Health and Welfare Survey of 30 Dairy Goat Farms in the Midwestern United States

Hempstead, Melissa N.; Lindquist, Taylor M.; Shearer, Jan K.; Shearer, L.; Plummer, Paul J.

doi:10.3390/ani11072007

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Historically, they were considered a secondary animal compared to the cow [11]. However, the demand for goat milk products such as cheese and yogurt is increasing and is likely related to changes in the demographic composition of the population, leading to an increase in the production of goat milk throughout the United States [12]. Specialized dairy livestock is concentrated in Europe and Canada.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dairy goat breeding in Russia and the world (review)

Miroshina

Chalova

2023

E3S Web Conf.

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The situation of the development of dairy goat breeding in the world and in Russia is considered. Interest in goat milk as an object of functional nutrition is noted. The history of dairy goat breeding in Russia is described. It is shown that this country does not have a single domestic breed of dairy or meat goats. It is emphasized that the majority of dairy goats in the Russian Federation are local outbreed goats, but many territories are interested in purebred breeding and have favorable conditions for the development of goat breeding. The research materials were the results of a generalization of the experience of foreign and domestic goat breeders. Alpine, Nubian and Czech goat breeds have been identified as promising. These breeds are still rare for the country and characterized by high productivity. It is important to carry out selective work and have state support for the development of the industry. Despite the good prospects for the development of industrial dairy goat breeding, the basis will be farms and personal households in the near future. It is advisable to create associations of goat breeders at regional levels, as well as at the all-Russian level with international relations, for training farm specialists and all interested goat breeders in techniques for breeding work, technology for keeping and feeding animals, which will help to increase their professional level and develop the industry in general.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dairy goat breeding in Russia and the world (review)

Miroshina

Chalova

2023

E3S Web Conf.

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“…Technical training for staff on different husbandry practices is needed to prevent health problems and preserve animal welfare [ 67 ]. In this sense, there is a need to develop an integral welfare-monitoring program, considering animal welfare as the transversal axis in every goat husbandry practice.…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Brief Update on the Challenges and Prospects for Goat Production in Mexico

Tajonar

Díaz

Ibarra

et al. 2022

Animals

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In Mexico, information on goat production is scarce and documenting goat production challenges and future perspectives could be of great value, not only for Latin America, but also for international players – including those from farms, industry, and academia. Therefore, the objective of this review is to provide current knowledge on goat production systems in Mexico and discuss current challenges and future perspectives for this animal production sector. In Mexico, more than 70% of goats are produced under extensive production systems in arid and semi-arid areas and roughly 25% are produced in intensive or semi-intensive systems. Main breeds are French Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg, LaMancha, Nubian, Boer, and their crosses. The main challenges are correlated at different levels, where economic, social, and environmental issues are mixed and are closely associated with goat health and welfare. Newly available farming technologies could be an option that should be explored. Mexican goat farming systems will need to look at the animal, social, and environmental factors to promote sustainable production systems.

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“…These transitions may impact health and resilience and may also be impacted by environmental conditions. A survey on the health and welfare status on 30 dairy goat farms in the USA, suggested that early kid management during birth to prevent illness/disease or mortality (e.g., warm and dry areas for kid rearing) was one of the main focus areas for future research (82).…”

Section: Safeguard Welfare Of Buck Offspringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives for Buck Kids in Dairy Goat Farming

et al. 2021

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To start milk production, dairy goats need to give birth at least once. While most female kids are reared to become the next generation of dairy goats, only a small proportion of male kids (buck kids) are reared with reproduction aims. The market for buck kid meat, especially within Northern European countries, is currently relatively small compared to the number of bucks born. Therefore, the purposes for buck kids are limited and a substantial proportion of buck kid meat is used for pet food. Due to the limited economic value of buck kids, farmers are faced with a dilemma. Although raising bucks costs more money than it yields, the birth of kids is a prerequisite for production of milk and should be seen as an investment for business-wise healthy dairy goat farming. In that perspective, dairy goat farmers have an ethical responsibility toward buck kids, as well. In this paper, we compare various scenarios of dealing with the issue of surplus male animals. We provide recommendations for the rearing of buck kids based on the sector‘s experience and current practice in the Netherlands. Reducing the number of surplus (male) offspring, e.g., by an optimized prolonged lactation management and/or by artificial insemination with sex-sorted semen, could alleviate the issue of low value buck kids. Killing surplus animals before or directly after birth, on the other hand, is met with increasing societal scrutiny. Initiatives to propagate a market for buck kid meat for human consumption are important to enable a suitable and sustainable production system. To maintain the health and welfare of goat kids, amongst other factors, sufficient and good quality colostrum, milk, and an appropriate diet as they grow older, needs to be provided. One option to assure the safeguarding of health and welfare of all goat kids are quality assurance schemes for milk production. These schemes make dairy farmers accountable for the health and welfare of all kids in the rearing period, including the provision of colostrum and adequate care for newborn buck kids. We conclude that the combination of reducing the number of surplus kids, increasing the demand for goat products, and quality assurance schemes that may help to safeguard the welfare of buck kids.

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Health and Welfare Survey of 30 Dairy Goat Farms in the Midwestern United States

Cited by 15 publications

References 48 publications

Dairy goat breeding in Russia and the world (review)

Dairy goat breeding in Russia and the world (review)

A Brief Update on the Challenges and Prospects for Goat Production in Mexico

Perspectives for Buck Kids in Dairy Goat Farming

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