Studies on the diseases and mortality pattern of goats under farm conditions and some factors affecting mortality and survival rates in Black Bengal kids

Abstract

The research work was carried out from July 2004 to June 2005 and the place of research work was Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI). The objectives of this work were to investigate the diseases and mortality pattern of goats and some factors affecting mortality and survivability rates of Black Bengal goats under intensive and semi-intensive management, in permanent house. Goats were only vaccinated with Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), administered with anthelmintics and dipped in 0.5% Malathion or 0.02% Diazinon solution to control endo- and ecto-parasites, respectively. They were allowed to graze 6-7 hours along with supplemental concentrate and green forages whereas ad libitum green grasses and concentrate were supplied to the goats managed under intensive management. The diseases were recorded mainly on the basis of clinical symptoms shown by animals and some by laboratory diagnosis; mortality was confirmed by some laboratory tests and clinical findings before death if any. Adult goats (>1 yr of age) died mostly due to suspected enterotoxaemia in the dry season (October to March) when there were shortages of green grasses in the grazing lands, which were confirmed by Gramâs staining and ELISA tests, and female goats died significantly more than male. Growing goats (3-12 months of age) mortality was about 22%, died mostly due to diarrhoea and pneumonia and mortality was higher (nearly 40%) in hot and wet season (July to October). The overall kid (0-3 months of age) mortality within study period was about 29%, of which the major causes were infectious (63%) i.e., diarrhoea, pneumonia, ecthyma and enterotoxaemia. Excluding accidental causes (predators and mechanical) mortality was reduced to about 18%.Kid mortality was affected by birth weight which was just opposite to mortality. It was also affected by birth seasons, litter size, sex of kids, damâs body weight at kidding but parity was no significant effect on kid mortality Kids like growing goats, also died significantly more during hot and wet season. Morbidity was higher in female goats where mostly diarrhoea and pneumonia and some sorts affected all age groups of goats by ecthyma. There were seasonal differences.

Key words: Black Bengal, diseases, goats, kids, mortality

DOI = 10.3329.bjvm.v5i1.1316

Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2007). 5 (1 & 2): 71-76