Prognostic indicators of post partum viability of kids born to Escherichiacoli-vaccinated or unvaccinated does

This study was undertaken to determine some blood and other physiological p arameters with potential for use as prognostic indicators of viability of n ewborn goat kids. Of the 143 kids born during the on-farm study 97 were cro sses of Galla x Small East African (SEA) and 46 were pure SEA. The SEA x Ga lla kids were 46 single males, with a mean body weight at birth of 2.77 +/- 0.22 kg,43 females with a mean body weight at birth of 2.36 +/- 0.76 kg an d 5 and 3 sets of female and male twins (mean body weight at birth of 1.8 /- 0.19 kg and 2.05 +/- 0.07 kg for the female and male kids, respectively) . The SEA kids comprised 36 single male and female kids (mean body weight a t birth of 2.48 +/- 0.04 kg and 10 sets of twins (both male and female) (me an body weight at birth of 1.50 +/- 0.04 kg). Pre-suckling sera obtained on -station from kids born of does vaccinated against Escherichia coli (n = 8) and unvaccinated does (n = 7) had a total protein content of <40.0 g/l and no detectable levels of IgG and A or E. coli antibodies. Sera obtained 12 hours post partum from kids that survived in both groups contained about 19 -22 g of Ig g/l,50-80 g total protein/l, blood glucose of > 5 mmol/l and ha d an E. coli antibody titre of between 1/160 and 1/640. On the other hand, kids that died within 48 hours of birth (parturient deaths) and had been cl assified in categories 3 and 4 righting reaction had low (<40 g/l) total pr otein, low white blood cell count (4000/ml) and low blood glucose concentra tion (<4.9 mmol/l. It is concluded that kids with delayed righting reaction (>45 minutes),low rectal temperature (<36 degrees C), low birth weights (< 1.5 kg for singles and <1.0 kg for twins), low white blood cells (<4000/ ml , low (<2 mmol/l) blood glucose levels, low total protein (<40.0 g/l), low (<1:160) E. coli antibody titre and IgG (less than or equal to 3350 mg/l) i n sera obtained 12 hours after birth have a poor prognosis for survival.