Main causes of mortalities in dairy goat kids from the Mexican plateau

Abstract

The causes of mortality in kids under extensive conditions in the Mexico plateau were studied. Perinatal mortality of kids (0–7 days) was lower ( P<0.05) than mortality in the other age groups (8–90 days). The weights of the animals at death were extremely low, group (i) 0–7 days, 2.3 kg; (ii) 7–30 days, 2.8 kg and (iii) 30–90 days, 4 kg. The principal finding at necropsy was white muscle disease (WMD). The WMD lesions, suggested selenium (Se) deficiency was present in 49 out of the 74 kids evaluated in this study ( P<0.05). In many cases, muscular dystrophy was present with other pathological conditions. Enteric and pneumonic conditions were also important causes. In the small intestine villus atrophy was observed in 14 of the 25 kids that died with enteric problems between 8 and 30 days of age. Pneumonic lesions were present in 12 out of 74 kids. Miscellaneous conditions as starvation (five cases), hepatic conditions (three cases), omphalophlebitic infection (two cases) were also present in lower proportions. In conclusion, WMD was considered the main cause of deaths in goat kids between 8 and 90 days of age. Evaluation of Se status of soil, forages and goat tissues is recommended.