Search Results (184)

Background: Environmental enrichment is a promising strategy to improve the welfare of dairy goats and sheep. However, studies in this field remain scattered, and its effects on productivity are unclear. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, physiological, and productive parameters in dairy goats and sheep. Data sources: Scopus and Web of Science were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2025. Study eligibility criteria: Experimental or observational peer-reviewed studies comparing enriched vs. non-enriched housing in dairy goats or sheep, reporting on welfare or productivity outcomes. Methods: This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO framework. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed with the SYRCLE tool. Results: Thirteen studies were included, mostly with goats. Physical, sensory, and social enrichments showed benefits for behavior (e.g., activity, fewer stereotypies) and stress physiology. However, results varied by social rank, enrichment type, and physiological stage. Only three studies assessed productive parameters (weight gain in kids/lambs); none evaluated milk yield or quality. Limitations: Most studies had small samples and short durations. No meta-analysis was conducted due to heterogeneity. Conclusions: Environmental enrichment can benefit the welfare of dairy goats and sheep. However, evidence on productivity is scarce. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate its cost-effectiveness and potential impacts on milk yield and reproductive performance. Full article

This study optimized the cryopreservation protocol for cashmere goat semen by testing centrifugation speeds (750, 1000, 1250, 1500 rpm) for seminal plasma removal and L-proline concentrations (10, 30, 50 mmol/L) in a freezing extender. Semen from six 3-year-old breeding bucks of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats was evaluated post-thaw in terms of motility, membrane integrity, antioxidant capacity, and artificial insemination (AI) outcomes (n = 130 does). The results demonstrated that the group that underwent centrifugation at 1250 rpm saw significantly improved sperm motility (p < 0.05), curvilinear velocity (VCL, p < 0.05), and straight-line velocity (VSL, p < 0.05) compared to the other groups. The addition of 30 mmol/L L-proline further enhanced post-thaw sperm motility (p < 0.05), plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05), while significantly reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS, p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA, p < 0.05) levels. This group also exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, as indicated by elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05). AI trials revealed that semen treated with 1250 rpm centrifugation and 30 mmol/L L-proline achieved the highest kidding rate (56.82%), significantly outperforming the control group (37.21%, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in prolificacy or offspring sex ratio (p > 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that combining 1250 rpm centrifugation for seminal plasma removal with the addition of 30 mmol/L L-proline to the freezing extender significantly improves the quality of cryopreserved cashmere goat semen and enhances AI outcomes. Full article

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the reference intervals for complete blood count and total protein parameters in Greek indigenous Capra prisca goats and to evaluate their associations with parasitic burden, age and reproductive stage. Methods: Two-hundred clinically health goats were grouped by parasite status (gastrointestinal nematodes, Eimeria spp., and lungworm infection), age (3–6-month-old growing kids; lactating non-pregnant goats ≤ 3 or >3 years old) and reproductive stage (non-lactating pregnant goats; lactating non-pregnant goats). Blood samples were analyzed for erythrogram, leukogram and megakaryocytic parameters using an automated analyzer and manual blood smears. Total plasma proteins were measured using refractometry. Results: Gastrointestinal nematode-infected animals (>300 eggs per gram of feces) were associated with a significant reduction in red blood cell counts and hematocrit estimation, and an increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, while lungworm-infected animals were associated with decreased red blood cells, red cell distribution width and neutrophils, and increased lymphocytes compared to non-infected animals. Eimeria spp. affected only basophils in growing kids. Age influenced all erythrocytic and leukocytic parameters (apart from neutrophils and monocytes), as well as all megakaryocytic parameters and total proteins, with younger animals showing higher red and white blood cell counts and platelets compared to adults. Pregnant does had elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophils and monocytes compared with lactating non-pregnant does. Conclusions: The calculated 95% reference intervals for our demographic groups of animals provide a useful diagnostic framework for assessing Capra prisca health in Greek goat farming. Full article

Understanding the genetic and phenotypic basis of economically important traits is essential for designing effective breeding programs in livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic performance and estimate genetic parameters for one reproductive trait—litter size at birth (LSB)—and three pre-weaning growth traits—birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and average daily gain (ADG)—in a population of 1888 Zaraibi kids born between 2018 and 2023. Genetic parameters were estimated using animal models implemented in the MTDFREML software. The overall least squares means (±standard error) for LSB, BW, WW, and ADG were 2.22 ± 0.02, 2.03 ± 0.01 kg, 10.22 ± 0.05 kg, and 90.00 ± 0.50 g/day, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated that month of birth, year of birth, and type of birth had significant (p < 0.05) effects on all traits, while the sex of the kids had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on LSB. Direct heritability estimates (h²_d) derived from Model 1 (including additive genetic, permanent environmental, and residual effects) were 0.13 ± 0.01 for LSB, 0.30 ± 0.04 for BW, 0.38 ± 0.01 for WW, and 0.30 ± 0.10 for ADG. Under Model 2 (which incorporated maternal genetic effects and their covariance with direct genetic effects), maternal heritability (h²_m) estimates for LSB, BW, WW, and ADG were 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.15 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.01, and 0.14 ± 0.01, respectively. Overall, the results emphasize the importance of maternal genetic effects in influencing pre-weaning growth traits. Therefore, maternal genetic components should be explicitly considered in genetic evaluation and selection strategies aimed at improving early growth performance in Zaraibi goats. Full article

Optimising kid rearing is essential for sustainable dairy goat farming, yet validated parameters and practical benchmark data are lacking. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring kid-rearing practices through a participatory approach. Researchers, veterinarians and five dairy goat farms participated developed a prototype set of KPIs covering birth, colostrum management, average daily gain (ADG), and mortality, which were stratified across four rearing phases: perinatal (first 48 h), postnatal (birth to weaning), postweaning (weaning to 12 weeks), and final rearing (12 weeks to mating). The set of KPIs was subsequently tested for its added value but also for its feasibility in practice on the five participating farms as proof of principle. On these farms, data were gathered over a six-month period (June 2020–January 2021), combining routine census data with on-farm records. Only three out of five farms returned complete datasets encompassing data from 715 kids. Results revealed significant variation in rearing outcomes across farms, particularly in birth weights and postweaning growth. Birth weight emerged as a key predictor for ADG, while differences in weaning strategies had the greatest impact on postweaning performance. Although the farmers acknowledged the added value of the developed KPIs, collection of these data during the kidding season was challenging and required further automation to simplify data collection on the farm. This study demonstrates the feasibility and value of individual-level data collection in dairy goat systems and underscores the need for practical tools to support routine monitoring and data-driven management. Full article

Liaoning cashmere goats is a dual-purpose breed valued for premium cashmere fiber and meat yields, and there is currently a lack of optimized strategies for meat quality, including skeletal muscle development and lipid partitioning. This investigation systematically examines how melatonin administration modulates gastrointestinal microbiota and antioxidant capacity to concurrently enhance skeletal muscle hypertrophy and redirect lipid deposition patterns, ultimately improving meat quality and carcass traits in Liaoning cashmere goats. Thirty female half-sibling kids were randomized into control and melatonin-treated groups (2 mg/kg live weight with subcutaneous implants). Postmortem analyses at 8 months assessed carcass traits, meat quality, muscle histology, plasma metabolites, and gut microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing). Melatonin supplementation decreased visceral adiposity (perirenal, omental, and mesenteric fat depots with a p < 0.05) while inducing muscle fiber hypertrophy (longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and biceps femoris (BF) with p < 0.05). The melatonin-treated group demonstrated elevated postmortem pH₂₄h values, attenuated muscle drip loss, enhanced intramuscular protein deposition, and improved systemic antioxidant status (characterized by increased catalase and glutathione levels with concomitant reduction in malondialdehyde with p < 0.05). Melatonin reshaped gut microbiota, increasing α-diversity (p < 0.05) and enriching beneficial genera (Prevotella, Romboutsia, and Akkermansia), while suppressing lipogenic Desulfovibrio populations, and concomitant with improved intestinal morphology as evidenced by elevated villus height-to-crypt depth ratios. These findings establish that melatonin-mediated gastrointestinal microbiota remodeling drives anabolic muscle protein synthesis while optimizing fat deposition, providing a scientifically grounded strategy to enhance meat quality. Full article

Optimal litter size on goat farms is an important trait for production and economic efficiency. The ovary and uterus, key components of the reproductive system, play essential roles in reproductive performance. In recent years, numerous genes linked to goat reproductive performance have been identified. However, reliable marker genes that are specifically associated with litter size require further exploration. In this study, eight Jining Grey goats were divided into high-yield (n = 4) and low-yield (n = 4) groups on the basis of their kidding records to identify key regulatory genes associated with litter size. Ovarian and uterine tissues were collected during oestrus for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). After two outlier uterine tissue samples were excluded, the remaining 14 samples were subjected to WGCNA and differential expression gene (DEG) analysis. A total of 1224 DEGs were identified (|log2(fold change) ≥ 1|, p ≤ 0.05), including 912 in ovarian tissues (monozygotic vs. polyzygotic, MO vs. PO) and 312 in uterine tissues (MU vs. PU). Through WGCNA, we identified 15 coexpression modules, among which four key modules were significantly correlated with litter size. Our analysis focused on the magenta and green modules, as they contained 11 and 3 candidate genes overlapping with the DEGs, respectively. Notably, three genes—FOXC1, FOSB, and FGL2—were found to play important roles in both ovarian and uterine tissues. These genes mainly participate in regulatory processes such as RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity, calcium ion binding, and extracellular space organization, highlighting their potential as key candidates for future research. Overall, we identified several gene modules associated with litter size in goats, providing potential molecular markers for investigating litter size traits in Jining Grey goats. Full article

This study focused on the physicochemical characteristics of the fermented products (FP) produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CU33 (CU33) from soybean meal with 70% moisture. Additionally, it investigated the effects of adding FP to starter on the growth performance, general health performance, blood clinical biochemistry, and immunity of Alpine goat kids during the weaning period. Forty 14-day-old male Alpine goat kids were randomly assigned into starter supplementations of 0, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5% CU33 FP for 8 weeks, and each goat kid was individually raised in stainless steel cage (width 70 cm × height 70 cm × depth 80 cm). The moisture after fermentation was linearly decreased as fermentation time increased (p < 0.05), and the pH value and Bacillus-like counts reached the highest at 24 h of fermentation. The activity of neutral protease and alkaline protease, the content of surfactin and γ-PGA, the viscosity, and the odor of CU33 FP were linearly increased as fermentation time increased (p < 0.05). The neutral protease activity, surfactin, γ-PGA, and viscosity increased after drying, whereas the moisture, pH value, Bacillus-like counts, and odor decreased (p < 0.05). During the pre-weaning period (0–4 weeks), the body weight gain (BWG) of the 0.1% CU33 FP group was higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05), and all CU33 FP groups showed a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control group (p < 0.05). During the post-weaning period (4–8 weeks) and throughout the entire experimental period (0–8 weeks), the BWG and FCR of all CU33 FP groups were better than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both BWG and FCR improved linearly as the dietary level of CU33 FP increased (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the fecal consistency index at 0–4 and 4–8 weeks and the coliform counts in the rectum at 4 weeks linearly decreased (p < 0.05), and the Bacillus-like counts in the rectum linearly increased at 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Phosphorous (P), total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum at 8 weeks, and the oxidative burst capacity at 4 weeks linearly increased as the dietary level of CU33 FP increased, but the skin sensitization test showed a quadratic curve, and the 0.1% CU33 FP group had the lowest performance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.1% of CU33 FP can improve the growth performance, diarrhea status, and oxidative burst capacity of Alpine goat kids, showing the potential to be a feed additive. Full article

We evaluated the possible effect of maternal social rank (SR) concerning different morpho-physiological maternal indicators such as live weight (LWM, kg), body condition score (BCS, units), thoracic diameter (TD, cm), thoracic perimeter (TP, cm), and serum glucose content (GLU, mg dL⁻¹), upon the kid’s live weights (LWGK, kg) during the birth-to-weaning period. To define the SR [either high (HSR) or low (LSR)], a behavioral study was conducted on pregnant goats managed under semi-extensive conditions in northern arid Mexico (25° N; Alpine–Saanen–Nubian × Criollo; n = 15, 2–3 y/old) 30 days before the expected kidding date. The behavioral study was conducted during feeding time (i.e., 08:00, 13:00, and 17:00; 60 min test⁻¹, 180 min d⁻¹). The HSR goats showed higher values (p < 0.05) regarding prepartum, parturition, postpartum weights, and zoometric values. However, no differences (p > 0.05) between HSR and LSR goats occurred concerning the maternal serum glucose values, litter size, individual kid weights, or litter weights at weaning. Full article

A crucial component of small ruminant production, particularly where intensive systems are becoming more prevalent, is determining the forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio in their daily diets. The effects of the F:C ratio in lambs and goat kids’ daily diets on growth, stereotypical behavior, and blood biochemical parameters were investigated. Eighteen Tahirova sheep lambs and 18 Turkish Saanen goat kids were used, divided into three groups using the following F:C ratios: 20:80, 60:40, and 80:20. Growth rates, weight gains, and feed conversion ratios were determined. Urea nitrogen, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, creatine kinase, and cortisol hormones were measured in blood samples. In lambs, growth remained consistent across F:C groups. In goat kids, however, the 20:80 group showed superior growth and weight gain. Based on the F:C ratios, behavioral differences were found in forage feeding, rumination, water consumption, and standing activities. Similarly, the 20:80 group displayed higher rates of bar biting, crib biting, and wool biting in lambs, as well as bar biting, crib biting, bucket biting, and chain chewing in goat kids. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the 80:20 group than in the 20:80 group for both species. Insufficient forage can cause abnormal stereotypical behaviors, which negatively impact animal welfare. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyse and characterise Cryptosporidium spp. in sheep and goats in Gran Canaria (Spain) and to identify the risks and economic factors related to the disease. During sampling, a semi-structured survey was conducted with farmers, and faecal samples were collected from lambs, goat kids, sheep, and adult goats from a total of 30 farms. Adult samples were examined microscopically for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, with only three positive samples being found in sheep and one in goats. The PCR of the SSU rRNA gene was performed on all juvenile and adult samples, and positive samples from lambs (8.3%), sheep (6.9%), goat kids (23.3%), and goats (2.5%) were subjected to sequencing, detecting three of the most important species in small ruminants: C. parvum, C. xiaoi, and C. ubiquitum. By sequencing the GP60 PCR products, two subtypes of C. parvum belonging to the IId family were identified, IIdA16G1 and IIdA23G1, with the latter being the most frequent. Although the prevalence of the disease was not very high, the zoonotic potential of C. parvum and the limited awareness of the parasite among farmers make surveillance and health education focused on the control of this member of Apicomplexa necessary. Full article

This study investigated the effects of prenatal herbal methionine supplementation on growth, puberty onset, reproductive efficiency, and blood metabolites in first-generation G1 Alpine doelings. Sixty pregnant multiparous goats (G0), each with at least three parturitions, were assigned during the last trimester of pregnancy to either herbal methionine (H-MET-G0; 1% Optimethione^®; n = 30) or a control group (CTL-G0; n = 30). Only female offspring (G1 doelings) were studied (H-MET-G1:19; CTL-G1:25) from weaning (45 days old) to 10 months (first breeding). G1 doelings were weighed and monitored weekly for metabolites, IGF-1, insulin, and progesterone. Ovulation of the G1 doelings was induced using vasectomized bucks, followed by breeding with intact bucks. Postweaning growth, age at puberty (H-MET-G1:216 vs. CTL-G1:229 days), and live weight at puberty (H-MET-G1:20.5 vs. CTL-G1:21.0 kg) did not significantly differ (p > 0.05). Age at puberty and conception were negatively correlated with live weight (p < 0.001). First-cycle conception rates were 81% in CTL-G1 and 66% in H-MET-G1, with similar days to conception (p > 0.05). The number of pregnant doelings and the number of kids in utero did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. Plasma IGF-1 and insulin levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in H-MET-G1 doelings, whereas plasma metabolites related to nutrition showed no differences between groups (p > 0.05). Prenatal herbal methionine supplementation had no carry-over effect on growth, puberty onset, or reproductive efficiency. Age at puberty and conception were negatively correlated with live weight and positively correlated with IGF-1 and insulin levels. Full article

In this present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adding tea polyphenols to feed on the immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota of weaned goat kids. Thirty weaned kids (Leizhou goats, average initial weight of 9.32 ± 1.72 kg, 2 months old) were randomly divided into five groups with six kids in each group, with half being male and half being female. The control (CON) group was fed the basal diet, and the four other groups were supplemented with 2, 4, or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols or 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline in the basal diet (denoted as the T1, T2, T3, and CTC groups, respectively). The results showed that compared to the CON and CTC groups, adding 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols could increase the expression levels of serum antioxidant enzymes and intestinal antioxidant genes in the kids. It also increased the expression of Nrf2 and IL-10 in the intestine, while reducing the content and gene expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). Dietary supplementation with 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols reduced the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NFκB in intestinal tissue, activated intestinal protective mechanisms, and enhanced the immune defense of the intestinal epithelium. Compared to the CTC group, feeding tea polyphenols significantly increased the Simpson indices. However, adding 4 g/kg tea polyphenols significantly increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota, Candidatus Soleaferrea, the Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Prevotella, as well as the acetic acid content in the cecum of the kids (p < 0.05). Overall, the results indicate that dietary supplementation with 4 g/kg of tea polyphenols can effectively maintain the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities of weaned kids. Full article

During pregnancy and lactation, maternal nutrition is linked to the full development of offspring and may have long-term or lifelong effects. However, the influence of the doe’s diet on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of young kids remains largely unexplored. Therefore, we investigated the effects of doe roughage sources (alfalfa hay, AH, or corn straw, CS) during pregnancy and lactation on kid growth, GI morphology, barrier function, metabolism, immunity, and microbiome composition. The results indicate that, compared with the CS group, does fed an AH diet had significantly higher feed intake (p < 0.01). However, CS-fed does exhibited higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in animal (doe or kid) weight among the groups (p > 0.05). In the rumen of goat kids, the AH group exhibited a higher papillae width and increased levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) compared with the CS group (p < 0.05). In the jejunum of goat kids, the AH group showed a higher villus-height-to-crypt-depth (VH/CD) ratio, as well as elevated levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), IL-10, acetate, and total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), when compared with the CS group (p < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis revealed that the source of roughage in does was associated with changes in the GI transcriptome of the kids. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the rumen were mainly associated with tissue development and immune regulation, while the DEGs in the jejunum were mainly associated with the regulation of transferase activity. Spearman correlation analyses indicated significant associations between GI DEGs and phenotypic indicators related to GI development, immunity, and metabolism. LEfSe analysis identified 14 rumen microbial biomarkers and 6 jejunum microbial biomarkers. Notably, these microorganisms were also enriched in the rumen or day 28 milk of the does. Further microbial composition analysis revealed significant correlations between the rumen and milk microbiomes of does and the rumen or jejunum microbiomes of kids. Association analyses indicated that microbial biomarkers interact with host genes, thereby affecting the development and function of the GI system. Additionally, correlation analyses revealed significant association between milk metabolites and the rumen and jejunum microbiomes of kids. This study demonstrated that maternal diet significantly influences the development of microbial ecosystems in offspring by modulating microbial communities and metabolite composition. The early colonization of GI microorganisms is crucial for the structural development, barrier function, immune capacity, and microbial metabolic activity of the GI system. Full article

The influence of bakery waste (BAWA) in the diet of black goat kids on nutrient intake, health, growth potential, and carcass features was assessed. Three treatment diets, consisting of 0 BAWA (CON), 50 g/kg BAWA (BAWA50), and 100 BAWA (BAWA100) of dietary dry matter (DM), were administered to 27 male kids (initial body weight = 17.43 ± kg; age = 105 ± 3.5 days) at random (9/treatment). Bakery waste was included in diets BAWA50 and BAWA100, replacing some of the barley grain. The study lasted for 70 days (7 days used for adaptation and 63 days used for data collection). Kids in the BAWA100 group consumed considerably more (p < 0.01) DM, crude protein (CP), and metabolizable energy than those in the BAWA50 and CON groups. However, intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract (EE) were similar (p ≥ 0.08) among the treatment diets. The kids’ initial and final body weights, total growth, and average daily weight were not substantially impacted (p ≥ 0.13) by the addition of BAWA. All diets had similar feed efficiency when it came to converting feed into body weight increases (p ≥ 0.11). Nevertheless, the BAWA diet yielded a considerably lower cost gain (p = 0.04) than the CON diet. The three treatment groups had no differences (p ≥ 0.15) in DM, ADF, NDF, and EE digestibility. However, compared to the CON group, the digestibility of CP tended to improve (p = 0.07) in the BAWA100 and BAWA50 groups. The three experimental groups’ nitrogen (N) intakes did not differ significantly from one another (p > 0.33). Additionally, the three diets’ N retention percentage and grams/d were equivalent (p > 0.33). Several carcass metrics, such as dressing percentage, hot and cold carcass weights, fasting live weight, and non-carcass components, were not significantly affected (p > 0.23) by the addition of BAWA. Additionally, no differences in carcass cut weights were found. The inclusion of BAWA100 and BAWA50 increased loin cut weight (p = 0.043) and total lean muscle weight (p = 0.001) compared to the CON group. Other components, such as intermuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, total fat, total bone, meat-to-bone ratio, and meat-to-fat ratio, were similar among the three diet groups. Concerning carcass linear dimension measurements, only rib fat depth was greater (p = 0.008) in kids fed the BAWA100 diet compared to the BAWA50 and CON diets. No significant variation was observed among the treatments concerning various physicochemical properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle in the black goat kids. All measured serum metabolites and hematological parameters were not affected by the incorporation of BAWA into the diet. In summary, the inclusion of 50 and 100 g/kg BAWA in the diet had comparable effects on the black goat kids’ feed intake, digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and overall health. Importantly, feed costs can be reduced by using up to 100 g/kg of BAWA on a DM basis. Full article