OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRTH OF GOATS

The parturient behavior of 90 Murciano-Granadina goats was analyzed. H ourly frequencies of births showed a unimodal distribution with a maxi mum number of births between 10:00 and 18:00 h (74.45%). Twenty-four b irths (26.66%) took place with the goat standing, and sixty-six births (73.33%) took place with the goat recumbent. Fetuses were presented h ead-first (80.95%), breech (14.97%) and forelegs first (4.08%). Length of labor was 19.49 min for single birth and 30.36 min for twins (firs t born and second born, 14.52 and 15.84 min, respectively). Time for c omplete expulsion of placental tissue for goats with single and twin b irths was 86.58 +/- 4.93 and 106.57 +/- 4.80 min, respectively. Finall y, placentophagy for goats with single or twin births was: total inges tion (0%; 0%), partial ingestion (33.33%; 52%), licking (46.67%; 36%), and no contact (20%; 12%), respectively.