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PubMed2004

Seasonal ovulatory activity exists in tropical Creole female goats and Black Belly ewes subjected to a temperate photoperiod.

BACKGROUND: Seasonality of ovulatory activity is observed in European sheep and goat breeds, whereas tropical breeds show almost continuous ovulatory activity. It is not known if these tropical breeds are sensitive or not to temperate photoperiod. This study was therefore designed to determine whether tropical Creole goats and Black-Belly ewes are sensitive to temperate photoperiod. Two groups of adult females in each species, either progeny or directly born from imported embryos, were used and maintained in light-proof rooms under simulated temperate (8 to 16 h of light per day) or tropical (11 - 13 h) photoperiods. Ovulatory activity was determined by blood progesterone assays for more than two years. The experiment lasted 33 months in goats and 25 months in ewes. RESULTS: Marked seasonality of ovulatory activity appeared in the temperate group of Creole female goats. The percentage of female goats experiencing at least one ovulation per month dramatically decreased from May to September for the three years (0%, 27% and 0%, respectively). Tropical female goats demonstrated much less seasonality, as the percentage of goats experiencing at least one ovulation per month never went below 56%. These differences were significant. Both groups of temperate and tropical Black-Belly ewes experienced a marked seasonality in their ovulatory activity, with only a slightly significant difference between groups. The percentage of ewes experiencing at least one ovulation per month dropped dramatically in April and rose again in August (tropical ewes) or September (temperate ewes). The percentage of ewes experiencing at least one ovulation per month never went below 8% and 17% (for tropical and temperate ewes respectively) during the spring and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: An important seasonality in ovulatory activity of tropical Creole goats was observed when females were exposed to a simulated temperate photoperiod. An unexpected finding was that Black-Belly ewes and, to a lesser extent, Creole goats exposed to a simulated tropical photoperiod also showed seasonality in their ovulatory activity. Such results indicate that both species are capable of showing seasonality under the photoperiodic changes of the temperate zone even though they do not originate from these regions.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Exogenous GnRH induces ovulation in seasonally anoestrous lactating goats (Capra hircus).

A specific sheep LH radioimmunoassay was validated for the measurement of goat LH, and used to monitor luteal-phase LH episodes and the preavulatory LH surge in progestagen sponge-synchronized cycling goats. No luteal-phase LH episodes were detected during 12 h of frequent (15-min) blood sampling in 2 goats. A preovulatory LH surge was recorded in 5/5 goats, with a mean amplitude of 45.4 +/- 7.2 ng/ml and a mean time of onset of 38.4 +/- 1.2 h after removal of a progestagen-impregnated sponge. In anoestrous goats, single i.v. injections of 1000 and 2000 ng GnRH induced LH episodes with a mean amplitude of 2.04 +/- 0.11 and 3.67 +/- 0.06 ng/ml respectively, but injections of 250 or 500 ng did not consistently elevate LH concentrations. Progestagen-primed, seasonally anoestrous lactating goats were treated with repeated injections of 1500 ng GnRH (every 2 h for 52 or 78 h) in May 1985 or 1986. All 10 had kidded in March of the same year, and were consequently at peak lactation at the time of GnRH treatment. A preovulatory LH surge was detected in 9 goats with a mean time of onset of 59.5 +/- 2.9 h (1985) or 39.6 +/- 3.3 h (1986) after vaginal sponge removal. All animals displayed oestrus and ovulated, and 9 of the goats were mated: in 5 of these animals pregnancies were successfully carried to term. The results show episodic LH release in response to GnRH and indicate that ovulation can be induced in seasonally anoestrous goats, even at peak lactation, and normal pregnancies may result.

Anestrus↗
PubMed1993

Experience with blackbrush affects ingestion of shrub live oak by goats.

Generalization occurs when an animal responds to novel stimuli in much the same way it has responded to similar, familiar stimuli. Our objective was to determine whether goats generalized foraging skills from older growth blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) to shrub live oak (Quercus turbinella). Blackbrush (OGBB) has small leaves that are difficult to ingest without the twigs, whereas shrub live oak (SLO) has larger leaves that can be ingested easily without twigs. In Yr 1, 6-mo-old goats and in Yr 2 18-mo-old goats were given experience browsing with OGBB for 0, 10, 20, or 30 d. They were next tested for 5 min/d for 2 d on OGBB, and then tested in the same way on SLO. The number of bites and bite rate increased significantly as goats of both ages gained experience browsing OGBB. Likewise, goats with more experience browsing OGBB took more bites during a 5-min period when foraging on SLO. Thus, goats generalized foraging skills from OGBB to SLO. Plant life form also affected the response of goats. Total intake, intake rate, and bite size were significantly higher for SLO than for OGBB. There was an interaction between level of experience and plant life form. The interaction occurred because goats with no experience browsing OGBB took more bites per 5 min of SLO than of OGBB, whereas goats with increasing levels of experience browsing OGBB generally took more bites of OGBB than of SLO. Controls took more bites per 5 min of SLO than of OGBB, because SLO leaves could be ingested (harvested and chewed) more easily than OGBB twigs.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Meat goat production and marketing.

Production opportunities, management strategies, and marketing options for meat goats in the United States are reviewed in this manuscript. The basis for any expansion must be goat production systems that are biologically and economically sustainable, meeting both producer and consumer needs. Meat goats historically have been kept for brush control. Their use to control noxious plants and in vegetation management will continue to be their primary role in the future. Meat goats are rarely the primary animal production enterprise in the United States, but they are becoming increasingly important contributors to the income of many producers. Meat goat marketing is highly unstructured in the United States, yet prices are generally higher on a per unit of weight basis than other red meat-producing species. Efforts to organize marketing have had only limited success. Over 90% of the world's goats are in developing countries. Goats are increasingly important in these countries as subsistence food producers. Production systems range from goats being a part of nomadic multispecies herds on arid desert rangelands, in agropastoral production systems, to goats being the primary animal enterprise in smallholder farming systems.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1996

Status and prospects of the dairy goat industry in the United States.

Among the major classes of U.S. livestock, dairy goats have yet to achieve USDA statistical reporting of their numbers, amounts of milk produced and processed, and cheese and other products marketed. However, the USDA has published buck proofs of approximately 16,000 does annually from Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) records of the Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen and Toggenburg breeds, thereby encouraging genetic progress. This represents a 1% participation in DHIA of the estimated 1.5 million U.S. dairy goats. Annual breed registrations are led by Nubians (11,000), and the leading states in descending order are California, Texas, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Breed average milk yields range from 960 kg of milk for Saanen to 726 kg of milk for Oberhasli. Average milk contents range from 4.5% fat and 3.69% protein for Nubian to 3.3% fat and 2.98% protein for Toggenburg. Leading lactation records are 3,023 kg of milk (Toggenburg) and 174 kg of fat (Nubian). Total annual registrations are 45,000+ animals by 16,000+ member breeders. Estimated total U.S. goat milk commercial production is 24,000+ t, with half going into commercial farm goat cheese production of 640+ t. Recent years have seen significantly increased numbers of dairy goat research projects and publications from Oklahoma, Texas, California, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts. Furthermore, annual national and international symposia, annual national goat cheese judging competitions and workshops, an active national goat research foundation, representation on the National Interstate Milk Shippers Committee and Mastitis Council, and formation of a national association and council for the development and promotion of dairy goat products indicate an evolution from former emphasis on purebred breed development to a focus on market development. The conclusion is that dairy goats are emerging as a necessary and recognized U.S. industry.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Ruminal fermentation and degradation patterns, protozoa population and urinary purine derivatives excretion in goats and wethers fed diets based on olive leaves.

Olives leaves, accrued during the processing of olive harvests for oil extraction, are poor in N, rich in crude fat and ADF (1.19, 8.03 and 28.2 g/100 g of DM, respectively), and relatively low in condensed tannins (11.1 mg/g of DM). Three experiments were conducted in a 2 x 3 (two animal species: goats vs. wethers; and three experimental diets: olive leaves without or with polyethylene glycol supply and olive leaves supplemented with barley and faba beans) factorial design to evaluate ruminal degradation and passage kinetics (Exp. 1), fermentation pattern and protozoa population (Exp. 2), and urinary purine derivatives excretion (Exp. 3). Polyethylene glycol was supplied to evaluate the effects of condensed tannins contained in olive leaves. Ruminal degradability of CP was low in both goats and wethers, although goats showed higher (P < 0.05) values than wethers. Supplementation of olive leaves with barley and faba beans increased (P < 0.001) ruminal degradability of DM and CP. Both goats and wethers fed olive leaves showed similarly low particulate fractional passage rates (0.021 and 0.023/h, respectively). Ingestion of olive leaves promoted low NH3-N and VFA concentrations, which reflect poor microbial activity. These concentrations, especially that of VFA, increased when barley and faba beans were added. Ingestion of olive leaves affected ruminal protozoa: Entodiniomorphida showed low concentrations and Holotricha completely disappeared. When animals received a diet based on olive leaves, barley, and faba beans, Holotricha appeared in the ruminal liquor and Entodiniomorphida increased (P < 0.001). In goats and wethers fed olive leaves alone, urinary allantoin excretion was very low (163 and 164 micromol/kg BW0.75 in goats and wethers, respectively), and moderate values (352 and 389 micromol/kg BW0.75 in goats and wethers, respectively) were observed when a diet of olive leaves, barley, and faba beans was fed. The polyethylene glycol supply did not have an effect in goats or in wethers, indicating the lack of an effect of condensed tannins in olive leaves. Ingestion of olive leaves promotes a low microbial activity, although its supplementation with readily degraded carbohydrates and protein improves microbial activity and, as a consequence, increases its ruminal degradation. In general, for most of the measured variables, there were no animal species x diet interactions. Thus, goats and wethers had similar ruminal activities when fed diets based on olive leaves.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

An update on estrus synchronization in goats: a minor species.

Estrus synchronization allows for parturition at suitable times to take advantage of niche markets, feed supplies, labor, and rising price trends. In the past, synchronization of estrus in goats has focused primarily on dairy goats to allow for optimal timing of milk production. However, recent interest in meat goat production has resulted in attempts to use dairy goat, sheep, and cattle synchronization regimens in meat goat management systems. Methods of synchronization have included techniques as simple as alteration of light patterns or manipulation of social inputs (i.e., the buck effect) and as complex as varying timed hormonal treatments combined with light alteration and the buck effect. The synchronization of estrus using timed hormonal treatments seems to be more convenient in many meat goat production situations. Examples of hormones used include melatonin, progestogens (administered orally, as an injection, or by using intravaginal releasing devices), gonadotropins/GnRH (or agonists), and PG alone or in combination. As is seen with sheep and cattle, breed and/or breed type, stage of production, and environmental effects can influence synchronization success in goats. The introduction of breeds developed in other countries for rapid growth, such as the Boer goat, and increased consumer and producer interest have added to the impetus for developing cost-efficient and highly effective estrus synchronization regimens. New research is being conducted and various synchronization methods are being attempted in goats, a minor species, and the objective of this paper is to review these efforts.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Induced expression of c-fos in the diencephalon and pituitary gland of goats following transportation.

To identify regions of the caprine diencephalone and pituitary gland related to transportation stress, the expression of c-fos protein was examined immunohistochemically as an indicator of neural activation. Ten castrated Shiba goats (Capra hircus), five transported and five controls, were used. Transported goats were trucked for 1 h and killed by transcardiac perfusion 1 h after the end of transportation. Control goats were housed in single pens killed in the same manner and at the same time as the transported goats. The diencephalon and the pituitary gland were removed after perfusion and used for immunostaining. Plasma cortisol concentrations during and after transportation also were investigated. During transportation, plasma cortisol concentrations increased (P < 0.05) compared with those in the controls. In the diencephalon, c-fos immunoreactive cells were detected in the subcallosa, the lateral septal area, the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), the preoptic hypothalamic area (POA), the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the supraoptic nucleus, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus parvocellular (PVNp), the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus magnocellular (PVNm), the arcuate nucleus (ARC), the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, and the stria medullaris in both control and transported goats. The numbers of c-fos immunoreactive cells were increased (P < 0.05) by transportation in the PVNm, the PVNp, the BNST, the POA, the ARC, and the SCN (P < 0.10). In the anterior pituitary gland, the number of c-fos immunoreactive cells in transported goats was 4 to 30 times as much as in control goats; however, there were no differences in the intermediate and posterior lobes between control and transported goats. This study has identified regions in the caprine diencephalon and pituitary gland that show transport-induced increases in c-fos immunoreactive cells. In conclusion, the PVNm, the PVNp, the BNST, the POA, the SCN in the diencephalons, and the anterior lobe of pituitary gland may be involved in the stress responses of goats to transportation.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1986

The voluntary forage intake and nutrition of goats and sheep in the semi-arid tropics of northeastern Brazil.

The nutritive value of diets selected by free-ranging goats and sheep, and estimates of forage intake, were obtained during the wet (January to May, 1982) and the dry season (June to December, 1981) in the Brazilian state of Ceara. Esophageally fistulated animals were used to collect dietary samples for nutritive evaluation. Organic matter intake (OMI) was estimated by total fecal collections. Goats selected diets higher in crude protein (CP) than did sheep (16.3 and 15.5%, respectively; P = .03). Contrary to current hypotheses, goats did not generally select diets of higher nutritional quality than did sheep. Sheep diets had lower (P less than .05) levels of lignin and equal (P greater than .1) levels of cell wall fiber compared with goats' diets. No difference in in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was found between sheep and goats (P greater than .1), averaging 54%. However, major differences in IVOMD occurred during the wet season, as sheep diets were 4 to 10 digestibility units higher than were goats' diets. This may have been due to problems in using the in vitro procedure for dietary samples high in browse material. The OMI averaged 2.2 and 2.1% of body weight for sheep and goats, respectively (P = .08). Lowest levels of OMI (1.2% for sheep and goats) were noted during the latter portion of the wet season when forage biomass was high but nutrient quality was declining due to maturation. Daily digestible energy (DE) intake (kcal) differed (P = .04) between sheep (1,665.5 +/- 23.7) and goats (1,329.7 +/- 27.5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1986

Interrelationships between feed quality, digestibility, feed consumption, and energy requirements in desert (Bedouin) and temperate (Saanen) goats.

Intake of high quality roughage (alfalfa hay) by black Bedouin goats was lower than by Swiss Saanen goats. Bedouin goats have lower energy requirements and less tendency to accumulate solids. Apparent dry matter digestibility was higher in Bedouin than Saanen goats even when high quality hay was offered. It was more pronounced when a medium quality roughage (Rhodes grass mixed with alfalfa) was fed. Differences in apparent digestibility of dry matter were greater when a poor quality feed such as wheat straw was offered. Similar differences between the two breeds were noted in relation to the apparent digestibility of cell wall constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and nitrogen. When medium quality roughage was fed, Bedouin goats apparently consumed enough energy to sustain both maintenance and production, whereas Saanen goats consumed only enough to maintain very low production. Bedouin goats maintained their body weight and solids on an energy intake up to 50% less than the estimated maintenance requirement of goats, whereas Saanen goats lost body weight and solids. It is suggested that reduction in metabolic rate helps desert ruminants cope with chronic energy shortage.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2002

[Study on the cloning goat by cross-breed somatic cell nuclear transfer].

UNLABELLED: Shaneng goat is a famous milking species. Boer goat is world famous goat breed for creophagism. In this study, we evaluated the development potential of adult Boer goat's somatic nuclei after nuclear tansfer (NT) into enucleated MII oocytes of the Shaneng goat. Somatic donor cells were obtained from two different sources: 1) adult granulosa cells (GCs) and 2) adult skin fibroblasts (FCs). The reconstructed embryos that developed to morula or blastocyst stage in vivo were transferred to 38 synchronized recipient. CONTROL: Somatic donor fibroblast cells were obtained from a fetal at 35 day. In the same way the reconstructed embryos were directly transferred to synchronized recipient of Shaneng goats. (1) Experimental group: NT embryos derived from GC and FC developed into morulas and blastocysts at a frequency of 46.8% and 31.4% respectively. Fifty-two NT morula and blastocyst stage embryos were transferred in to 38 recipients, Three of which were confirmed to be pregnant (7.9%). All pregnancies were not maintained to term. (2) CONTROL group: 136 NT embryos were transferred in to 14 recipients, Six of which were confirmed to be pregnant (42.9%). Four of those were maintained to term. Four recipients delivered four male kids (2.9% of embryos transferred). One male kid died at birth, the dead lamb shows as "large offspring syndrome". the others appeared health and normal. DNA analysis confirmed that those kids were genetically identical to their donor. These results demonstrated that Shaneng goat somatic cells could direct normal development and Shaneng goat oocyte cytoplasm supported development of preimplantation embryos produced by NT of somatic cell nuclei from Boer goat.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Studies on in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa by heparin treatment].

Systematical studies are lacking on the influencing factors and mechanisms of the heparin enhanced sperm capacitation, although many studies have shown that heparin enhanced sperm capacitation. The effect of heparin concentration and exposure time, incubation temperature and co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells or cumulus cells on goat sperm capacitation were investigated in this study. The motility, membrane and acrosome integrity and capacitated percentage of goat spermatozoa were assessed after different heparin treatments, and rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were compared after in vitro insemination of oocytes with spermatozoa capacitated by different heparin treatments. The major results are summarized as follows: 1) When spermatozoa were capacitated with heparin at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg/mL for 45 min, 50 and 100 microg/mL heparin treatments produced the highest capacitated percentages of 55% and 56%, respectively, but the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the 100 microg/mL heparin treatment decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with that in the control group, indicating that the optimal heparin concentration for goat sperm capacitation would be 50 microg/mL. 2) Capacitated percentage of spermatozoa increased with extension of treatment time when goat sperm were treated with 50 microg/mL heparin for 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 or 120 min. Although heparin treatments for 45 to 120 min did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in capacitated sperm percentages, sperm motility and membrane integrity decreased significantly when treated with heparin for 120 min. This suggested that the optimal exposure time of heparin at 50 microg/mL for goat sperm capacitation would be 45 to 60 min. 3) Significantly higher capacitated percentages of spermatozoa were obtained when goat sperm were treated at 42 and 38.5 degrees C than at 15 and 37 degrees C, but sperm motility and acrosome integrity were significantly lower when spermatozoa were treated at 42 degrees C than they were treated at other temperatures. Temperature of 38.5 degrees C would, therefore, be the optimal temperature for goat sperm capacitation. 4) The capacitated percentage of spermatozoa was significantly higher when goat sperm were co-cultured with oviductal epithelial cells than when treated with heparin alone or co-cultured with cumulus cells, but sperm motility and membrane and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly among the three treatments. Rates of fertilization (91.3%) and cleavage (72.2%) were significantly higher in the oviductal epithelial cell co-culture group than those in the heparin alone group. This indicated that co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells significantly enhanced goat sperm capacitation by heparin treatment.

Acrosome Reaction↗
PubMed2006

[Changes of hemodynamics during establishment of animal model of acute myocardial infarction induced by ligation of left coronary artery in goat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in hemodynamics in experimental acute myocardial infarction induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in goat. METHODS: Animal model of acute myocardial infarction was reproduced in 20 goats by ligation of the left coronary artery through xyphoid process. ST segment of electrocardiogram (ECG), mean artery blood pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), and heart rate (HR) were observed before, immediately, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours after ligation of the left coronary artery. RESULTS: ECG of all goats was normal before operation. Immediately and 30 minutes after ligation, elevation of ST-segment was seen in 8 and 10 goats respectively, and in 18 goats elevation of ST-segment was observed 2 hours after ligation. Four weeks after the operation, pathological Q wave was shown in the chest leads of ECG in 18 goats. There was no significant difference in MAP, CVP and HR between before and after ligation. Frequent ventricular premature beats were found in 6 goats, but they were stopped after intravenous infusion of lidocaine. CONCLUSION: Small area of experimental acute myocardial infarction in goats shows slight effect on hemodynamics, though the production of myocardial infarction is reliable, and the life of the goats could be maintained for a long time after the ligation of the left coronary artery. The experiment provides a valuable animal model for the study of coronary heart disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Influence of gestation on the pharmacokinetics of four sulphonamides in goats.

The influence of gestation on the pharmacokinetics of four sulphonamides was studied in goats before, during and after pregnancy. Similar doses were given as intravenous boluses of 50 mg kg-1 each. Results were compared with those of non-pregnant goats to eliminate seasonal effects. With sulphadimidine elimination was mainly apparently first-order. In gestating goats the mean residence times decreased and mean plasma clearance rates increased with sulphadimidine during pregnancy, but this effect was continued after kidding at least until the end of May. The same happened with sulphadimethoxine, but sulphisomidine was not affected. In contrast to the other sulphonamides the mean residence time of sulphadoxine showed a maximum in February in gestating goats, while mean plasma clearance remained constant during and after pregnancy, at a lower level than in September. The mean plasma clearance of sulphadoxine decreased significantly from September to February in the non-pregnant control goats. In May five of six control goats and two of six goats which had kidded showed capacity-limited elimination against only two control goats in the foregoing experiments. With sulphadoxine one animal in the gestation group, but not the same one in each experiment, showed capacity-limited elimination against one, four and three in the control group in December, February and May, respectively. Distribution volumes increased significantly during and after pregnancy with sulphisomidine and sulphadimethoxine. A decrease in distribution volumes was seen in control goats with sulphadimidine, sulphisomidine and sulphadoxine, but was only significant for sulphadoxine. The pregnant uterus could not be recognised as an extra compartment, either in distribution volume nor in the pharmacokinetic model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Experimental infection of sheep and goats with transmissible mink encephalopathy virus.

In a study to learn more about the pathogenicity of transmissible mink encephalopathy virus for the natural hosts of scrapie, 20 Cheviot sheep and 19 dairy goats were inoculated intracerebrally with the Idaho strain of the virus. Five sheep and nine goats became affected with a progressive neurological disease. The incubation period in the sheep varied from 45 to 80 months (mean, 65 months) and in the goats from 31 to 40 months (mean, 35 months). Except for degeneration of the cerebral cortex (neocortex), the disease was indistinguishable clinically and neurohistologically from scrapie. During two more passages of the virus in goats, the incubation period was shortened to 12 to 15 months, the morbidity rate rose to 100% (6/6 dairy goats and 3/3 African pygmy goats), and the cortical lesion became constant and more pronounced. By the intracerebral inoculation of pastel mink, transmissible mink encephalopathy virus was detected in the brains of several affected sheep and goats but not in extraneural sites (lymphoid tissues and intestine), except for a trace amount in the proximal colon of one goat. Even after two passages in goats, the virus remained nonpathogenic for the laboratory mouse. Despite the essential likeness of the experimental disease and scrapie, the common identity of their causal viruses remains to be determined. Even so, the results of this study are still compatible with the view that transmissible mink encephalopathy virus almost certainly is scrapie virus whose biological properties became altered by chance passage in mink, a carnivore and an aberrant host.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Response of goats to vaccination with temperature-sensitive mutants of Chlamydia psittaci obtained by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis.

Two temperature-sensitive strains of ovine Chlamydia psittaci, 1B and 1H, obtained by mutagenesis were used as live-organism vaccines; 31 goats were given 4 X 10(6) plaque-forming units (PFU) of strain 1B, and 31 were given 5 X 10(6) PFU of strain 1H 2 months before they were bred. The consequences of the vaccination of the goats were studied during pregnancy by recording complement-fixation antibody titer, chlamydial excretion, and kidding performances and were compared with those of goats inoculated under the same conditions with 100 X smaller dose of virulent caprine abortive strain AC1. The vaccination did not disturb pregnancy, and none of the vaccinated goats excreted chlamydiae. In contrast, 2 of 28 goats inoculated with AC1 aborted and shed chlamydiae. One year after the goats were vaccinated, they were challenge exposed by intradermal inoculation of 10(6) PFU of the caprine strain AC1 at 79 to 98 days of pregnancy. Although 13 of the 14 control nonvaccinated goats aborted and excreted chlamydiae, none of the pregnant goats vaccinated with 1H and only 1 of the pregnant goats vaccinated with 1B aborted and excreted chlamydiae.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Prevention and control of coccidiosis in goats with decoquinate.

Decoquinate was evaluated as a coccidiostat in domestic goats. Fifty goats less than 4 months of age were assigned to 5 groups (pens) of 10 goats each and were treated for 87 days with 0 (control), 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, or 4.0 mg of decoquinate in feed/kg of body weight. Goats were inoculated orally weight. Goats were inoculated orally with 30,000 oocysts, mainly Eimeria christenseni (74%) and E ninakohlyakimovae (20%) on day 19. Nontreated goats developed profuse watery diarrhea and tenesmus and gained weight poorly; 2 died. Treated goats did not develop clinical coccidiosis and gained significantly more weight (P less than 0.05), regardless of the dose used. Treated goats also had significantly fewer (P less than 0.05) oocysts in feces than did nontreated controls. Oocyst numbers were inversely related to dose; a more rapid decrease in oocyst numbers occurred as the dose was increased. At the doses used, decoquinate was safe in goats and was an effective drug for the prevention of clinical coccidiosis.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed1980

Studies on viral leukoencephalomyelitis and swayback in goats.

Six kid goats with CNS disease were studied by a variety of techniques. All had morphological evidence of Viral Leukoencephalomyelitis of Goats. (VLG) characterized by demyelinating encephalomyelitis and pneumonitis. Attempts were made to isolate a virus from 5 of these goats by direct culture of CNS and visceral tissues. Syncytial formation was found in some lung, spleen and bone marrow cultures but syncytia were found to be free of complete virus by electron microscopy. When newborn goats were inoculated with syncytia forming cells, a visna-like virus was found in bone marrow cultures of 1 goat 8 days post inoculation. Bone marrow cells from a twin goat 3 months after inoculation produced syncytia without complete virus. it is suggested that complete virus might be present in goats shortly after infection, while persisting in an incomplete form. Three of the 6 goats studied also had lesions of swayback with diffuse encephalomyelopathy and low liver copper levels. Control copper levels in kids with non-neurological disease were variable, occasionally being as low as swayback animals. The experience of others that swayback in the goat and low copper status are poorly correlated is confirmed. Discrepancies inherent in assaying formalin preserved tissues for copper are described.

Animals↗