Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T13:40:35.505Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Loading density and welfare of goat kids during long distance road transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

VA Hindle ,
HGM Reimert ,
JTN van der Werf  and
E Lambooij
VA Hindle*
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR, Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
HGM Reimert
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR, Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
JTN van der Werf
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR, Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
E Lambooij
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR, Livestock Research, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: Vincent.hindle@wur.nl
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Many goat kids (Capra aegagrus hircus) are transported live from The Netherlands for slaughter in France or Spain. Current standards indicate that goats (<35 kg) should have sufficient space at 0.2-0.30 m2 per animal (approximately 5 goats per m2). Research was devised to assess behaviour and physiological responses of goat kids transported at different space allowances. After weaning, goat kids were fed milk for six weeks using a lambar-type feeder and then transported to Spain (circa 1,400 km). These kids (8-10 kg, maximum eight weeks old) were transported at space allowances of 0.2, 0.13 and 0.1 m2 per animal (ie loading densities 5, 7.5 or 10 animals per m2, respectively) in three journeys. Before loading and upon arrival, six goats per compartment were weighed, blood sampled and had rectal temperature measured. Three goats per compartment were equipped with ECG loggers. On average, kids lost approximately 4% in bodyweight and rectal temperature fell 0.2°C during 20 h transport. Heart rate ranged between 100-190 bpm irrespective of loading density during actual transport. All animals stood at the beginning but were never all recumbent independent of loading density. Kids tended to huddle together at lower loading densities. High loading density restricted movement. Blood concentrations of haemoglobin and haematocrit increased, as did osmolality indicating dehydration. It is recommended that water be supplied using a drinking system to which animals are accustomed. Since movement was restricted it is recommended that kids be transported at nine animals per m2 (maximum).

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourgoat kidslive transportloading densityphysiology
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , August 2013 , pp. 345 - 356
Copyright
© 2013 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Addison, WE and Baker, E 1982 Agonistic behaviour and social organization in a herd of goats as affected by the introduction of non-members. Applied Animal Ethology 8: 527–535. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-3762(82)90216-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aganga, AA, Umunna, NN, Okoh, PN and Oyedipe, EO 1989 Breed difference in water metabolism and body composition of sheep and goats. Journal of Agricultural Science 113: 255–258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600086846CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alley, JC and Fordham, RA 1994 Social events following the introduction of unfamiliar does to a captive feral goat (Capra hircus L) herd. Small Ruminant Research 13: 103–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0921-4488(94)90038-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alvarez, L, Zarco, QL, Galindo, F, Blache, D and Martin, GB 2007 Social rank and response to the ‘male effect’ in the Australian Cashmere goat. Animal Reproduction Science 102: 258–266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.11.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andersen, IL and Bøe, KE 2007 Resting pattern and social interactions in goats: the impact of size and organisation of living space. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 108: 89–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.10.015CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Appleman, RD and Delouche, JD 1958 Behavioral, physiological and biochemical responses of goats to temperature, 0-40°C. Journal of Animal Science 17: 326–335CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayo, JO, Minka, NS and Mamman, M 2006 Excitability scores of goats administered ascorbic acid and transported during hot-dry conditions. Journal of Veterinary Science 7(2): 127–131. http://dx.doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2006.7.2.127CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ayo, JO, Oladele, SB, Fayomi, Y, Jumbo, SD and Hambolu, JO 1998 Body temperature, respiration and heart rate in the Red Sokoto goat during the Harmattan season. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 46: 161–166Google Scholar
Barroso, FG, Alados, CL and Boza, J 2000 Social hierarchy in the domestic goat: effect on food habits and production. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 69: 35–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00113-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, DM and Johnson, KG 1993 Stress and Animal Welfare. Chapman and Hall: London, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broom, DM, Goode, JA, Hall, SJG, Lloyd, DM and Parrott, RF 1996 Hormonal and physiological effects of a 15-hour road journey in sheep: comparison with the responses to loading, handling and penning in the absence of transport. British Veterinary Journal 152: 593–604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0007-1935(96)80011-XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cockram, MS, Kent, JE, Goddard, PJ, Waran, NK, McGilp, IM, Jackson, RE, Muwanga, GM and Prytherch, S 1996 Effect of space allowance during transport on the behavioural and physiological responses of lambs during and after transport. Animal Science 62: 461–477. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S13577298 00015009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, KS, Srivastava, BB and Das, N 2001 Standing orientation and behaviour of goats during short-haul road transportation. Small Ruminant Research 41: 91–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(01)00187-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Jong, IC 2000 Chronic stress parameters in pigs. Indicators of animal welfare? PhD dissertation, University of Groningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
European Community 2004 Regulation on the Protection of Animals During Transport and Related Operations and Amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97. Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. EC: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
European Food Safety Authority 2011 Scientific Opinion concerning the welfare of animals during transport (AHAW). EFSA Journal 9(1): 1966CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferreira, AV, Hoffman, SJ, Shoeman, S and Sheridan, R 2002 Water intake of Boer goats and mutton Merinos receiving either a low or high energy feedlot diet. Small Ruminant Research 43: 245–248. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(02)00008-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GenStat 2011 Release 14.1. (PC/Windows). VSN international Ltd: Hemel Hempstead, UKGoogle Scholar
Igono, MO, Molokwu, ECI and Aliu, YO 1982 Body temperature responses of savannah Brown goats to the harmattan and hot-dry season. International Journey of Biometeorology 26: 225–230. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02184938CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kannan, G, Kouakou, B, Terrill, TH and Gelaye, S 2003 Endocrine, blood metabolite and meat quality changes in goats as influenced by short-term, pre-slaughter stress. Journal of Animal Science 81: 1499–1507CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kannan, G, Terrill, TH, Kouakou, B, Gazal, OS, Gelaye, S, Amoah, EA and Samake, S 2000 Transportation of goats: effects on physiological stress responses and live weight loss. Journal of Animal Science 78: 1450–1457CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lowe, JC, Abeyesinghe, SM, Demmers, TGM, Wathes, CM and McKeegan, DEF 2007 A novel telemetric logging system for recording physiological signals in unrestrained animals. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 57: 74–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2007.02.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minka, NS and Ayo, JO 2007 Physiological responses of transported goats treated with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season. Animal Science Journal 78: 164–172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2007.00421.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minka, NS and Ayo, JO 2009 Physiological responses of food animals to road transportation stress. African Journal of Biotechnology 8: 7415–7427Google Scholar
Miranda de la Lama, GC, Villarroel, M, Liste, G, Escós, J and María, GA 2010 Critical points in the pre-slaughter logistic chain of lambs in Spain that may compromise the animal's welfare. Small Ruminant Research 90: 174–178CrossRefGoogle Scholar
More, S and Brightling, T 2003 Minimising mortality risk during export of live goats by sea from Australia. LIVE215. Meat and Livestock Australia: AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Nitkitchenko, IN, Lyaschenko, SI and Zenkov, AC 1988 Stresses and Productivity of Farm Animals. Urajai Publishing House: Minsk, BelarusGoogle Scholar
Nwe, TM, Hori, E, Manda, M and Watanabe, S 1996 Significance of catecholamines and cortisol levels in blood during transportation stress in goats. Small Ruminant Research 20: 129–135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0921-4488(95)00781-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parrott, RF, Hall, SJG and Lloyd, DM 1998a Heart rate and stress hormone responses of sheep to road transport following two different loading responses. Animal Welfare 7: 257–267Google Scholar
Parrott, RF, Hall, SJG, Lloyd, DM, Goode, JA and Broom, DM 1998b Effects of maximum permissible journey time (31 h) on physiological responses of fleeced and shorn sheep to transport, with observations on behaviour during a short (1 h) reststop. Animal Science 66: 197–207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800008961CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plyaschenko, SI and Sidorov, VT 1987 Stress in Farm Animals. Agropromizdat: Moscow, RussiaGoogle Scholar
Richardson, C 2002 Lowering stress in transported goats. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food-Livestock Technology Branch: Ontario, CanadaGoogle Scholar
SCAHAW 2002 The welfare of animals during transport. Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare pp 130. EU Commission: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Silanikove, N 2000 The physiological basis of adaptation in goats in harsh environments. Small Ruminant Research 35: 181–193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(99)00096-6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tolu, C and Savas, T 2007 A brief report on intra-species aggressive biting in a goat herd. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102: 124–129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.03.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Putten, G and Elshof, WJ 1978 Observations on the effect of transport on the well-being and lean quality of slaughter pigs. Animal Regulation studies 1: 247–271Google Scholar
Van Zutphen, LFM, Baumans, V and Beynen, AC 1991 Proefdieren en dierproeven pp 365. Scientific Publishers Bunge: Utrecht, The Netherlands. [Title translation: Experimental animals and animal experiments]Google Scholar
Vihan, VS and Sahni, KL 1981 Seasonal changes in body temperature, pulse and respiration rates in different genetic groups of sheep. Indian Veterinary Journal 58: 617–621Google Scholar
Von Borell, E 2000 Stress and coping in farm animals. Archiv Tierzucht 43: 144–152Google Scholar
Warriss, PD 1998 The welfare of slaughter pigs during transport. Animal Welfare 7: 365–381Google Scholar