GOAT MORTALITY IN POITOU-CHARENTES - EPID EMIOLOGY AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH DISORDERS

A one year longitudinal survey was performed in 43 dairy goat herds (m ean size : 139 present goats, average milk yield : 767 kg/goat/y). Ove rall mortality rate was 5 % (n = 5975 present goats). Main health diso rders associated to death were : digestive disorders (23 %), nervous d isorders (17 %) and per/post-partum disorders (16 %). Mortality had a comparable level in the different classes of age (p < 0.05). Two morta lity cases out of 3 occured within a two month post partum period. Cla sses of health disorders associated to death had different structures for age, number of lactation and kidding to death interval (p < 0.002) ; The average mortality rate in herd (n = 43) was 4.6 % (sd = 2.7). Mo rtality rate appeared related to herd size (r = 0.4; p < 0.01) and mil k productivity (r = -0.5; p < 0.001). Herds with higher mortality rate (> 5 %) had a higher rate of dead goats with associated health disord ers other than udder disorders or disorders associated to kidding (p < 0.05).