Quantitative evaluation of acid-base balance on milk producing goats: Effect of sex and milk yield

The characteristics of the acid-base balance in the Murciano-Granadina goat are evaluated in this report. This is a rustic breed, located in the South of Spain, which is raised for milk. This fact could determine special meta bolic and internal characteristics that have been evaluated. in order to ob tain a better understanding of the factors that control the acid-base balan ce and its relationship to sex and milk yield, Fend's equations have been d eveloped. Our results showed that the sex influences buffer bases (HCO3- an d BE) and fluid balance (taking into account Na+, PCV, osmolality and BEfw) . Considering the influence of milk yield, the statistical differences appe ared in four parameters: pCO(2), HCO3-, AG and PCV The most significant fin dings of this report are that this breed is well adapted to the high metabo lic requirements imposed by milk production and that secondly, the females of this breed present a peculiar fluid balance, different from the males.