Behaviour of the Murciano–Granadina goat during the first hour after parturition

Abstract

The behaviour of 40 multiparous goats of Murciano–Granadina breed were recorded for the first hour after birth. Data obtained were subjected to Chi-square tests and one way analyses of variance. Does and kids (15 of single-birth and 25 of twin-birth) began a series of vocal interchanges within minutes of the young's expulsion. The majority of does directed their first sniffings and lickings at their kids' heads (49/65 and 48/65 observations, respectively), there being no significant differences with regard to the type of birth (single or twin). First sniffing took place immediately after birth (8.7±0.8 s for single-birth does and 9.7±0.6 s for twin-birth does, not significantly different). The first licking of the newborns took place immediately after the first sniffing (13.3±1.0 s both single- and twin-birth does). Twin-birth does groomed their kids less per kid but more in total (first kid, 15.3±0.6; second one, 13.8±0.4 and total time, 29.1±0.6 min) than single-birth does (25.7±1.4 min). Does remained standing during most of the first postpartum hour (50.8±1.5 min single-birth does and 47.2±1.3 min twin-birth does, there being no significant differences between them).