Conventional Goat Research Articles

Reducing carbon emission in the goat farms by switching from conventional goat farming to green goat farm typology

The carbon footprint of goat farms associated with the management type and the income sacrifice to switch to green goat farms are still not precise in the literature. Therefore, the objectives of this study were 1) to assess the environmental impacts of goat farming associated with management typology in Türkiye and 2) to explore the link between farm-level income sacrifice and the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. Goat farm-level data were collected from randomly selected 284 goat farms through a questionnaire. Environmental impacts of goat farming associated with the management typology were examined using the life cycle assessment (LCA). The GHG emissions were calculated both for the whole goat farm associated with the management type and for individual goat products such as milk, meat, mohair, and replacement. The research results showed that Turkish goat farms emitted GHG emissions for the production of per kg of meat, milk, and mohair by 9.85 kg CO2-eq, 8 kg CO2-eq, and 0.28 kg CO2-eq, respectively. Goat farms in management type 1 emitted the highest GHG emission in a year, while that of goat farms in type 5 was the lowest. The research results also showed that the environmental impact and farm-level income sacrifice per kg GHG emission reduction to reach the level of environmentally friendly goat farms varied according to the management type of goat farms. Typical Turkish goat farms gained agricultural income by 2.47 USD per kg of GHG emission. The amount of agricultural income gained per kg GHG emission varied according to typology. Based on the research results, typical Turkish goat farms faced with an income sacrifice of 2.85 USD per kg GHG emission reduction to reach the level of environmentally friendly goat farms having minimum GHG emission in a year. Turkish goat farms emitted 0.49 kg CO2-eq per USD of agricultural production expenses. The study suggests switching from a conventional management type to environmentally friendly management type goat farms. Facilitating the accessibility of financial resources may enhance the switching process through benefiting investments in infrastructure, equipment, and research and development. Creating resource-efficient and environmentally friendly goat farms by subsidizing the goat farms may decrease GHG emissions.

Comparative Analysis of Fatty Acid Profile and Fat-Soluble Vitamin Content in Sheep and Goat Milk of Organic and Conventional Origin

Consumers tend to perceive organic foods as more nutritious and safer in comparison to conventional, due to the perception that organic food is eco- and animal-friendly. Since fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins in dairy produce are important nutrients, this study aims to assess possible differences in the amount of these components included in organic and conventional ewes and goat raw milk in Greece, while identifying the potential determining factors. A total of 48 samples were collected from organic and conventional sheep and goat farms in Greece (Thessaly) during the lactation period. A standardized questionnaire, including information about the farming system, and a sampling protocol were completed. Samples were studied for the fat-soluble vitamins (all-trans-retinol and α-tocopherol) and the fatty acids profile, while the outcomes were statistically analyzed to explore any associations with the questionnaire data for potential factors affecting the results. According to the obtained results there are slight differences in milk fatty acid content, which indicates that organic and conventional sheep and goat milk in Greece do not have any substantial differences in terms of feeding strategies. Regarding the content of fat-soluble vitamins, the organic milk is generally found to contain a higher amount than the conventional one.

Generation and evaluation of anti-mouse IgG IgY as secondary antibody

In order to evaluate the possibility of using IgY as the secondary antibody in immunoassay, specific IgY (1: 128,000) was generated by immunizing hens with mouse serum IgG purified by protein A column. IgY was extracted from egg yolk by polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000), and further purified using protein M affinity chromatography column. The purified IgY was conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), in that order. The reactivity of conjugated antibodies was evaluated by ELISA, Western blot and Immunofluorescence, demonstrating that the obtained IgY was able to conjugate with enzymes, react with mouse primary IgG antibody, and subsequently amplify the antigen-antibody signals in different immune reaction conditions, in a comparable secondary effect to conventional goat anti-mouse IgG antibody. The obtained conjugated antibodies showed high stability in broad pH ranges (4–10; >70%) and high thermostability at 37 °C for 84 h (>85%). Despite the need to further consider and evaluate the industrial standardization and production process, our data provided the primary evidence that conjugated IgY antibodies can be used as a secondary antibody for broad immunological analysis.

Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Conventionally and Organically Reared Suckling Dairy Goat Kids of the Payoya Breed

Abstract The viability of conventional goat farms, such as the native Payoya dairy goat, could be improved by switching to organic production, but product quality needs to be ensured. The present work assesses the carcass and meat quality of Payoya kids raised under conventional and organic grazing-based systems. Twenty-four kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from each system (n = 48). The slaughter live weight (8.52 vs. 8.28 kg), cold carcass weight (4.44 vs. 4.29 kg) and farm dressing percentage (51.7 vs. 50%) of the conventionally raised kids were significantly higher than those of the organic kids. The shoulder (first category) (21.7 vs. 22.3%) and long leg (32 vs. 32.9%) percentages were lower in the conventional than in the organic kids. The percentage contribution of the intermuscular fat (10.70 vs. 8.11%) to the shoulder weight was greater in the conventional kids, while the percentages of muscle (59.7 vs. 57.2%) and bone (24.7 vs. 22.8%) were higher in the organic kids. For the chemical composition, there were only differences between the two sexes in the percentage of fat (6.64 and 7.99% on dry matter, for male and female, respectively). For rheological variables, only differences were found in the water holding capacity (% water expelled), the meat of the organic females had a higher value (17%) than that of the conventional females (14%). For the meat colour, the conventional male kids returned the highest values for C* and Hº (14.32 and 64.34, respectively). Farms following conventional grazing-based management could easily switch to organic production. Most of the meat and carcass quality variables studied were very similar across the systems.

Chemical compositions, contaminants, and residues of organic and conventional goat milk in Bogor District, Indonesia.

Aim:This study aimed to compare chemical composition and contaminants (pesticide residues, antibiotic residues, and heavy metal residues) between organic and conventional goat milk in Bogor District, West Java Province, Indonesia.Materials and Methods:Milk sampling was carried out from March to August 2018 at six goat farms. The chemical quality of milk was checked using the Lactoscan Ultrasonic Milk Analyzer device. Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC). Pesticide residues in goat’s milk were analyzed using a GC-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Antibiotic residues were analyzed using bioassay screening test method. The lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) residues were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).Results:The content of fat, protein, and lactose showed that there was no difference in the composition of goat’s milk between organic and conventional farms. Caprylic acid (C8:0) and capric acid (C10:0) of organic goat milk are higher than conventional goat milk. Stearic acid (C18:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) of conventional goat milk are higher than organic goat milk. The total fatty acid of organic goat milk is higher than conventional goat milk. Organochlorine pesticide residues were not detected in organic goat milk and conventional goat milk. Tetracycline antibiotic residues were found in one sample (5.56%) of organic goat milk, and macrolides residues were found in two samples (11.11%) of conventional goat milk. Pb residue in organic goat milk is 50 ppb while conventional goat milk is 80 ppb. Residue As in organic goat milk is 70 ppb while conventional goat milk is 110 ppb.Conclusion:There was no chemical composition (fat, protein, and lactose) difference between organic and conventional goat milk. Saturated fatty acid (SFA) in organic goat milk is higher than conventional goat milk. Pesticide residues are not found in both organic and conventional goat milk. Tetracycline antibiotics were found in organic goat milk and macrolide antibiotic groups found in conventional goat milk. Pb and As residues were found in both organic goat milk and conventional goat milk.

Carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza kids fed exclusively with milk from their dams under organic and conventional grazing-based management systems

The number of organic farms is growing, but switching from conventional to organic production requires farms continue to produce high quality products. This study compares the carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza goat suckling kids raised under organic and conventional grazing-based stock raising production systems. Twenty-four twin kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from representative farms of each system. Body weight, dressing percentage, carcase linear measurements, non-carcase components, primary carcase and minor cuts, tissue composition, chemical composition and rheological variables, pH and colorimetric variables, were examined. No significant differences were seen between the production systems or sex with respect to most of the variables studied. However, some non-carcase components and colorimetric variables were affected, with the organic kids' meat returning lower values for lightness, yellow index, chroma and Hue angle. Indeed, some of the meat colour variables examined easily discriminated between the animals raised under the different production systems. These results show that conventional grazing–based farms raising these goats could easily turn to organic production without carcase or meat quality being affected.HighlightsOrganic farms are growing in number.The transformation to organic kid-raising is easy, with meat quality unaffected.These results are of interest with respect to the viability of conventional goat farms.

Comparison of Microbiological Quality Between Organic and Conventional Goat Milk: A Study Case in Bogor, Indonesia

Comparison of Microbiological Quality Between Organic and Conventional Goat Milk: A Study Case in Bogor, Indonesia

Relationship between production conditions and milk gross composition in ewe’s and goat’s organic and conventional farms in central Greece

Organic milk and dairy products are widely consumed lately, with the belief they are of higher nutritional quality than conventional, while researchers report contradictory views on this issue. This study aimed to compare the fat, protein, and lactose content of organic and conventional raw ewe’s and goat’s milk in Greece and to further associate the impact of the farming practices on these parameters. Two hundred thirty-four bulk milk samples were collected from 62 goat and 16 sheep organic and conventional farms with similar farming characteristics. A standardized detailed survey and a sampling report were used in order to record the farming practices implemented in the participating farms. The chemical composition of all samples was determined by Fourier transformed infrared analysis. Statistical associations of farming practices with the milk chemical gross composition results were explored using linear mixed-model analysis. Linear mixed-model analysis revealed several factors in farming practices such as the feeding regime, the season, and the breed to be associated with ewe’s and goat’s milk composition, while organic or conventional farm system was not identified as an associated factor. Organic and conventional goat and sheep farming in Greece does not substantially differ, and consequently, there were no significant differences found in the examined chemical composition parameters of organic and conventional goat’s and ewe’s milk.

Development and application of a crossbreeding simulation model for goat production systems in tropical regions1

A deterministic simulation model was developed to estimate biological production efficiency and to evaluate goat crossbreeding systems under tropical conditions. The model involves 5 production systems: pure indigenous, first filial generations (F1), backcross (BC), composite breeds of F1 (CMP(F1)), and BC (CMP(BC)). The model first simulates growth, reproduction, lactation, and energy intakes of a doe and a kid on a 1-d time step at the individual level and thereafter the outputs are integrated into the herd dynamics program. The ability of the model to simulate individual performances was tested under a base situation. The simulation results represented daily BW changes, ME requirements, and milk yield and the estimates were within the range of published data. Two conventional goat production scenarios (an intensive milk production scenario and an integrated goat and oil palm production scenario) in Malaysia were examined. The simulation results of the intensive milk production scenario showed the greater production efficiency of the CMP(BC) and CMP(F1) systems and decreased production efficiency of the F1 and BC systems. The results of the integrated goat and oil palm production scenario showed that the production efficiency and stocking rate were greater for the indigenous goats than for the crossbreeding systems.

Proprotein Convertases Process Pmel17 during Secretion

Pmel17 is a melanocyte/melanoma-specific protein that traffics to melanosomes where it forms a fibrillar matrix on which melanin gets deposited. Before being cleaved into smaller fibrillogenic fragments the protein undergoes processing by proprotein convertases, a class of serine proteases that typically recognize the canonical motif RX(R/K)R↓. The current model of Pmel17 maturation states that this processing step occurs in melanosomes, but in light of recent reports this issue has become controversial. We therefore addressed this question by thoroughly assessing the processing kinetics of either wild-type Pmel17 or a secreted soluble Pmel17 derivative. Our results demonstrate clearly that processing of Pmel17 occurs during secretion and that it does not require entry of the protein into the endocytic system. Strikingly, processing proceeds even in the presence of the secretion inhibitor monensin, suggesting that Pmel17 is an exceptionally good substrate. In line with this, we find that newly synthesized surface Pmel17 is already quantitatively cleaved. Moreover, we demonstrate that Pmel17 function is independent of the sequence identity of its unconventional proprotein convertase-cleavage motif that lacks arginine in P4 position. The data alter the current view of Pmel17 maturation and suggest that the multistep processing of Pmel17 begins with an early cleavage during secretion that primes the protein for later functional processing.

Attaching-effacing Lesions Associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Other Bacteria in Experimentally Infected Conventional Neonatal Goats

Four conventionally reared goats aged 6 days were inoculated orally with approximately 10(10) colony-forming units (cfu) of a non-verotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7. All remained clinically normal. Tissues were sampled under terminal anaesthesia at 24 (two animals), 48 and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi). E. coli O157:H7 was cultured from the ileum, caecum, colon and rectum of all animals, but the number of bacteria recovered at these sites varied between animals. Attaching-effacing (AE) lesions associated with O157 organisms, as confirmed by immunolabelling, were observed in the ileum of one of the two animals examined at 24 hpi, and in the ileum, caecum and proximal colon of an animal examined at 72 hpi. E. coli O157 organisms were detected at > or =10(5) cfu/g of tissue at these sites. In addition, AE lesions associated with unidentified bacteria were observed at various sites in the large bowel of the same animals. Lesions containing both E. coli O157 and unidentified bacteria (non-O157) were not observed. Non-O157 AE lesions were also observed in the large bowel of one of two uninoculated control animals. This indicated that three (one control and two inoculated) animals were colonized with an unidentified AE organism before the commencement of the experiment. The O157-associated AE lesions were observed only in animals colonized by non-O157 AE organisms and this raises questions about individual host susceptibility to AE lesions and whether non-O157 AE organisms influence colonization by E. coli O157.

POSSIBILITY OF NEW SITES AS SOURCES OF INFECTION FOR MYCOPLASMA AGALACTIAE

Conventionally reared goats and experimentally inoculated goats with Mycoplasma agalactiae were examined for the presence of M. agalactiae in their ears and nostrils. No isolates were obtained from the ears' of neither goats. An isolate. was obtained from the nostrils of a conventional goat, while the experimental goats yielded many isolates from their nostrils.

Development of a radial immunodiffusion technique employing monoclonal antibodies for apolipoprotein B determination in human plasma

Twenty monoclonal antibodies obtained from two different fusions of SP2/0-Ag 14 cell line (non-secretor hybridoma) with human plasma low density lipoproteins have been selected. We found that a mixture formed by the 20 monoclonal antibodies was able to form a single precipitin line with human plasma low density lipoproteins by a double gel diffusion technique. Further studies revealed that only two monoclonal antibodies were needed to precipitate low density lipoproteins in gel. However, a minimum of four particular monoclonal antibodies was required to obtain an optimal precipitin ring and a linear standard curve within 24 h using a radial immunodiffusion technique. We have then compared the radial immunodiffusion performed with a monoclonal antibody mixture to those employing conventional goat and rabbit antibodies in terms of plasma apolipoprotein B determinations. The apolipoprotein B values determined by monoclonal antibodies significantly correlate with the values obtained by the technique using goat ( r = 0.95; p < 0.001) and rabbit ( r = 0.95; p < 0.001) antibodies. Our data indicate that a mixture of monoclonal antibodies can mimic conventional antibodies in terms of immunoprecipitation and apolipoprotein B determination.

Sandwich enzyme immunoassay using three monoclonal antibodies against different epitopes of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Purified monoclonal antibodies (Mab) produced by 3 hybridomas and reacting with 3 different epitopes of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were used in a solid phase enzyme immunoassay. Two Mabs were physically adsorbed to polystyrene balls and the third Mab was coupled to alkaline phosphatase using the bifunctional reagent N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate. During a first incubation, CEA from heat-extracted serum samples was immunoadsorbed to the antibody coated balls. After washing of the balls, bound CEA was detected by a second incubation with the enzyme coupled Mab. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.6 ng per ml of serum. A total of 196 serum samples from patients with various types of carcinoma, with liver cirrhosis, or from healthy blood donors with or without smoking habits, were tested. The results obtained with the monoclonal enzyme immunoassay (M-EIA) were compared with those obtained with perchloric acid extracts of the same serum samples tested by an inhibition radioimmunoassay using conventional goat anti-CEA antiserum. There was an excellent correlation between the two assays. In particular, the new M-EIA gave good results for the detection of tumor recurrences in the follow-up of colon carcinoma patients. However, despite the use of exclusively monoclonal antibodies the new assay detected a similar percentage of slightly elevated CEA values as the conventional assay in patients with non-malignant disease, suggesting that the CEA associated with non-malignant diseases is immunologically identical to the CEA released by colon carcinoma.

Glucose Utilization and Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Young Gnotobiotic Ruminants1,2

A comparative study of various metabolic processes between conventional goats, gnotobiotic goats, and rats was conducted. Glucose tolerance half-lives were determined in nine gnotobiotic and three conventional goats. In addition, the hepatic activity of glucose-6-phosphatase, pyruvate kinase, and succinic dehydrogenase was determined in four gnotobiotic and two conventional goats and compared with hepatic enzyme activities in rats maintained on an identical diet. Differences between the gnotobiotic and conventional goats in any of these parameters were not demonstrated. A correlation coefficient of 0.949 (P<.01) between glucose half-lives and pyruvate kinase activity was demonstrated and in addition a correlation coefficient of 0.861 (P<.05) between pyruvate kinase activity and glucose-6-phosphatase activity was demonstrated. Data suggested that changes with age in blood glucose concentrations, glucose half-lives, and hepatic gluconeogenesis of ruminants were not dependent on rumen development and volatile fatty acid production.