FETAL LOSS IN DAIRY GOATS - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY IN 22 HERDS

In this study, 22 herds comprising 1439 dairy goats presumed to be pre gnant were studied during the gestation period 1990-91. Altogether, 16 0(11.1% of the total number of goats) experienced foetal loss followin g conception. In all, 85(53%) of these goats aborted, 45(28%) delivere d dead foetuses at full term and from 30(19%) goats no discharge or fo etus was observed. The incidence of foetal loss in the different herds varied from 3-38%. The proportion of foetal loss was >20% in three he rds comprising a total of 169 goats. In 10 herds comprising 677 goats the proportion of foetal losses were <10%. In most of the herds, the f oetal loss occurred in goats aged greater than or equal to 3 years. De composed foetuses expelled during the last 2 months of pregnancy was t he most common observation. Usually, no other symptoms of disease were observed. Listeric abortion was diagnosed in five (3.1%) goats and in seven (4.3%) goats serological or parasitological examination indicat ed foetal loss from toxoplasmosis. A herd history of foetal loss was s ignificantly associated with a high incidence of loss during the prese nt examination. Other diseases and routine flock management procedures were not found to be significant. However; some environmental conditi ons such as inferior natural lighting in the stables, pre-heated drink ing water and a building design with a combined feeding and milking pl atform involving large and crowded pens were associated with a high in cidence of foetal loss. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.