A - Papers appearing in refereed journals
Anzuino, K., Knowles, T. G., Lee, M. R. F. and Grogono-Thomas, R. 2019. Survey of husbandry and health on UK commercial dairy goat farms. Veterinary Record. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105274
Authors | Anzuino, K., Knowles, T. G., Lee, M. R. F. and Grogono-Thomas, R. |
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Abstract | Published research relevant to the UK dairy goat industry is scarce. Current practices and concerns within the UK dairy goat industry must be better understood if research is to have optimal value. A postal survey was conducted of the farmer membership of the Milking Goat Association as a first step in addressing gaps in knowledge. Questions were asked about husbandry practices, farmer observations of their goats and their priorities for further research. Seventy two point nine per cent of Milking Goat Association members responded, representing 38% of commercial dairy goat farms and 53% of the commercial dairy goat population in England and Wales. Findings were comprehensive and showed extensive variation in farm practices. Farmers reported pneumonia and scours (diarrhoea) as the most prevalent illnesses of their kids. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, failure to conceive and poor growth were the most prevalent observations of youngstock. Overly fat body condition, assisted kidding, failure to conceive and difficulty drying off were the most prevalent observations of adult milking goats. Farmers top priorities for further research were kid health (79.5% of farmers), Johne’s disease (69.5% of farmers), tuberculosis (59% of farmers) and nutrition (47.7% of farmers). |
Keywords | Goats; Surveys; Welfare; Health; Dairy |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Journal | Veterinary Record |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105274 |
Open access | Published as non-open access |
Funder | Milk Goat Association |
University of Bristol | |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 14 Aug 2019 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 25 Jun 2019 |
Publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
ISSN | 0042-4900 |
Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/8wyv5/survey-of-husbandry-and-health-on-uk-commercial-dairy-goat-farms
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