Goat

A protocol of human animal interaction to habituate young sheep and goats for behavioural studies

Animal habituation is key to obtain reliable data on behavioural studies but detailed procedures to achieve it are scarce. This study designed a set of actions to habituate sheep and goats to human observers. Pelibuey sheep (n = 15) and Criollo goats...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Goat, Sheep

Citation: González-Pech, P. G., Marín-Tun, C. G., Valladares-González, D.A. et al. 2018. A protocol of human animal interaction to habituate young sheep and goats for behavioural studies. Behavioural Processes 157, 632-637.

Effects of flooring surface and a supplemental heat source on location preference, behaviour and growth rates of dairy goat kids

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different flooring surfaces and a supplemental heat source (heat lamps) on location preference, behaviour and growth rate of dairy goat kids. Eighty female Saanen kids were enrolled in the...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Sutherland, M. A., Lowe, G. L., Cox, N. R. et al. 2019. Effects of flooring surface and a supplemental heat source on location preference, behaviour and growth rates of dairy goat kids. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 217, 36-42.

Dairy goat usage of flooring types varied by material, slope and slat width

Barn flooring and bedding management are two critical issues in intensive dairy goat facilities. This study aimed at identifying the most appropriate seasonal floorings through observation of the behavioral characteristics of dairy goats. Four different trials were carried out in...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Tölü, C., Savaş, T. 2019. Dairy goat usage of flooring types varied by material, slope and slat width. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 215, 37-44.

How can we assess positive welfare in ruminants?

Until now, most research has focused on the development of indicators of negative welfare, and relatively few studies provide information on valid, reliable, and feasible indicators addressing positive aspects of animal welfare. However, a lack of suffering does not guarantee...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Mattiello, S., Battini, M., De Rosa, G. et al. 2019. How can we assess positive welfare in ruminants? Animals 9(10), 758.

Dairy goats use outdoor runs of high quality more regardless of the quality of indoor housing

For dairy goats in loose housing, access to an outdoor run has potential welfare benefits as it provides additional space, enables spatial separation and may offer items representing behavioural enrichment for the goats (e.g. brush, climbing possibilities). However, these benefits...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Stachowicz, J., Gygax, L., Hillmann, E. et al. 2018. Dairy goats use outdoor runs of high quality more regardless of the quality of indoor housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 208, 22-30.

Dairy goats prefer to use different flooring types to perform different behaviours

Flooring is an important component of indoor housing systems for livestock as it can impact animal hygiene and welfare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the lying and elimination preferences of goats, as well as their relative...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Sutherland, M. A., Lowe, G. L., Watson, T. J. et al. 2017. Dairy goats prefer to use different flooring types to perform different behaviours. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 197, 24-31.

The use of qualitative behaviour assessment for the on-farm welfare assessment of dairy goats

This research investigated whether using qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) with a fixed list of descriptors may be related to quantitative animal- (ABM) and resource-based (RBM) measures included in the AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators) welfare assessment prototype protocol for goats, tested...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Battini, M., Barbieri, S., Vieira, A. et al. 2018. The use of qualitative behaviour assessment for the on-farm welfare assessment of dairy goats. Animals 8(7), 123.

Technical contribution: evaluation of the efficacy of a non-penetrating captive bolt to euthanase dairy goat kids up to 30 days of age

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-penetrating captive bolt (NPCB) to euthanase previously disbudded Saanen dairy goat kids (Capra hircus) up to 30 days of age and 9 kg bodyweight. Goats were euthanased by...

Year Published: 2017Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Sutherland, M. A., Watson, T. J., Millman, S. T. 2017. Technical contribution: evaluation of the efficacy of a non-penetrating captive bolt to euthanase dairy goat kids up to 30 days of age. Animal Welfare 26(3), 277-280.

Some behavioral and physiological changes in pregnant goats and sheep during adaptation to laboratory conditions

Tame sheep and goats have more normal serum concentrations of cortisol than untame animals. They also do not show elevations in heart rates and plasma cortisol concentrations when they are handled. The adjustment to the stress associated with experimental conditions...

Year Published: 1976Animal Type: Goat, Sheep

Citation: Pearson, R. A., Mellor, D. J. 1976. Some behavioral and physiological changes in pregnant goats and sheep during adaptation to laboratory conditions. Research in Veterinary Science 20, 215-217.

Behavioral responses of short-term isolation in sheep and goats

Behavioral stress responses to social deprivation are described.

Year Published: 1980Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Goat, Sheep

Citation: Price, E. O., Thos, J. 1980. Behavioral responses of short-term isolation in sheep and goats. Applied Animal Ethology (Applied Animal Behaviour Science) 6(4), 331-339.