Exotic Goats Research Articles

Factors Affecting Kenya Alpine Dairy Goat Milk Production in Nyeri Region

<p>In Kenya use of exotic dairy goats in breeding programmes for smallholder production systems has become popular, but information on the milk production is scarce. A study was carried out to assess the milk yield of dairy goats reared in high potential and semi arid areas of Nyeri County. This involved 190 smallholder farmers rearing Alphine dairy goats in Nyeri County and registered with Dairy Goat association of Kenya (DGAK). Which formed 100% sampling of the population under study. The grade, feeding practices and age of the dairy goats were evaluated. The dairy goat average milk production was 1.90 litres per day, with the appendix grade in Kieni East giving the highest production of 2.69 liters per day while foundation grade in Mukurweini gave the lowest, 0.98 litres per day. The higher milk production in Kieni East, which is a semi arid area, was noted to be due to good feeding practices where 43% of the farmers used concentrates during milking and also 48% supplemented the feed with minerals. In the high potential area of Mukurweini none of the farmers used mineral supplements with only 5% using concentrates during milking. The age of the dam significantly affected the average milk production, with the onset of production being the age of 2.0 years, reaching the peak at the age of 6.5 years. Kieni East, gave the highest production of 4.2 litres at the age of 6 years. The results demonstrated that the low-input farming conditions affected the Alphine goats milk production.</p>

Complex Interrelationships Among Aboveground Biomass, Soil Chemical Properties, and Events Caused by Feral Goats and Their Eradication in a Grassland Ecosystem of an Island

This study examined the recovery, via biotic and abiotic pathways, of a grassland ecosystem after eradication of introduced exotic goats. We used path analyses to evaluate the relative strength of relationships among aboveground biomass, soil chemical properties (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content; soil acidity), presence of nesting seabirds after goat eradication, extent of vegetation degraded by goats before their eradication, plant species composition after removal of goats, and topography. Models including the same variables with different paths were constructed using the Bayesian estimation method, and the best-fit models were constructed by comparing deviance information criterion values. Results of the path analyses demonstrated that vegetation degradation and soil erosion prior to goat eradication increased soil exchangeable acidity, which resulted in limitation of aboveground biomass. Seabird nesting after goat eradication increased the quantity of soil nutrients, possibly through inputs of feces, eggshells, and dead chicks or adults. The increase in nutrients was affected indirectly, via seabird nesting, by topography and vegetation type after goat eradication. The direct and indirect relationships demonstrated by our results suggest the existence of complex interrelationships during recovery of ecosystem function after eradication of exotic mammals.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths in Exotic and Indigenous Goats Slaughtered in Selected Abattoirs in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria

A total of 213 faecal samples were collected from four abattoirs and households to determine the prevalence of helminthes infections in exotic and indigenous goats in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria. The study revealed that out of 153 exotic goats (Red Sokoto) Capra hircus, 112 were infected with various species of gastrointestinal helminths; out of 60 indigenous goats (West African dwarf) Capra hircus, 49 were also infected with various types of gastrointestinal helminths. The formol-ether concentration method was used to analyse the specimens. The study revealed that an overall prevalence of (75.5%) was recorded, out of which 57 (76.0%), 55 (70.5%), and 49 (81.6%) were recorded for exotic goat in the months of May–September, 2010, exotic goat in the months October 2010–February, 2011 and for indigenous goats, respectively. The overall prevalence amongst the infected animals was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Species of helminthes revealed from the study were, Haemonchus, Strongyloides, Chabertia, Trichuris, Ostertagia, Bunostomum, Trichostrongyloida, Ascaris, Tenia, Avitelina, Fasciola, Eurytrema, Gastrothylax, Schistosoma, and Dicrocoelium.

Preliminary identification and characterisation of leptin gene polymorphism in Indian goats

The leptin gene could be considered as a hotspot gene. Its role in meat and milk production makes it a candidate for the search of molecular markers related to meat production and meat quality in goats. Leptin gene polymorphism has not been thoroughly studied in Indian goat breeds. Thus for the first time, we report complete gene sequence, its variation including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in indigenous goats. In the present study, we discovered seven novel SNPs which were never reported previously by direct sequencing of gene in a panel of seven goat breeds differing in phenotype (weight and size) and geographical distribution. Whole leptin gene sequence of 4.8 kb of indigenous goat has been submitted in NCBI database (accession number GU944974). Bioinformatics analysis of the genomic sequences identified a total of 22 variations as compared to exotic goat (AM 114397.2) of which seven were SNPs. These novel SNPs were found in Exon 2 (g.1029T > C), Intron 2 (g.1621G > A) and 3′UTR (g.3968T > C, g.3971C > T, g.4026G > A, g.4105G > A and g.4225T > C). These leptin gene variants can be screened in the larger goat population for association studies with meat quality traits and marker-assisted selection.

Screening of indigenous goats for prolificacy associated DNA markers of sheep

The present study was undertaken to explore the genetic basis of caprine prolificacy and to screen indigenous goats for prolificacy associated markers of sheep in BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 genes. To detect the associated mutations and identify novel allelic variants in the candidate genes, representative samples were collected from the breeding tract of indigenous goat breeds varying in prolificacy and geographic distribution. DNA was extracted and PCR amplification was done using primers designed or available in literature for the coding DNA sequence of candidate genes. Direct sequencing was done to identify the genetic variations. Mutations in the candidate genes associated with fecundity in sheep were not detected in Indian goats. Three non-synonymous SNPs (C818T, A959C and G1189A) were identified in exon 2 of GDF9 gene out of which mutation A959C has been associated with prolificacy in exotic goats. Two novel SNPs (G735A and C808G) were observed in exon 2 of BMP15 gene.

Tea with Juan Quezada: An Afternoon at Rancho Barro Blanco

It’s spring, and the Palanganas River flows leisurely and low. Juan Quezada, at the wheel of his pickup, shepherds a group of American women up the rocky riverbank toward his ranch house overlooking Mata Ortiz. One of the women, a Romance language teacher named Kay, sits next to Juan. She’s carrying on a lively conversation with him in Spanish. Cathleen rides next to Kay, easily joining in the discussion. Like Kay, Cathleen is fluent in Spanish, in her case from years of work in agribusiness. The rest of us—Nora, Patricia, Remedios, and myself—are far less proficient in Juan’s native language. We’re relegated to the truck bed. From that hot, dusty vantage point we enjoy a majestic panorama that stretches from El Indio Peak down to Mata Ortiz and west to the Sierra Madre range that marks the boundary between the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Through the gritty windshield, Kay and Cathleen take in the view of Rancho Barro Blanco, Juan’s White Clay Ranch. “No,” Juan tells them, “I didn’t first find white clay here on the ranch. The name ‘Barro Blanco’ is to honor the pottery.” After all, it is his pottery that affords Juan this second home a mere ten minutes from his house in Mata Ortiz. Rancho Barro Blanco is populated, we see, with a wild variety of exotic cattle, goats, sheep, and fowl, including a teeming flock of chickens and their hatchling pollitos. The barnyard is immaculate and the outbuildings well kept. “Those fences are coyote-proof,” Juan says, gesturing to the metal netting that safeguards the fowl. “I lost a baby ostrich, and then another, to the coyotes. So I put up this special fencing to protect all the rest.” A congenial javelina trots over to greet us as Juan brings the pickup to a stop and swings his cowboy-booted feet out of the cab. Although well into his sixties, Juan strides to the back of the truck with the clip and grace of a young man, and helps us over the tailgate. He tentatively N A N c y A N d r e w s wrote the award-winning children’s book, The Pot That Juan Built.

Use of Growth Hormone Gene Polymorphism in Selecting <i>Osmanabadi</i> and <i>Sangamneri</i> Goats

Goat meat holds tremendous demand irrespective of cultural and religious barriers. Therefore selection of goats for improved growth is advantageous. Growth hormone (GH) is a polypeptide hormone which is the major regulator of growth of animals, encoded by growth hormone gene. Polymorphic GH gene confers more active variants of the hormone enhancing growth. The objectives of the present study were to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GH gene and their association with growth traits of goats. DNA samples of 240 goats from two Indian breeds, namely Osmanabadi and Sangamneri were subjected to single strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP) followed by DNA sequencing techniques with the objectives of studing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GH gene and their association with growth traits. Twenty three and eighteen nucleotide changes were observed in Osmanabadi and Sangamneri goats, respectively in comparison to goat sequence of accession No. 00476. Of them, twelve were seen unique to both goat breeds indicating considerable deviation from exotic goat sequence. The study revealed point mutations of G200T, A815G, A1753, C1763T and A1789G in GH gene sequence of both goat breeds. In contrast, A497G, A499G C500G C501-2 C730T C781T and C2055T were observed specific to Osmanabadi and Sangamneri breeds respectively indicating the possibility of using them as breed specific markers. G200T resulted GG, GT and TT genotypes and of them, GT was associated with heavy body weight and GG with low body weight (P&le;0.05) in both the breeds. Sangamneri GT genotypes were 6.5% taller (P&le;0.05) than GG. Similarly, AG of A815G revealed low body weight. AA of A1753 insertion revealed heavy body weight in both the breeds and 7% longer body in Sangamneri breed. Heterozygote counterparts for C1763T and A1780G SNPs exhibited heavy body weights ((P&le;0.05). It was concluded that SNPs and their association with body weight may be useful in selecting goats for higher growth traits. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v21i4.3316 <em>TAR </em>2010; 21(3): 398-411

Structure and genetic relationships between Brazilian naturalized and exotic purebred goat domestic goat (Capra hircus) breeds based on microsatellites

The genetic relationships and structure of fourteen goat (Capra hircus) populations were estimated based on genotyping data from 14 goat populations (n = 410 goats) at 13 microsatellite loci. We used analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and F statistics (FIS, FIT and FST) to evaluate the genetic diversity (Ho, He and ad) of the goats. Genetic distances between the 14 goat populations were calculated from allelic frequency data for the 13 microsatellite markers. Moderate differentiation was observed for the populations of the undefined breeds (including the Anglo-Nubian-M breed), the naturalized Brazilian breeds (Moxoto, Caninde), the exotic purebred breeds (Alpine, Saanen, Toggenbourg and Anglo-Nubian) and the naturalized Brazilian Grauna group. Our AMOVA showed that a major portion (88.51%) of the total genetic variation resulted from differences between individual goats within populations, while between-populations variation accounted for the remaining 11.49% of genetic variation. We used a Reynolds genetic distance matrix and PCA to produce a phenogram based on the 14 goat populations and found three clusters, or groups, consisting of the goats belonging to the undefined breed, the naturalized breeds and the exotic purebred breeds. The closer proximity of the Caninde breed from the Brazilian state of Paraiba to the Grauna breed from the same state than to the genetically conserved Caninde breed from the Brazilian state of Ceara, as well as the heterozygosity values and significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium suggests that there was a high number of homozygotes in the populations studied, and indicates the importance of the State for the conservation of the local breeds. Cataloguing the genetic profile of Brazilian goat populations provides essential information for conservation and genetic improvements programs.

Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of local (Dhofari) and exotic (cashmere) goats fed on a high-fiber by-products diet supplemented with fish sardine

Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of local (Dhofari) and exotic (cashmere) goats fed on a high-fiber by-products diet supplemented with fish sardine

Ventral oedema in exotic Angora goats

Abstract A syndrome characterised by ventral oedema and referred to by many goat farmers as "water belly". has been recognised in New Zealand in Angora goats of South African and Texan origin. It occurs most frequently in young animals in the immediate post-shearing period, when as many as 10-15% of the flock may be affected to varying degrees. Affected animals are usually bright and alert and most will recover spontaneously within 3-4 days. The syndrome may also occur in goats suffering from one of a variety of diseases but in some cases there is no apparent predisposing cause.

The interaction of Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections in 2 breeds of goat : 1. Parasitology

Two breeds of goat (Saanen × Galla and East African) were infected with H. contortus 1 week after infection with T. congolense. Clinical and parasitological observations (including PCV, total body weight, faecal egg counts and worm burdens) were recorded and compared with goats of both breeds infected only with H. contortus or T. congolense and with uninfected controls. The results indicated that in the exotic goats the T. congolense infection suppressed the normal innate resistance to H. contortus and that the indigenous breed became even more susceptible to H. contortus. The prepatent period of the H. contortus infection was reduced by the concomitant T. congolense infection and the pathological effects of the combined infection were much more severe than those caused by either infection alone.