Case Report: A Case of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis in Dairy Goat Farms in South Korea

One Saanen dairy goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) farm in Korea reported that some goats showed clinical signs such as arthritis, paralysis, carpal joint swelling, and even death. We monitored clinical signs and pathological lesions. In the laboratory, we confirmed caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We examined all the dairy goats on the farm and found that many of them were positive. In conclusion, CAEV infection was detected in the majority of the goats in this farm, and it induced severe clinical signs impacting productivity and causing important economic shortfalls. We need to regularly investigate all dairy goat farms, and, more importantly, inspection of the quarantine stage should be required before importation. Interestingly, we found all negative results in Korean native black goats (Capra hircus linnaeus).

Dairy Sheep Played a Minor Role in the 2005–2010 Human Q Fever Outbreak in The Netherlands Compared to Dairy Goats

Q fever is an almost ubiquitous zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. This organism infects several animal species, as well as humans, and domestic ruminants like cattle, sheep and goats are an important animal reservoir of C. burnetii. In 2007, a sudden rise in notified human Q fever cases occurred in The Netherlands, and by the end of 2009, more than 3500 human Q fever patients had been notified. Dairy sheep and dairy goats were suspected to play a causal role in this human Q fever outbreak, and several measures were taken, aiming at a reduction of C. burnetii shedding by infected small ruminants, in order to reduce environmental contamination and thus human exposure. One of the first measures was compulsory notification of more than five percent abortion within thirty days for dairy sheep and dairy goat farms, starting 12 June 2008. After notification, an official farm inspection took place, and laboratory investigations were performed aiming at ruling out or demonstrating a causal role of C. burnetii. These measures were effective, and the number of human Q fever cases decreased; levels are currently the same as they were prior to 2007. The effect of these measures was monitored using a bulk tank milk (BTM) PCR and an antibody ELISA. The percentage PCR positive dairy herds and flocks decreased over time, and dairy sheep flocks tested PCR positive significantly less often and became PCR negative earlier compared to dairy goat herds. Although there was no difference in the percentage of dairy goat and dairy sheep farms with a C. burnetii abortion outbreak, the total number of shedding dairy sheep was much lower than the number of shedding dairy goats. Combined with the fact that Q fever patients lived mainly in the proximity of infected dairy goat farms and that no Q fever patients could be linked directly to dairy sheep farms, although this may have happened in individual cases, we conclude that dairy sheep did not play a major role in the Dutch Q fever outbreak. BTM monitoring using both a PCR and an ELISA is essential to determine a potential C. burnetii risk, not only for The Netherlands but for other countries with small ruminant dairy industries.

Changes in the Serum Protein Fractions in Goats after Treatment of Natural Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in small ruminants belong to major health problems. The regulation of gastrointestinal infections in goats and the responses developed against them appear to be different from those observed in sheep. In the literature, there is a lack of data on the effect of gastrointestinal parasitic infections on the serum protein profile in goats. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites and to compare the changes in the total serum proteins and serum protein fractions (albumin and α1-, α2-, β-, and γ-globulins) obtained after antihelminthic treatment. Eight adult female goats of the white shorthaired breed from a small dairy goat farm at the age ranging between 3 and 5 years with average body weight 35.4 ± 3.2 kg and body condition score (BCS) from 1.5 to 2.5 were used in the study. The serum proteins in goats were separated into five fractions: albumin, α1- and α2-globulins, and β- and γ-globulins. Significant changes after treatment were found in the relative concentrations of albumin ( P < 0.01 ) and α2- ( P < 0.05 ), β- ( P < 0.001 ), and γ-globulins ( P < 0.01 ), as well as albumin/globulin ratio ( P < 0.01 ). The mean concentration of total serum proteins was, after the antiparasitic treatment, significantly higher. Among the globulin fractions, the γ-globulin fraction contributed most significantly to these changes ( P < 0.001 ). The results presented in the study suggest a significant effect of antiparasitic treatment in goats on the synthesis of blood serum proteins and on the changes of the proportion of serum protein fractions.

Dairy goat welfare in semi-intensive production systems and drought conditions

The region of Coquimbo has the highest percentage of goats (Capra hircus) in Chile and is severely affected by droughts. This can lead to environmental challenges such as limited water and forage availability when goats are kept in natural grasslands. The objective of this study was to assess the welfare of dairy goats in semi-intensive production systems under drought conditions. The study was carried out in La Serena city, region of Coquimbo, Chile and 22 semi-intensive dairy goat farms were assessed using the Animal Welfare Indicators protocol. In each evaluation, the following indicators and information were gathered: physical and behavioural indicators of animal welfare, farmers' sociodemographic information, farm facilities, husbandry practices and management of the farm, and farmers' perception of animal welfare. Of the goats evaluated (n = 446), the vast majority had a body condition score (BCS) considered normal (n = 349; 78.25%). The main welfare problems were poor hair condition, faecal soiling, overgrown claws and improper disbudding or dehorning. The majority of farmers (96%) considered it 'rather important' or 'very important' to handle their goats in a gentle manner, expressing concern about the welfare of their animals and considering pain as a negative experience for goats. A lower than expected percentage of very thin animals (low BCS) were seen, considering the drought conditions and the forage shortage that affects the region, and no animals were observed with signs of thermal stress. The semi-intensive production systems could be an alternative to pasture-based systems to overcome environmental challenges.

The Effect of Zinc-Proteinate Supplementation on the In Vitro Digestibility and Ruminal Fermentation in Goat

This study aimed primarily to investigate the effect of Zn-Proteinate (Zn-Prot) supplementation on in vitro rumen digestibility and rumen fermentation. This research used a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replicates. The experimental treatment was the supplementation of various levels of Zn-Prot (0; 12.5 ppm; 25 ppm, and 37.5 ppm) on a dry matter basis. Parameters determined were in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), partial volatile fatty acid (VFA) (acetate, propionate, and butyrate), A/P ratio, CH4, and the efficiency of the conversion hexose to VFA. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. The results showed that goats fed with a diet supplemented with 25 ppm Zn-Prot had the highest IVDMD and IVOMD values. There was no significant effect on the VFA and CH4 concentrations, A/P ratio, and the efficiency of the hexose-VFA conversion within treatment groups. In conclusion, supplementing 25 ppm of Zn-Prot into the diet of dairy goat increase the dry matter and organic matter digestibility.

Effect of Glutathione on Sperm Quality in Guanzhong Dairy Goat Sperm During Cryopreservation

In the process of cryopreservation of dairy goat semen, it will face many threats such as oxidative damage, which will affect the motility and plasma membrane function of sperm. As an endogenous antioxidant in animals, glutathione (GSH) can significantly improve the quality of thawed sperm when added to the frozen diluent of semen of pigs and cattle. In this study, different concentration gradients of GSH [0 mmol/L (control), 1, 2, 3, 4 mmol/L] were added to the frozen diluent of Guanzhong dairy goat semen. By detecting the sperm motility parameters, acrosome intact rate and plasma membrane intact rate after thawing, the effect of GSH on the cryopreservation of dairy goat semen was explored. Sperm motility parameters were measured with the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) system (total power, TM; forward power, PM; linearity, LIN; average path speed, VAP; straight line speed, VSL; curve speed, VCL; beat cross frequency, BCF). The sperm acrosome integrity rate after thawing was detected by a specific fluorescent probe (isothiocyanate-labeled peanut agglutinin, FITC-PNA), and the sperm plasma membrane integrity rate after thawing was detected by the hypotonic sperm swelling (HOST) method. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) kit, malondialdehyde (MDA) kit, superoxide dismutase (SOD) kit, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) kit were used to detect various antioxidant indicators of thawed sperm. in vitro fertilization experiment was used to verify the effect of adding glutathione on sperm fertilization and embryo development. The results showed that when the concentration of glutathione was 2 mmol/l, the sperm viability, plasma membrane intact rate, and acrosome intact rate were the highest after thawing, reaching 62.14, 37.62, and 70.87% respectively, and they were all significantly higher. In terms of antioxidant indexes; the values of SOD and GSH-PX were 212.60 U/ml and 125.04 U/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group; The values of ROS and MDA were 363.05 U/ml and 7.02 nmol/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than the control group. The addition of 2 mmol/L glutathione significantly improves the fertilization ability of sperm. In short, adding 2 mmol/l glutathione to the semen diluent can improve the quality of frozen Guanzhong dairy goat sperm.

Botanical and mineral composition of dominant wild forages for feeding of dairy goats in Payakumbuh Region

The objectives of this study were (i) to identify the diversity of forages that are usually consumed or fed to the dairy goats, (ii) to assess the mineral composition of dominant forages concerning the soil mineral status of growing areas. Eight dairy goat farms surveyed and collected forage samples to define the diversity and dominant forages used to feed the goat. Samples of three dominant forages (Asystasia gangetica, Axonopus compressus, and Panicum maximum) and soils were then collected in five different areas where the farmers usually derived the forages (banana plantation, idle lands, riverbanks, roadside, and rice field edge). Plant samples were collected by using a plate meter used for the calculation of botanical composition. Fresh samples were then chopped, dried, and then ground in meal form before analysis for dry matter (DM), and minerals of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, and S. The same minerals were analyzed for soil samples. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomized design of 5x3 consisting of 3 plant species and five growing areas as replications. Data were statistically analyzed using correlation and variance analysis in Random Block Design (RBD). Results showed of the total about 45 types of plants commonly consumed by goats, there were three dominant species, i.e., P. maximum (38.60%), A. gangetica (24.23%), and A. compressus (17.23%). The Ca content of forages highly correlated with the Ca in the soils, while magnesium in the forage was negatively correlated with the magnesium in the soil. It was concluded that the dominant forages were found a good source of Ca and Mg but deficient phosphorus.