On-farm welfare assessment in dairy goats in the Brazilian Northeast / [Avaliação do bem-estar de cabras leiteiras em fazendas no nordeste brasileiro]

The objective of this study was to apply a modified AWIN Goat protocol to evaluate and compare the welfare of adult lactating and non-lactating dairy goats at pen and individual levels on small farms located in Ceará, Northeast, Brazil, and to take into consideration the application of this protocol on Brazilian Northeast goat farms. Five farms with Lactating goats (L) and five farms with non-lactating goats (NL) were evaluated. At the first level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and during the second level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and individually. Indicators assessed were animal and resource-based indicators. Significant difference between L and NL on farms was set at P<0.05. Only queuing at feeding indicator showed significant difference (P=0.027) between groups in pens at the first level welfare assessment. On individual assessments, there was significant difference between L and NL regarding body condition score (P=0.003), overgrown claws (P=0.001) and udder asymmetry (P=0.001). The application of a modified AWIN Goat protocol on farms in Ceará was considered positive. In general, these results demonstrated that both groups are submitted to welfare problems in Ceará, although lactating goats present more challenges to cope.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi aplicar o protocolo AWIN de Cabras modificado para avaliar e comparar o bem-estar de cabras adultas lactantes e não lactantes em termos de baia e individualmente, em pequenas propriedades localizadas no Ceará, nordeste, Brasil, e levar em consideração a aplicação desse protocolo em fazendas caprinas do nordeste brasileiro. Cinco fazendas com cabras lactantes (L) e cinco fazendas com cabras não lactantes (NL) foram avaliadas. No primeiro nível de bem-estar, os animais foram avaliados nas baias e, durante o segundo nível de bem-estar, os animais foram avaliados na baia e individualmente. Os indicadores avaliados foram baseados em animais e recursos. Diferença significativa entre L e NL nas fazendas foi estabelecida em P<0,05. Apenas o indicador na fila na alimentação mostrou diferença significativa (P=0,027) entre os grupos na baia no primeiro nível de bem-estar. Nas avaliações individuais, houve diferença significativa entre L e NL com relação ao escore de condição corporal (P=0,003), sobrecrescimento das unhas (P=0,001) e assimetria do úbere (P=0,001). A aplicação do protocolo AWIN de cabras modificado em fazendas no Ceará foi considerada positiva. De modo geral, esses resultados demonstraram que ambos os grupos estão submetidos a problemas de bem-estar no Ceará, embora cabras em lactação apresentem mais desafios para enfrentar.(AU)

The behavior of Etawah Grade goats in early and late pregnancyperiod in a tropical area

The objective of the study was to identify the different behavior of Etawah Grade does in early and late pregnancy period. This research using 14 head of Etawah Grade does in pregnant conditions with an age of fewer than 2 months as the early pregnancy group and gestational age of 4 to 5 months as the late pregnancy group in Farm of FacultyAnimal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The method usedwas direct observation. The goats were observed for 24 hours. The data observed were consisted of activities including time and frequency of feeding, ruminating, standing, lying, urinating and defecating. Data behavior of goats was analyzed using T-test. The results showed that the temperature and humidity of the study ranged from 25 to 31 ºC and 65 to 90%, respectively. The heart rate frequency in late pregnancy higher (P < 0.05) than in early pregnancy conditions. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) on the behavior of early and late pregnancy of Etawah Grade does, in terms of frequency of feeding (17.11±1.33 and 13.61±2.85 times/day), and average in once feeding (10.24±1.64 and 12.88±2.36 minutes), standing duration (15.05±0.83 and 11.45±1.34 hours/day), laying duration (9.01±0.71 and 12.54±1.34 hours/day), average in once laying (31.32±3.6 and 47.89±5.68), and frequency of urination (6.56±0.34 and 9.55±2.01). The conclusion of the study is the Etawah Grade does during early pregnancy and late pregnancy has different behavior, especially on the frequency of feeding, average on once feeding, standing duration, time and average of once lying, and frequency of urination.(AU)

The behavior of Etawah Grade goats in early and late pregnancyperiod in a tropical area

The objective of the study was to identify the different behavior of Etawah Grade does in early and late pregnancy period. This research using 14 head of Etawah Grade does in pregnant conditions with an age of fewer than 2 months as the early pregnancy group and gestational age of 4 to 5 months as the late pregnancy group in Farm of FacultyAnimal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The method usedwas direct observation. The goats were observed for 24 hours. The data observed were consisted of activities including time and frequency of feeding, ruminating, standing, lying, urinating and defecating. Data behavior of goats was analyzed using T-test. The results showed that the temperature and humidity of the study ranged from 25 to 31 ºC and 65 to 90%, respectively. The heart rate frequency in late pregnancy higher (P < 0.05) than in early pregnancy conditions. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) on the behavior of early and late pregnancy of Etawah Grade does, in terms of frequency of feeding (17.11±1.33 and 13.61±2.85 times/day), and average in once feeding (10.24±1.64 and 12.88±2.36 minutes), standing duration (15.05±0.83 and 11.45±1.34 hours/day), laying duration (9.01±0.71 and 12.54±1.34 hours/day), average in once laying (31.32±3.6 and 47.89±5.68), and frequency of urination (6.56±0.34 and 9.55±2.01). The conclusion of the study is the Etawah Grade does during early pregnancy and late pregnancy has different behavior, especially on the frequency of feeding, average on once feeding, standing duration, time and average of once lying, and frequency of urination.