An exploratory study to investigate animal health and reproductive wastage among Australian meat goat producers.
animal health
goats
kid loss
reproductive loss
Journal
Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
Titre abrégé: Aust Vet J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0370616
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2020
Dec 2020
Historique:
received:
30
03
2020
revised:
09
09
2020
accepted:
11
09
2020
pubmed:
17
10
2020
medline:
15
12
2020
entrez:
16
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The Australian goat meat industry has grown significantly in the last decade, with the value of exports nearly tripling. However, because carcase weight has remained constant over this time, the drivers of industry growth are price and supply. Animal health and reproduction are key factors contributing to supply and productivity, yet limitations to production management are poorly understood, hampering advice for effective intervention. This exploratory study aims to provide insights into the animal health and reproductive management practices and perceptions among meat goat producers in Australia. To achieve this aim, 20 producers, located in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, operating under different production systems were interviewed. The results of this study suggest that animal health management could be improved and that producers perceive a lack of relevant and species-specific information available to help them make informed decisions. Reproductive management and records varied greatly across producers interviewed. Kid loss was identified as an issue, with a 28% estimated average (6%-47% range) of losses from kidding until weaning. Producers identified predation, doe nutrition and mismothering as the biggest contributors to kid loss, with the majority of losses occurring within a week of birth. All producers believed management could minimise kid loss. This study highlights the importance of improving reproductive rates among goat enterprises and provides new information on the current practices within the Australian meat goat industry. This may assist the development of appropriate strategies for improving health and reproductive management and delivery of advice to producers.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
602-609Subventions
Organisme : Meat and Livestock Australia
Informations de copyright
© 2020 Australian Veterinary Association.
Références
O'Connor J. Australian goat industry summary 2016. Sydney, Meat and Livestock Australia Limited, 2016.
Alexandre G, González-García E, Lallo CHO et al. Goat management and systems of production: Global framework and study cases in the Caribbean. Small Ruminant Research 2010;89:193-206.
Lane J, Jubb T, Sheppard R et al. Priority list of endemic diseases for the red meat industries. MLA report B.AHE.0010. Sydney, Meat and Livestock Australia Limited, 2015;282.
Hernández-Jover M, Hayes L, Woodgate R et al. Animal health management practices among smallholder livestock producers in Australia and their contribution to the surveillance system. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:1-14.
Nogueira DM, Gummow B, Gardiner CP et al. A survey of the meat goat industry in Queensland and New South Wales. 2. Herd management, reproductive performance and animal health. Anim Prod Sci 2016;56:1533-1544.
Ferrier GR, McGregor BA Benchmarks of Victorian commercial goat meat enterprises. Anim Prod Aust 2002;24:65-68.
Lane J, Jubb T, Shephard R, Webb-Ware J, Fordyce G. Priority list of endemic diseases for the red meat industries. North Sydney, NSW: Meat and Livestock Australia, 2015.
Goat Industry Council of Australia GICA. Goatmeat and livestock industry strategic plan 2020. Goat Industry Council of Australia, 2015;16. https://www.goatindustrycouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GoatStrategicPlan_WEB.pdf.
Green J, Thorogood N. Qualitative methods for health research. 4th edition. Los Angeles, Sage, 2018.
Maher S. Understanding current biosecurity, animal health management practices and communication networks within the goat meat industry in Australia. Wagga Wagga, NSW: Charles Sturt University, 2018.
Jolly S. Goat nutrition in Australia - literature review. Vol. 160. Sydney, Meat and Livestock Australia, 2013.
Australia MaL. Module 7: Nutrition. 2018. Available at: https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/extensions-training-and-tools/documents/module7-nutrition-mar2019-web.pdf. Accessed May 2019.
Browning R Jr, Leite-Browning ML Birth to weaning kid traits from a complete diallel of boer, kiko, and spanish meat goat breeds semi-intensively managed on humid subtropical pasture. Journal of Animal Science 2011;89:2696-2707.
Mellado M, Valdez R, Lara LM et al. Risk factors involved in conception, abortion, and kidding rates of goats under extensive conditions. Small Ruminant Research 2004;55:191-198.
Gunther MJ, Heller J, Hayes L et al. Dairy goat producers' understanding, knowledge and attitudes towards biosecurity and Q-fever in Australia. Prev Vet Med 2019;170:1-9.
Meat and Livestock Australia. Give goats a go. Available at: https://www.mla.com.au/extension-training-and-tools/going-into-goats/. 2020. Accessed 20 June 2020.
Playford M, Smith A, Love S et al. Prevalence and severity of anthelmintic resistance in ovine gastrointestinal nematodes in Australia (2009-2012). Aust Vet J 2014;92:464-471.
Quintanilla P, Beltrán MC, Peris B et al. Antibiotic residues in milk and cheeses after the off-label use of macrolides in dairy goats. Small Rumin Res 2018;167:55-60.
Fatet A, Pellicer-Rubio M-T, Leboeuf B Reproductive cycle of goats. Anim Reprod Sci 2011;124:211-219.
Fridlund C, Humblot P, Båge R et al. Factors affecting the accuracy of pregnancy scanning in ewes. Vet Record 2013;173:606.
Howard K, Beattie L. A national producer survey of sheep husbandry practices. North Sydney, NSW: Meat and Livestock Australia, 2018.
Kleemann DO, Walker SK Fertility in south Australian commercial merino flocks: Relationships between reproductive traits and environmental cues. Theriogenology 2005;63:2416-2433.
Fowler DG. Lamb marking performance for ultrasound scanned ewes in Australian sheep flocks. North Sydney, NSW: Meat and Livestock Australia, 2007.
Hinch GN, Brien F Lamb survival in Australian flocks: a review. Anim Prod Sci 2014;54:656-666.
Snyman MA Factors affecting pre-weaning kid mortality in South African Angora goats. South Afr J Anim Sci 2010;40:54-64.
Refshauge G, Brien FD, Hinch GN et al. Neonatal lamb mortality: Factors associated with the death of Australian lambs. Anim Prod Sci 2016;56:726-735.