Carcass characteristics and meat quality of goat kids according to the Colomer - Rocher carcass fatness and conformation classes

Classifying kid carcasses according to their fatness and conformation scores guides producers toward higher quality and income-generating production methods and determines the ideal slaughter time. This study aimed to determine the effects of Colomer-Rocher fatness and conformation classes on carcass and meat quality characteristics in goat kids. A total of 102 male kid carcasses were used in the study. Carcasses were divided into fatness (1-, 1, 1+, 2-) and conformation (P-, P, P+; O-) classes according to the Colomer-Rocher classification, and these groups were accepted as the experimental group. Hierarchical clustering analysis divided the kid carcasses into 5 clusters using certain carcass characteristics. Differences between clusters in most of the carcass characteristics were significant. The difference between the cluster groups in terms of meat colour and sensory characteristics was also significant. Fatness and conformation classes significantly affected most characteristics except kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF) percentages and carcass joints percentages. The Colomer-Rocher conformation classification was found to be more discriminatory in terms of meat quality than the fatness classification.

Accidental monensin poisoning in goats

Sodium monensin is the most frequently used ionophore as a growth promoter in ruminant diets. It has numerous benefits; however its toxic effects have also been observed in several animal species. Naturally occurring cases have not yet been reported in goats. This study describes an outbreak of accidental poisoning, characterizing its clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. Thirty-seven of 40 Anglo Nubian goat kids became intoxicated after receiving a diet that was erroneously supplemented with sodium monensin. They ingested an estimated toxic dose between 25 and 39 mg/kg BW. Clinical evolution was monitored (n = 27), followed by serum creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities measurements, and blood gas analysis. Postmortem examinations were performed between 1 and 8 days of evolution (n = 14). Clinical signs began 5 h after ingestion and included reticuloruminal hypomotility, lethargy, anorexia, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, wet cough, pulmonary and tracheal crackles, and serous nasal discharge. The morbidity and lethality rates were 92.5 and 62.1%, respectively. CK and AST activities increased, reaching median values of 10,860 and 1596 U/L, respectively; the hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis was mild. The lesions were characterized by degeneration and necrosis of the cardiac and skeletal muscles, pulmonary congestion and edema, and passive liver congestion. The kids essentially developed cardiomyopathy with left and right congestive heart failures. Unlike in other ruminant species, skeletal muscle functional disability was infrequent. It can be concluded that monensin is toxic to goats and should be used with caution in their diet.

Cryptosporidium parvum gp60 subtypes in diarrheic lambs and goat kids from Israel

Cryptosporidium parvum is the second-most prevalent Cryptosporidium species that infects humans worldwide. In European countries, it is the most prevalent species in sheep, suggesting that these animals are a source of zoonotic infection. Preweaned lambs and goats are particularly susceptible to infection by the parasite and may suffer from severe diarrhea whilst excreting large quantities of infectious oocysts. Fifty fecal samples from preweaned lambs and goats with diarrhea from 35 farms across Israel, found to be Cryptosporidium-positive by microscopy, were tested by PCR and sequence analyses to determine the infective species and subtypes. Cryptosporidium parvum DNA was detected in most samples from both lambs and goats (46/50). Cryptosporidium xiaoi DNA was detected in three samples from kids, with co-infection detected in a single sample. Eleven different C. parvum subtypes were found, 10 in lambs and 5 in goats. All subtypes were from the IIa and IId subtype families, with subtypes IIdA20G1 and IIaA15G2R1 being the most prevalent and widespread. These subtypes were previously found in calves and humans in Israel and are considered the most prevalent C. parvum subtypes in small ruminants globally. These results underline the zoonotic potential of C. parvum from small ruminants and the high subtype diversity compared to previous reports from other Middle Eastern countries. In addition, this is the first report of C. xiaoi in Israel.

Surgical management of bilateral ear pinna lesions associated with traumatic aural hematoma in a 3-day-old goat kid

Background:

Aural hematomas are not uncommon in ruminants’ clinical practice; however, there is a lack of information regarding their management in newborn ruminants, especially for complicated cases with rupture of the hematoma and secondary ear pinna necrosis.

Case Description:

A 3-day-old orphan goat kid was admitted due to swelling on the left ear pinna and trauma on the right pina caused by biting by other goats. The swelling on the left ear which was located at the convex surface was soft, painless, and fluid-filled, suggestive of aural hematoma located at the convex surface. The right pinna was swollen, bleeding, and extremely painful at palpation. The skin was necrotized at the distal 2/3rd of the convex surface and the 1/2 of the concave surface. Underneath the necrotized skin of the convex surface, blood, and blood clots were trapped, and there was a pocket between the remaining normal skin and the cartilage indicating possible rupture of aural hematoma. The kid was surgically treated under general anesthesia with xylazine and ketamine. The aural hematoma was drained by the convex surface using a Penrose tube after flushing the cavity with 2 mg dexamethasone. The trauma of the right pinna was left to heal by secondary intention after resection of all necrotized, edematous tissues, and blood clots. Post-surgery, the animal was treated with parenteral antibiotic administration and daily application of a topical antiseptic solution. The Penrose tube was removed after 5 days, and the animal recovered uneventfully.

Conclusions:

The present case indicates that aural hematoma can occur in newborn goat kids secondary to ear pinna biting and might evolve to pinna necrosis. In addition, tube drainage after flushing the cavity with corticosteroids appears to be an effective treatment approach without requiring bandaging post-operatively.

Acute cortisol and behavior of dairy goat kids administered local anesthesia, topical anesthesia or systemic analgesia prior to cautery disbudding

Cautery disbudding of goat kids causes thermal burns and tissue destruction, which results in acute and post-operative pain and negatively affects animal welfare. The objectives of this study were to evaluate acute cortisol concentrations and behavioral responses associated with (1) injecting a lidocaine ring block prior to cautery disbudding and comparing this to saline injections and (2) pain mitigation strategies (lidocaine ring block, topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream, oral meloxicam) on cautery disbudded dairy goat kids. Sixty doe kids were allocated to one of six treatments: (1) disbudding without pain relief (DB), (2) a ring block using 1% lidocaine (DBLA) 20 min before disbudding, (3) saline injection (DBSA) 20 min before disbudding, (4) oral meloxicam 60 min before disbudding (DBMEL), (5) EMLA cream rubbed into the buds 60 min before disbudding (DBEM) and (6) handled but not disbudded (HAND). Blood was sampled pre- (-20 and -5 min) and post-treatment (15 and 30 min) to assess plasma cortisol concentrations and behavior during treatment was recorded using video cameras to assess rump movements, tail shakes and vocalizations (values presented as number/treatment). DBLA and DBSA kids showed elevated cortisol above baseline 5 min pre-disbudding (after injections) (P ≤ 0.01), which was no different to cortisol 15 min post-disbudding (P > 0.05). Rump movements and tail shakes of DBLA (5.5 ± 0.8 and 6.9 ± 1.2) and DBSA kids (5.6 ± 0.8 and 7.2 ± 1.2) were no different to those of DB kids (P > 0.10). Cortisol was elevated from baseline for 30 min post-disbudding for DBEM kids and DBMEL kids (P ≤ 0.05). Rump movements, tail shakes and vocalizations of DBEM (5.7 ± 0.8, 6.3 ± 1.2 and 11.1 ± 1.6) and DBMEL kids (5.3 ± 0.8, 8.0 ± 1.2 and 9.1 ± 1.6) were no different to those of DB kids (P > 0.05). HAND kids showed no change in cortisol over time (P > 0.10) and performed fewer rump movements, tail shakes and vocalizations than all treatments (P ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, lidocaine injection using a ring block appears to cause more pain than handling alone and may not reduce pain associated with cautery disbudding; therefore, a lidocaine ring block may not be a useful pain mitigation strategy for disbudding dairy goat kids. There was no evidence that meloxicam reduced acute pain and EMLA cream may have intensified the pain associated with disbudding. Further research on efficacious pain mitigation strategies for cautery disbudding of dairy goat kids is required.

Comparison of the decision tree, artificial neural network and multiple regression methods for prediction of carcass tissues composition of goat kids

The aim of this study was to predict carcass tissue composition of goat kids using the decision tree with CHAID algorithm (DT) and artificial neural network (ANN) method in comparison with classical step-wise regression (SWR) analyse. Data were obtained from 57 goat kids of Gokceada breed. Predictor variables were pre-slaughter weight, several carcass measurements and indices, weights of different carcass joints and dressing percentage. R² values ranging from 0.212 to 0.371 indicating low to moderate accuracy were obtained for predicting muscle proportion. DT and ANN yielded similar R² values for predicting bone proportion. DT was the best prediction method for estimating proportions of subcutaneous fat (R² = 0.828) and intermuscular fat (R² = 0.789). According to DT analyses, cold carcass weight was the most important factor influencing bone proportion, while kidney knob and channel fat weight was the predominant factor influencing subcutaneous, intermuscular and total fat proportions. Consequently, the use of DT method can be considered to predict carcass fat proportions.

Chemical disbudding of goat kids with subcutaneous administration of synthetic eugenol: Histopathology and morphometry

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous administration of synthetic eugenol (EG) for disbudding of goat kids, as a new chemical method. Thirty apparently healthy Raieni (Cashmere) goat kids (five-day-old) were divided randomly into six groups (n = 5). In the pathology (P) groups (P3, P8 and P60 according to the sample collection day after injection) an amount of 0.10 mL of EG was subcutaneously administrated in both horn buds. In the disbudding 1 and 2 (DB1, DB2) groups, 0.10 mL of EG, and in the control (C) group 0.10 mL normal saline was subcutaneously injected in the right horn buds, respectively. Eugenol injection in DB2 group was done in twelve-day-old goat kids. The left horn buds of DB1, DB2 and C groups were considered as control of horn outgrowing. The horn buds, kidneys, liver, lung, brain and heart, tissue specimens were collected from P3 and P8 groups, and bud skin samples were collected from P60 group. The results showed that the EG was able to stop the horn growth in the first week of goat life. There was no significant difference between left and right horn size in the C group. Histopathological study revealed complete necrosis of bud tissue in dermal and epidermal layers, in P3 animals. Healing and re-epithelialization were seen in the samples taken from P8 group. Subcutaneous injection of the synthetic EG can be considered as a new method for goat kids disbudding.

Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

BACKGROUND

Certified Swiss farmers are allowed to disbud their goat kids using a standard intramuscularly administered anaesthetic mixture. This mixture, containing xylazine and ketamine, is officially distributed with the goal to provide a painless disbudding. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of analgesia and anaesthesia achieved during disbudding, when performed by Swiss farmers. To assess this, 174 goat kids at 31 different farms were observed and filmed during cautery disbudding.

RESULTS

The standard anaesthetic mixture (0.05 mg/kg xylazine and 20 mg/kg ketamine) was used only in 71 goat kids. Fifty-eight goat kids were anaesthetised with different dosages of xylazine (median 0.18 mg/kg) and ketamine (median 10 mg/kg), 22 with xylazine only (median 0.61 mg/kg), 20 with xylazine (median 1.84 mg/kg) and perineural lidocaine (median 1.23 mg/kg), three with acepromazine (dosage unknown) and ketamine (10 mg/kg). Based on vocalisation, limb movement and head lifting during disbudding, a general reaction score was attributed to 168 goat kids (six were excluded due to firm restraint): 56.5% were scored zero (no limb movement, no vocalisation), 7.7% one, 17.3% two and 18.5% three (strong movements, vocalisation). Significant risk factors for higher reaction scores were the type of anaesthetic protocol and manipulation by the farmer during induction. Significant risk factors for longer recoveries were use of xylazine alone or xylazine in combination with perineural lidocaine, breed, younger age and recovery underneath heat lamp.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates that anaesthesia and analgesia of goat kids disbudded by Swiss farmers is inadequate, as 35.8% of the animals showed moderate to strong behavioural reactions during the procedure. Unexpectedly, only 40.8% of the goat kids were anaesthetised with the standard anaesthetic mixture and several other protocols were used. A refinement of the recommended protocol is urgently needed to guarantee animal welfare.

Study of disbudding goat kids following injection of clove oil essence in horn bud region

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of injection of essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata in the kid horn buds, as a new chemical technique for disbudding. Five-day-old healthy goat kids from both sexes (n = 16) were divided randomly into 4 equal groups. In groups 1, 2 and 3, 0.2 mL of clove essence and in group 4 (control) 0.2 mL of normal saline was injected into the left horn bud of goat kids. Right horn bud in all kids was considered to ensure that they are horned. During the study, the rate of horn growth were evaluated in determined time intervals between groups 1 and 4. Tissue samples were taken from right and left horn bud in groups 2 and 3, at five and ten days after clove essence injection, for microscopic study. The results of the study showed that the clove essence stopped horn growth, whereas there was no significant difference in horn growth rate between left and right horns after injection of normal saline, in group 4. Histopathological study showed that injection of clove essence caused complete necrosis of epidermis and underlying dermis with collagenolysis in horn bud tissues, 5 days after injection and then progress in healing process was observed after 10 days. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the injection of clove essence is an effective method to stop horn growth without any undesirable effects on clinical parameters in goat kids.

Rotavirus excretion by kids in a naturally infected goat herd

A cross-sectional study was carried out in a dairy goat herd, investigating the presence of rotavirus by means of ELISA, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and two latex agglutination tests in feces of 63 goat kids younger than 1 month, with and without diarrhea, and in feces of 19 adult goats during the first few days after parturition. All animals belonged to a herd located in the mountains of the León province (NW Spain). Rotaviruses were found in 18 out of 63 goat kid fecal samples but no significant association between shedding of rotavirus and presence of diarrhea could be established. Rotaviruses were found in kids aged 6 to 21 days, and more frequently between 6 and 10 days. No shedding of virus was detected in any of the adults. Considering ELISA as the reference test, PAGE and both latex agglutination tests were less sensitive. One of the latex tests was also highly non-specific. All PAGE-positive samples showed the typical electropherotype of group A rotavirus. Feces were also screened for other pathogens including Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Cryptosporidium parvum. C. parvum oocysts were detected in the feces of six out of 45 goat kids tested, all six suffering from diarrhea. This paper represents the first description of rotavirus infections in goats in Spain. The possible mechanisms of viral diffusion within the herd and its role as pathogen in goats are discussed.