growth and behaviour performance of saanen goats ...

Proc. of 2nd Animal Wealth Research Conf. in the Middle East & North Africa

GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR PERFORMANCE OF SAANEN GOATS RAISED UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS* Bulent TEKE1, Filiz AKDAG1 and Serhat ARSLAN2 1

Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Breeding and Husbandry Department, 55139 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkiye 2 Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Biostatistic Department, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkiye

ABSTRACT

T

he aim of this study was to determine growth performances and behavioral traits of 19 Saanen kids and 20 goats. Birth weights and live weights (until weaning age at 75th days after bird), body measurements (chest circumstance, chest depth, body length, height at wither and shank circumference) were recorded as growth performances until weaning age. Feeding, resting, standing, lying, itching, playing were observed as behavioral characteristics. The body length, chest circumference, chest depth, height at wither and shank circumference values of Saanen kids were found statistically insignificant. Nevertheless chest circumference, chest depth, height at wither and shank circumference of male kids reached higher values than those of female kids at weaning age Key Words: animal behaviour, growth performance, kids, saanen

INTRODUCTION Agriculture in Turkey is increasingly coming intensive, causes sheep or goat familyowned business that provides animals for subsistence farming, the families tend to locate from low slopes around settlements into the mountainous areas. In particular, where the rough and unproductive land into forest and mountain villages in the border area and the people involved only source of livelihood was farming goats (Sengonca, 1989; Sengonca et al., 1999). Goats are economical animal species because their caring-feeding conditions are easy, even in unfavorable conditions they can be easily grown, when they are compared with other farm animals, they can convert high cellulosed low-quality grass and nutrients, to the meat and milk (Akcapınar and Ozbeyaz, 1999; Ozcan and Yalcın, 1985; Simsek and Bayraktar 2006). Number of goats in Turkey 6 643 294 head (TSI, 2008) and the European Union to create a 1% of assets in the country are in first place. The most of goat population in Turkey consists of hair goat with 96.84% rate while the rest of breeds are the goats such as Ankara goat, Malta, Kilis and Saanen goats (TSI, 2008). Hair goat is a local goat breed which has 40-45 kg live weight (Şengonca et al., 2002; Ozcan and Yalcın, 1985) and its efficiency of offspring, milk and meat yield is quite low. The Saanen, which is known for its good constitution and high adaptability, has one of the highest potential production levels of the dairy goats. They grow rapidly and their body type is typical of the dairy shape; it gradually broadens from the chest to the rear. The Saanen, which is one of the most massive-bodied of the dairy goat breeds, can attain a height at withers of 78-80 cm and a mature live weight of 50-55 kg (Ozcan and Yalcın, 1985). Cairo International Convention Center, Egypt, 24 – 26 October, (2009) pp. 137- 144

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Group of farm animals who live in and interact with each other in terms of mutual relations which have to be addressed is an important issue (Karaagac et al., 2005). Agonistical behaviours such as bunting, and biting may cause the animals hurt each other and in the herd may cause discomfort and stress. This type of events occurring in the herd in terms of business may also cause serious economic losses (Tolu and Savas, 2003). The central Black Sea region generally features a narrow coastal plain, and highlands, where grasslands are limited. Conditions are unsuitable for cattle breeding in the highlands but are generally suitable for goat and sheep breeding. Goat breeding in the region is generally in the form of Hair Goat breeding which has low efficiency. In recent years, raising at underfield conditions is tried to do, by bringing Saanen goats to the Black Sea region, in order to make widespread of dairy goat farming that can adapt to the region. This study was carried out to reveal the growth performance, some body measurements and certain features of behavior of Saanen goats which are tried to be raised in the Black Sea Region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The research was carried out at a family-owned farm in the province Samsun in the district Tekkekoy 39 Saanen goats (19 kids and 20 does) were used in this study. Present management and feeding conditions applied by breeders was not changed during the study. Does were fed grassland and barley during the daytime, and fed wheat and corn silage in two meals at 08:30 a.m. and at 07:00 p.m. New born kids were kept with their mothers during ten days after birth. At the end of ten days, they were kept only with their mothers from 08:00 pm to 08:00 am., till weaning (75 days of age). In this study, mother herd was consisted of 20 Saanen goats which were given second birth. Does which were included in the research were numbered with earrings prenatal and some yield features as the natal care of the growth performance and the body size have been identified. After birth kids were weighed by using a digital balance sensitive to 50g, following the numbering with earrings and complete drying of the body which eliminated the weight of the birth fluid. Before suckling kids from birth to weaning age (75 days of age) were biweekly weighed by using the same digital balance. in order to identify the growth performances. Additionally body measurements were taken as body length (art. humeri-tuber ichii), chest depth (height at withers -sternum), chest circumference (at the back of the scapulas), height at withers (the ground-height at withers) and shank circumference (left back) were measurements measured using stick and tape. The behaviours of mother herd within the fold like feeding (feed dry clover from roughage rack), lying (doing nothing during lying), standing (doing nothing during standing), itching (scratching its own body using its head, leg or any object available), playing (playing with other goats) and other behaviours (gnawing, bunting, suckling, licking) were biweekly recorded during the two months (March- April) within the fold. In the morning of the day when the behaviors will be monitored between 10:30 to 12:00 and in the afternoon between 13.30-15.00 3-hour observations were made daily and the individual behavior of mother goats for a period of 5 minutes per animal, was recorded via digital camera. The herd was kept on recording generally for the remaining 80 minutes. Statistical Analysis:. In order to calculate growth performance, linear interpolation method was used because all births were concluded in 3 weeks periods. Ages of does were determined as regression effects in the model. Effects of birth type and gender on growth performance and body measurements were analyzed with GLM procedure (SAS, 2008). All calculations and statistical tests 138

GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR PERFORMANCE OF SAANEN GOATS RAISED……..

were executed with SAS. During evaluation of the behaviour traits belonging to mother herd like feeding, lying, standing, itching and playing descriptive statistics were used (Ugur et al., 2004).

RESULTS Live weight values belonging to various growth periods of Saanen kids were shown in Table 1. The difference between the groups in terms of birth weight which was determined as 3.79 kg in female and 3.34 kg in male kids was insignificant (P>0.05). Weaning weight was 10.81 kg in male and 9.45 kg in female kids (P>0.05) (Table 1). Birth weight and weaning weight of the kids whose birth type was single, were identified as 3.37 ve10.16 kg respectively, while the same values were 3.76 kg and 10.11 kg for the twins respectively. It was determined that the effects of birth weight and weaning weight on birth type was insignificant (P>0.05). Some body measurements of Saanen kids were given in Table 2. Up to weaning (75 days age) the difference between male and female kids the body length, height at withers, chest circumference, chest depth and shank circumference values were determined as insinificant. Additionally, it was determined that birth type’s effect on body length, height at withers, chest circumference, chest depth and shank circumference wasn’t significant (P>0.05). Behaviour traits of mother herd per animal within the fold like feeding, standing, lying, itching, playing, other behaviours and the rates of their total period were shown in Table 3.

REFERENCES Akcapınar, H. ve Ozbeyaz, C. Basics of Animal Breeding. Kariyer Printing, Ankara. 1999. Karaagaç, F., Ozcan, M., Savas, T., 2005: Some Behaviour Traits Observed on the Kıvırcık and Crossbred Lambs Raised in Intensive Conditions. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 29 (2005) 803809. McManus, C., Filho, G.S., Louvandini, H., Dias, L.T., Teixeira, R.T., Murata, L.S., 2008. Growth of Saanen, Alpine and Toggenburg Goats in the Federal District, Brazil: Genetic and Environmental factors. Ciência Animal Brasileira , 9(1): 68-75. Lachica M, Prieto C & Aguilera JF (1997). The energy cost of walking on the level and on negative and positive slopes in the Granadina goat (Capra hircus). British Journal of Nutrition 77, 73–81. Ozcan H. Ve Yalcın, C. Special Animal Breeding and Husbandry. İ.Ü. Vet Fak. Department of Animal Science Publications. İstanbul.1985. Penning P.D., A.J. Rohh and R.J. Orr, 1991. Patterns of ingestine behaviour of sheep continuously stocked on monocultures of ryegrass or white clover. Applied Anim.Behav.Sci., 31: 237-250. Rook A.J. and P.D. Penning, 1991 Synchronisation of eating, ruminating and idling activity by grazing sheep. Applied Anim.Behav.Sci., 32: 157-166. SAS., (2008). SAS ver. 9.1.3,SAS Statistical Software Program. SAS Campus Drive Cary, NC 27513 USA. Sengonca, M.: Goat Breeding. Small Ruminant Breeding, Chapter 1 (Goat Breeding). U.U. Güçlendirme Press. No:27, Bursa, 1989.

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Sengonca M., Kaymakcı, M., Kosum, N., Taskın, T., Steinbach, J.: Die Bornova-Ziege: Ein never milchziegentyp. Deutsh-Türkische Agrarforschung Symposium. 27 Eylül – 2 Ekim GieBen, 1999. Sengonca, M., Kaymakcı, M., Kosum, N., Taskın, T., Steinbach, J., 2002. A dairy goat for East Anatholia: “Bornova Goat”. Animal Production, 43(2), 79-85. Sengonca, M., Taskın, T., Kosum, N., 2003. A concurrent investigation determining some yield characteristics of crossbreeds of saanen x hair goat and pure hair goats. Turk J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 1319-1325. Simsek, U.G. ve Bayraktar, M., 2006. Comparison of Some Production Characteristics of Pure Hair Goats and Saanen x Hair Goat (F1) Crossbreeds. Firat University J.Health Sci. 20(3), 229-238. Tolu C.and Savas, T. 2003. Factors Affecting Rank-Order Development In Goats. The second joint meeting of Departments of Animal Science of the Balkan countries associated with the 32 nd Annual Session of Scientific Communications of the Bucharest Faculty of Animal Science 15-17 Oct. TSI (Turkey Statistical Institute) (2008). http://www.tuik.gov.tr/hayvancilikapp/hayvancilik.zul (Access date: 20th June 2009). Ugur F., Savas T., Dosay M., Karabayır A., Atasoglu C., 2004. Growth and behavioral traits of Turkish Saanen kids weaned and 45 and 60 days. Small Ruminant Research, 52; 179-184. Yurtman, Y., Goncu, C., Savas, T., 2005. Effect of Concantrated Feed Allowance on Behavioral Traits in Young Female Goats. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 8 (12): 1639-1642.

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Table (1) Means and standard errors of live weight (kg) of the Saanen kids in various growth periods (m ean ±S.E.).

Parameters

n

Birth

15th Day

30th Day

45th Day

60th Day

75th Day

Weight

Gender Male

14

3,34 ± 0,27

4,55 ± 0,22

5,47 ± 0,41

6,67 ± 0,42

8,42 ± 0,62

10,81 ± 0,98

Female

5

3,79 ± 0,45

4,77 ± 0,37

6,02 ± 0,68

7,13 ± 0,69

8,43 ± 1,03

9,45 ± 1,63

Single

6

3,37 ± 0,35

4,57 ± 0,29

5,74 ± 0,53

6,91 ± 0,53

8,44 ± 0,79

10,16 ± 1,26

Twin

13

3,76 ± 0,37

4,76 ± 0,31

5,75 ± 0,56

6,89 ± 0,57

8,41 ± 0,84

10,11 ± 1,34

Birth Type

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Proc. of 2nd Animal Wealth Research Conf. in the Middle East & North Africa

Table 2: Some body measurements belonging to various growth periods of Saanen kids (mean ± S.E.) (cm). Parameters

30th Day

45th Day

60th Day

75th Day

Male

36.50 ± 0.89

39.85 ± 0.84

42.14 ± 0.88

46.36 ± 1.05

Female

36.00 ± 0.95

39.40 ± 1.21

43.20 ± 1.28

46.80 ± 0.80

Single

37.17 ± 0.91

40.50 ± 0.99

43.50 ± 1.38

45.83 ± 1.78

Twin

36.00 ± 0.92

39.38 ± 0.89

41.92 ± 0.84

46.77 ± 0.86

Chest

Male

37.86 ± 0.72

41.89 ± 0.76

45.43 ± 0.88

49.86 ± 0.88

Circumference

Female

38.30 ± 1.04

42.20 ± 1.27

45.10 ± 1.54

49.00 ± 1.82

Single

37.67 ± 0.84

41.50 ± 1.25

44.83 ± 1.58

49.17 ± 4.53

Twin

38.11 ± 0.78

42.19 ± 0.75

45.58 ± 0.84

49.85 ± 0.81

Male

15.30 ± 0.26

16.96 ± 0.30

17.85 ± 0.27

19.62 ± 0.26

Female

14.98 ± 0.42

16.72 ± 0.31

17.92 ± 0.59

19.26 ± 0.55

Single

14.97 ± 0.40

16.90 ± 0.44

17.80 ± 0.58

19.32 ± 0.54

Twin

15.33 ± 0.26

16.90 ± 0.28

17.90 ± 0.25

19.62 ± 0.25

Height at

Male

39.43 ± 0.59

42.00 ± 0.72

46.57 ± 0.65

48.64 ± 0.68

Withers

Female

39.80 ± 1.20

42.20 ± 1.16

46.00 ± 1.64

47.80 ± 1.83

Single

39.00 ± 1.03

42.67 ± 0.92

46.17 ± 1.42

49.00 ± 1.67

Twin

39.77 ± 0.61

41.77 ± 0.77

46.54 ± 0.68

48.15 ± 0.65

Shank

Male

6.01 ± 0.12

6.13 ± 0.14

6.36 ± 0.12

6.79 ± 0.10

Circumference

Female

5.90 ± 0.10

6.04 ± 0.10

6.10 ± 0.15

6.56 ± 0.12

Single

6.00 ± 0.14

6.12 ± 0.15

6.33 ± 0.17

6.58 ± 0.16

Twin

5.98 ± 0.18

6.10 ± 0.13

6.27 ± 0.12

6.80 ± 0.17

Body Length

Chest Depth

Cairo International Convention Center, Egypt, 24 – 26 October, (2009) pp. 137- 144

GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR PERFORMANCE OF SAANEN GOATS RAISED……..

Table 3: Some Behaviour traits of Saanen Goats.

Behaviour traits

Mean Period (second)

Rate (%)

Feeding

256.45 ± 25.29

47.49

Standing

151.00 ± 27.02

27.97

Lying

76.00 ± 0.00

14.07

Other Behaviour (Gnawing, bunting, suckling, licking) Itching

40.32 ± 3.23

7.47

13.09 ± 4.17

2.42

Playing

3.14 ± 2.02

0.58

DISCUSSION It is observed that the difference between the live weight values of male and female Saanen kids, from birth until weaning age were statisticaly insignificant. In general females had higher live weights than males. These results contrast with the results of Sengonca et al. (2003) Ugur et al. (2004). In this study the reason of higher birth weight of female kids than male kids attributed to the number of female kids; they were less than the male ones and variation rates of live weight values belonging to female kids were higher than the male kids. This was just the opposite for the male kids that they reached higher live weight at weaning age (Sengonca et al., 2003; Ugur et al., 2004; McManus et al., 2008). Although it was determined that birth type wasn’t very effective on live weight value during the various periods up to weaning age, the live weight values of twins were higher from birth until 45 days age. After this period the live weight values were higher for the kids which was born single. In other words despite the fact that live weight values of single born kids were higher than (Sengonca et al., 2003; Ugur et al., 2004; Simsek and Bayraktar, 2006) twin born kids, the difference between them was not significant The body length, chest circumference, chest depth, height at wither and shank circumference values of Saanen kids which were from 30 days age up to weaning age (75 day) were meausured considering gender and birth type and the difference between these values were found statistically insignificant. Nevertheless, chest circumference, chest depth, height at wither and shank circumference at weaning age of male kids reached higher values 143

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compared with those of female kids. These values was consistent with the values determined by Ugur et al. (2004) for the Saanen male and female kids which were 4 months age. Lachica et al. (1997)’s study in which feeding, standing, lying behaviours were observed, the rate of feeding was similar to the results of this study, while the rate of standing and lying behaviours of goats were low. In this study it was thought that the reason of high rate of lying was the goats tended to lie at hot hours of the day (Penning et al., 1991; Rook and Penning, 1991; Yurtman et al., 2005). In conclusion, to determine a complete adaptation of Saanen goats to the Black Sea Region, a large herd should be raised under control and all yield traits should be brought up. The contribution to the economies of farm animals will increase, by raising Saanen goats with high yield of milk and offspring in the Black Sea Region.

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