Reproductive failure in goats in Norway: an investigation in 24 herds.
Twenty-four flocks comprising 2370 breeding goats were examined. Three hundred-and-sixty-nine (15.6%) of the goats either aborted or delivered dead kids at full term, or were barren. In 23 of the herds the rate of reproductive loss ranged from 2% to 36%, whereas in one herd all of 54 mated goats had live kids. A loss of greater than or equal to 20% was found in 9 herds comprising 799 goats. In 11 herds comprising 946 goats the rate of reproductive failure was less than or equal to 10%. The incidence of reproductive failure was higher in older goats than in those in their first or second pregnancy. The causes were identified in only about 3% of the goats that aborted. It is concluded that reproductive failure in many flocks probably is associated with non-infectious causes such as nutritional and environmental factors.
Waldeland
H
H
Department of Sheep and Goat Research, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Sandnes.
Løken
T
T
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006041:Goats; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy