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Thermoregulation and performance of British Anglo-Nubian and Saanen goats reared in an intensive system in Trinidad

Tropical Animal Health and Production volume 44, pages 491–496 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Anglo-Nubian and Saanen goats were imported into Trinidad and Tobago to form the nucleus of the goat expansion and improvement programme. Thermoregulation and performance of the parent stock and the F1 were evaluated under intensive housing and management. Rectal temperature in the a.m. irrespective of breed or season ranged from 38.5°C to 38.7°C and p.m. ranged from 38.8°C to 39.0°C. After 2 h of exposure outdoors without shade, Saanen parent stock (SAPS) respiration rate (105 br/min) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than Saanen F1 (SAF1, 76 br/min), Anglo-Nubian parent stock (ANSP, 65 br/min) and Anglo-Nubian F1 (ANF1, 51 br/min). Rectal temperature over the same period showed significant differences (p < 0.042) between SAF1 (39.8°C) and SAPS (39.4°C), and ANF1 (39.4°C); the value for ANSP was 39.7°C. Age at first kidding showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between breeds or between the parent stock and the F1 generations, ranging from 638 to 686 days. The ANPS were the most prolific of all groups (p < 0.05); the mean for this group was 1.86 ± 0.07 kids/kidding. Saanen F1 was the least prolific among the group, with mean number of kids at 1.23 (±0.11) kids/kidding. Kidding interval showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference between the groups, ranging from 319 to 521 days. It was concluded that the Anglo-Nubian appears to be more suitable than the Saanen for the tropical humid environment in Trinidad as indicated by their thermoregulation, prolificacy and kidding interval.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank the Animal Production Division Centeno and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Special thanks to Dr. Francis Davis for supporting this collaborative study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Open Tropical Forages and Animal Production Laboratory, Department of Food Production, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

    Cicero H. O. Lallo

  2. Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

    Ian Paul

  3. School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mount Hope, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

    Gregory Bourne

Authors
  1. Cicero H. O. Lallo
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  2. Ian Paul
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  3. Gregory Bourne
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Correspondence to Cicero H. O. Lallo.

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Lallo, C.H.O., Paul, I. & Bourne, G. Thermoregulation and performance of British Anglo-Nubian and Saanen goats reared in an intensive system in Trinidad. Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 491–496 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9924-z

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Keywords

  • Anglo-Nubian
  • Saanen
  • Adaptability
  • Performance
  • Trinidad
  • Humid tropics