This study reports the results of the first investigation on the use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) in dairy goats, using a fixed-list of descriptors specifically developed for this species. It aimed to verify whether QBA can be reliably used by observers with different backgrounds to differentiate between the emotional states of goats kept under different environmental conditions. Two trained observers simultaneously assessed 16 dairy goat farms (8 "Housed" (H) farms, where animals were observed in free stall pens, and 8 "Pasture" (P) farms, where animals were observed in open ranges), using a list of 16 QBA descriptors that were based on literature studies and discussed within a focus group of goat experts. One H farm was removed from analysis due to procedural error. The QBA scores were analysed together using Principal Component Analysis (PCA, correlation matrix, no rotation). Observer agreement for farm scores on PCA Components (PCs) and on separate QBA terms was investigated using Pearson and Spearman correlations respectively. The effects of housing system and observer on PC scores were analysed using analysis of variance (treatments = observer, housing system, and their interaction; block = farm). PCA identified three main components explaining 60.87% of the total variation between goat farms: PC1 (29.

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Abscesses are a common problem in goat farms worldwide. In most cases, the disease is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis that is the aetiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). CLA causes considerable economic losses, due to reduced milk production, and to carcase damage. At present, no effective therapy for CLA is available and vaccine use is limited. The current study presents evidence for loci associated to CLA susceptibility identified using the 50K Goat SNP panel in a case-control genome wide association study. The analysis of the genotype data identified four chromosomal regions associated with disease status: on chromosomes 5, 7, 8 and 11. These results provide the first evidence for genetic loci involved in the immunological response to CLA in goat. Knowledge of genetic variations related to susceptibility will facilitate the incorporation of this information for the improvement of health status in the goat species.ARTICLE HISTORY

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