vs 1.26 I/day, P<.05), Final body weights of both groups were similar to initial ones. It was concluded that non-lactating goats tolerated well a 35 degrees C day temperature which is 5 degrees C above the upper critical temperature, with a black-globe temperature of 39.1 degrees C and a Botsball temperature of 28.3 degrees C, though a certain degree of hyperthermia may occur, as long as thermoneutral conditions have prevailed during the night.

Water balance in goats under feed restriction

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mineral requirements for growth of Moxoto goats grazing in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of luteal function in goats by ultrasonographic image attribute analysis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Botulism by Clostridium botulinum type C in goats associated with osteophagia

An outbreak of botulism was detected in goats in the semiarid region of Brazil. In a flock of 460 goats, 38 does were affected and 37 died. Kids and younger goats were not affected. The main clinical signs were flaccid tetraparesis leading to tetraplegia that was often accompanied by twisted neck, tongue paralysis, and muscle tremors. At the time of the visit, 4 out of 11 affected goats were recumbent. Ambulatory goats had uncoordinated and swaying gaits with hypometria and weakness, mainly of the hind limbs. Two recumbent and four ambulatory goats showed twisted neck. Two recumbent goats were euthanized and necropsied. Non-significant gross and histologic lesions were observed. Samples of the liver, gut and rumen content were collected from the two goats and examined for botulinum toxins using the mouse serum neutralization test. The three samples from one goat were positive for type C toxin. Marked osteophagia was observed when the goats had access to bones in the pasture, and the farmer mentioned that osteophagia was common among goats of the flock. A sample of the plant Hybantus ipecaconha, the most abundant forage available for the goats, contained 2800 mg/kg of Ca and 450 mg/kg of P. One soil sample contained 58.12 mg/kg of Ca and 2.02 mg/kg of P. It was concluded that in this outbreak, botulism was associated with osteophagia probably due to phosphorus deficiency. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Daily sperm production and testicular morphometry in goats according to external scrotal conformation

The present study aimed to compare testicular histology and the testicular cell population as well as spermatogenic efficiency in goats with different scrotal conformations. Eighteen goats were divided into 3 groups: Group I - goats without bipartition of the scrotum, Group II - animals with bipartition of the scrotum up to 50% of the testicular length, Group III - goats with scrotal bipartition more than 50% of the testicular length. In goats in Groups I, II and III, the values for the volume density of seminiferous epithelium were 68.9 +/- 0.6%, 71.5 +/- 2.8% and 73.4 +/- 4.7% (P < 0.05), the height of the seminiferous epithelium were 60.2 +/- 4.9 mu m, 61.0 +/- 5.0 mu m and 73.1 +/- 6.6 mu m (P < 0.05), total length of seminiferous tubules found for Groups I, II and III were 2091.9 +/- 27 m, 2172.5 +/- 24.1 m, and 2340.1 14 m (P < 0.05), number of Sertoli and Leydig cells were 1.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(9) and 1.4 +/- 0.1 x 10(9), 2.2 +/- 0.4 and 2.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(9), and 2.5 +/- 0.1 10(9) and 2.3 +/- 0.510(9)(P < 0.05)and daily sperm production observed were 2.1 0.3 x 109, 2.8 0.4 x 109, and 3.1 0.7 x 109 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, goats with greater scrotal bipartition have a greater capacity to produce reproductive cells that is reflected in a greater reproductive potential. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fetal and maternal lesions of cyanide dosing to pregnant goats

The present work evaluated the pathological effects in both dams and their fetuses of cyanide ingestion during pregnancy using goat as animal model. From the Day 24 of pregnancy, three pregnant goats were dosed by gavage with 3.0 mg KCN/kg bw/day, and two others received only tap water. All dams were euthanized and necropsied at Day 120 of pregnancy. The fetuses were examined carefully for gross abnormalities. Determinations of cyanide and thiocyanate were performed in maternal and fetal blood and in amniotic fluid. Samples of several organs were collected for histopathologic evaluation. No clinical changes were seen in any animal throughout the pregnancy. No malformations or dead fetuses were observed: however, placenta from one treated goat presented increased cotyledon surface area occupied by vascular lumina. Histological lesions in KCN-treated dams consisted of vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, increased number of vacuoles on thyroid follicular colloid. and spongiosis of cerebral, internal capsule, and cerebellar peduncles tracts. Fetuses from these mothers showed vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, and spheroids in the cerebellar white matter. Levels of cyanide and thiocyanate were higher in maternal than fetal blood, which suggests that these substances were largely but not freely transferred from mothers to fetuses. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution of a Robertsonian translocation in goats

Two hundred and five animals were cytogenetically studied. They were related to a male goat called 'Harald', imported from Switzerland, who was a t 5 15 chromosomic translocation carrier. 29.27% of the analyzed animals were heterozygous and 4.88% were homozygous. All carrying animals were found in Botucatu, Limeira and São Manuel city in Brazil. Descendants of this buck were sold in several regions of Brazil, and may have spread this aberration. © 1992.