Effect of litter size and sex on the birth weight of
newborn kids and in the behaviour of primiparous
goats before, during and after the parturition
J. Otal, M. Martı́nez, A. Quiles, M. L. Hevia, and A. Ramı́rez
Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain (e-mail: ).
Received 17 November 2009, accepted 26 July 2010.
Otal, J., Martı́nez, M., Quiles, A., Hevia, M. L. and Ramı́rez, A. 2010. Effect of litter size and sex on the birth weight of
newborn kids and in the behaviour of primiparous goats before, during and after the parturition. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 483490.
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from cdnsciencepub.com by 42.104.213.107 on 02/02/24
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of litter size (46 single birth and 32 double birth) and sex (44 male and 66
female) of newborn kids on the puerperal behaviour of primiparous MurcianoGranadina goats (N 78). The highest
frequencies were grunting, with 124.99166.5, and butting conspecific, with 7.098.7. Frequencies of the remaining variables
considered (standing, kicking, moving head and neck, licking their back and pawing the earth) were lower than 3.0. The
majority of variables were significantly greater for single births than for twin births (PB0.01). Goats that gave birth to twins
spent more time lying down, and less time walking than those that gave birth to one kid (10.196.7 min vs. 6.897.0 min, PB
0.05 and 2.991.1 min vs. 6.095.5 min, P B0.01, respectively). Parturition was longer and birth weight heavier for singleton
than twin-born kids (64.5915.7 min vs. 41.9910.7 min and 2.990.2 kg vs. 2.390.1 kg, respectively). In conclusion,
primiparous goats showed objective signs of discomfort that were more evident for singleton than twin birth kids.
Key words: Behaviour, goat, Murciano-Granadina breed, parturition
Otal, J., Martı́nez, M., Quiles, A., Hevia, M. L. et Ramı́rez, A. 2010. Effet de la taille de la litière et le sexe sur le poids des
chevreaux et dans le comportement chez les chèvres primipares avant, pendent et après la mise bas. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90:
For personal use only.
483490. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer l’effet de la taille de la litière (46 de naissance unique et 32 de
naissance double) et le sexe (44 mâles et 66 femelles) des chevreaux nouveau-nés sur le comportement puerpéral de chèvres
Murciano-Granadina primipares (N 78). Les variables qui présentaient les plus hautes fréquences ont été grognements,
avec 124.99166.5, et coup de tête à congénères, 7.098.7. Les fréquences des autres variables considérées (debout, ruer,
déplacement de la tête et le cou, lécher leur dos et gratter la terre) ont été inférieures à 3.0. La majorité des variables étaient
significativement plus élevés pour les naissances uniques que pour les naissances doubles (P B0,01). Les chèvres de mise
bas double passé plus de temps couché, et moins de temps en marchant que celles de mise bas simple (10.196.7 min vs.
6.897.0 min, P B0.05 et 2.991.1 min vs. 6.095.5 min PB0.01, respectivement). Le poids corporel et la durée de la mise
bas étaient plus élevés dans la mise bas unique que dans les premier jumelé (64.5915.7 min vs. 41.9910.7 min land
2.990.2 kg vs. 2.390.1 kg, respectivement). In conclusion, les chèvres primipares a montré des signes objectifs d’agitation
qui ont été plus évident pour la mise basse simple que pour les doubles.
Mots clés: Comportement, chèvre, Murciano-Granadina race, mise bas
The death rate of newborn kids in intensive systems has Dwyer (2003) indicated that the normal evolution of
fallen in recent years (Mellor and Stafford 2004) owing birth in sheep is clearly an important factor that
to the control of environmental factors and the better determines the later behaviour of the lamb, and so the
management of the animals, yet it remains high com- aim of this study was to describe the effects of litter size
pared with ovine and bovine species. Studies on and sex of the kids in the main patterns of behaviour
behaviour at the time of birth enable better management before and during parturition in primiparous goats. This
of goats, improving reproductive efficiency. According will help provide a more favorable environment for goats
to Hydbring et al. (1999), birth is a natural event that when giving birth, and help to predict whether birth will
involves stress and severe pain for the mother; this may be more or less difficult, allowing the necessary measure
be particularly important in primiparous females, due to to be taken to reduce the death rate among newborn kids.
their lack of experience. Most studies refer to multi-
parous goats (Lickliter 1985; Ramirez et al. 1995a; MATERIALS AND METHODS
Konyali et al. 2004) and apart from the comparative Animals and Housing Conditions
studies of Das and Tomer (1997), who specifically The study was carried out on a farm in Murcia, in the
analyzed factors in the birth duration of both multi- Mediterranean region of southeast Spain (lat.
parous and primiparous goats, there has been little 38800?22?N, long. 1810?28??W). Seventy-eight primipar-
research using primiparous goats. ous goats of the Murciano-Granadina breed (46 single
Can. J. Anim. Sci. (2010) 90: 483490 doi:10.4141/CJAS09108 483
, 484 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
births and 32 double births) with their 110 kids (44 male Moment of isolation. Isolation before parturition and the
and 66 female) were selected for the study. The animals moment at which it takes place were studied. Goats were
were kept in an open stable regime with a covered area grouped in three categories: goats that isolated them-
of 12.5 m2.5 m and an open-air paddock 40 m 40 m. selves from their herdmates over 1 h before parturition;
The goats were fed twice a day with barley, buckwheat, isolation between 30 and 60 min before parturition and
dried granules of alfalfa, a supply of straw and water for isolation in the last 30 min.
ad libitum intake. Oestrus synchronization by hormonal
treatment and artificial insemination was carried out in Birth site. This site is defined as the location selected by
order to have an approximate date for the birth. the doe to give birth and was recorded as one of the
following: by the stall wall, a corner of the stall, the
centre of the stall and the outdoor enclosure.
Ethics
The research protocol of this work was approved by the
Bioethical Commission of Murcia University in accor- Enlargement of the udder. Four categories were identi-
fied according to the time of enlargement: over 1 h
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from cdnsciencepub.com by 42.104.213.107 on 02/02/24
dance with the European Union directives (EEC 1986)
and Spanish law (BOE 2005) concerning the protection before giving birth; 3060 min before giving birth;
of animals used for experimental and other scientific during the last 30 min and no enlargement of the udder
purposes. before parturition. The enlargement of the udder has
been defined as an increase in the udder depth (distance
between the rear udder attachment and udder base) of
Data Collection more than 5 cm as well as change in the udder
Observation of the animals and their adaptation to the conformation, as a result of complete mammary gland
presence of the observers began 1 wk before the filling and accompanied by milk secretion.
estimated date of birth. Observers were with the animals
from 0600 to 2000. Nightly controls at 2300, 0200 and Time of parturition. The hours of parturition were
0500 were performed to detect probable imminent recorded in all cases and were grouped into four periods:
births. One of the observers using two camcorders 1000 to 1400, 1400 to 1800, 1800 to 2200 and 2200 to
For personal use only.
(Canon VM-E2 camcorder, Climent Imagen, Murcia, 1000.
Spain) filmed each goat during the final stages of
parturition. Recording began when the first signs of Birth position. Defined as laterally recumbent or
preparturient behaviour were detected in the mother and standing.
finished when the placenta had been expelled. Newborns
were identified, weighed and their umbilical cord was Presentation of the kids. Defined as head, breech or
disinfected at the moment of birth. A Panasonic NV-67 forelegs.
video camera and a Sony KV-25 XSE television were
used to view and observe the previously collected
Duration of the birth. After the births, observation
images.
continued for possible ingestion of the placenta and
According to the methodology used by Ramı́rez et al.
for the total time (min) for the placenta to be expelled.
(1995a), the variables analysed and their categories were
To study the influence of the total frequency of
the following:
activities related to preparturient behaviour in the
maternal care toward the kids, the behaviour para-
Preparturient behaviour. A set of parameters was identi- meters, latency to first sniffing, latency to first licking
fied as behavioural indicators of the degree of rest- and time devoted to care for the first kid born during the
lessness and/or pain experienced by the goats in the last first hour after birth, were measured.
hour of parturition. This last hour was divided into four
15-min periods in order to examine the development of Latency to first sniffing. Time (min) from the instant of
the does’ behaviour with regard to parturition; these birth to the goat’s first sniffing of the kid.
periods were referred to as 6045, 4530, 3015 and 150
min. The behaviour parameters studied were standing, Latency to first licking. Time (min) from the instant of
grunting, kicking (other animals and objects), moving birth to the goat first likes of the kid.
the head and neck, licking the back, butting conspecific
and pawing the earth. The total frequency of activities
Time devoted to care to the first kid born. Total time
related to preparturient behaviour was calculated by the
(min) devoted to smelling or licking the kid during the
sum of these variables for each period, litter size and sex.
first hour after birth.
Postures. The percentage of time that the goats re- Statistical Analysis
mained in different postures, standing, lying or walking, The SPSS (version 15.0.1 SPSS, Chicago, IL) program
during the last hour before parturition. package was used for statistical analysis. Significance in
newborn kids and in the behaviour of primiparous
goats before, during and after the parturition
J. Otal, M. Martı́nez, A. Quiles, M. L. Hevia, and A. Ramı́rez
Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain (e-mail: ).
Received 17 November 2009, accepted 26 July 2010.
Otal, J., Martı́nez, M., Quiles, A., Hevia, M. L. and Ramı́rez, A. 2010. Effect of litter size and sex on the birth weight of
newborn kids and in the behaviour of primiparous goats before, during and after the parturition. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 483490.
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from cdnsciencepub.com by 42.104.213.107 on 02/02/24
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of litter size (46 single birth and 32 double birth) and sex (44 male and 66
female) of newborn kids on the puerperal behaviour of primiparous MurcianoGranadina goats (N 78). The highest
frequencies were grunting, with 124.99166.5, and butting conspecific, with 7.098.7. Frequencies of the remaining variables
considered (standing, kicking, moving head and neck, licking their back and pawing the earth) were lower than 3.0. The
majority of variables were significantly greater for single births than for twin births (PB0.01). Goats that gave birth to twins
spent more time lying down, and less time walking than those that gave birth to one kid (10.196.7 min vs. 6.897.0 min, PB
0.05 and 2.991.1 min vs. 6.095.5 min, P B0.01, respectively). Parturition was longer and birth weight heavier for singleton
than twin-born kids (64.5915.7 min vs. 41.9910.7 min and 2.990.2 kg vs. 2.390.1 kg, respectively). In conclusion,
primiparous goats showed objective signs of discomfort that were more evident for singleton than twin birth kids.
Key words: Behaviour, goat, Murciano-Granadina breed, parturition
Otal, J., Martı́nez, M., Quiles, A., Hevia, M. L. et Ramı́rez, A. 2010. Effet de la taille de la litière et le sexe sur le poids des
chevreaux et dans le comportement chez les chèvres primipares avant, pendent et après la mise bas. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90:
For personal use only.
483490. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer l’effet de la taille de la litière (46 de naissance unique et 32 de
naissance double) et le sexe (44 mâles et 66 femelles) des chevreaux nouveau-nés sur le comportement puerpéral de chèvres
Murciano-Granadina primipares (N 78). Les variables qui présentaient les plus hautes fréquences ont été grognements,
avec 124.99166.5, et coup de tête à congénères, 7.098.7. Les fréquences des autres variables considérées (debout, ruer,
déplacement de la tête et le cou, lécher leur dos et gratter la terre) ont été inférieures à 3.0. La majorité des variables étaient
significativement plus élevés pour les naissances uniques que pour les naissances doubles (P B0,01). Les chèvres de mise
bas double passé plus de temps couché, et moins de temps en marchant que celles de mise bas simple (10.196.7 min vs.
6.897.0 min, P B0.05 et 2.991.1 min vs. 6.095.5 min PB0.01, respectivement). Le poids corporel et la durée de la mise
bas étaient plus élevés dans la mise bas unique que dans les premier jumelé (64.5915.7 min vs. 41.9910.7 min land
2.990.2 kg vs. 2.390.1 kg, respectivement). In conclusion, les chèvres primipares a montré des signes objectifs d’agitation
qui ont été plus évident pour la mise basse simple que pour les doubles.
Mots clés: Comportement, chèvre, Murciano-Granadina race, mise bas
The death rate of newborn kids in intensive systems has Dwyer (2003) indicated that the normal evolution of
fallen in recent years (Mellor and Stafford 2004) owing birth in sheep is clearly an important factor that
to the control of environmental factors and the better determines the later behaviour of the lamb, and so the
management of the animals, yet it remains high com- aim of this study was to describe the effects of litter size
pared with ovine and bovine species. Studies on and sex of the kids in the main patterns of behaviour
behaviour at the time of birth enable better management before and during parturition in primiparous goats. This
of goats, improving reproductive efficiency. According will help provide a more favorable environment for goats
to Hydbring et al. (1999), birth is a natural event that when giving birth, and help to predict whether birth will
involves stress and severe pain for the mother; this may be more or less difficult, allowing the necessary measure
be particularly important in primiparous females, due to to be taken to reduce the death rate among newborn kids.
their lack of experience. Most studies refer to multi-
parous goats (Lickliter 1985; Ramirez et al. 1995a; MATERIALS AND METHODS
Konyali et al. 2004) and apart from the comparative Animals and Housing Conditions
studies of Das and Tomer (1997), who specifically The study was carried out on a farm in Murcia, in the
analyzed factors in the birth duration of both multi- Mediterranean region of southeast Spain (lat.
parous and primiparous goats, there has been little 38800?22?N, long. 1810?28??W). Seventy-eight primipar-
research using primiparous goats. ous goats of the Murciano-Granadina breed (46 single
Can. J. Anim. Sci. (2010) 90: 483490 doi:10.4141/CJAS09108 483
, 484 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
births and 32 double births) with their 110 kids (44 male Moment of isolation. Isolation before parturition and the
and 66 female) were selected for the study. The animals moment at which it takes place were studied. Goats were
were kept in an open stable regime with a covered area grouped in three categories: goats that isolated them-
of 12.5 m2.5 m and an open-air paddock 40 m 40 m. selves from their herdmates over 1 h before parturition;
The goats were fed twice a day with barley, buckwheat, isolation between 30 and 60 min before parturition and
dried granules of alfalfa, a supply of straw and water for isolation in the last 30 min.
ad libitum intake. Oestrus synchronization by hormonal
treatment and artificial insemination was carried out in Birth site. This site is defined as the location selected by
order to have an approximate date for the birth. the doe to give birth and was recorded as one of the
following: by the stall wall, a corner of the stall, the
centre of the stall and the outdoor enclosure.
Ethics
The research protocol of this work was approved by the
Bioethical Commission of Murcia University in accor- Enlargement of the udder. Four categories were identi-
fied according to the time of enlargement: over 1 h
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from cdnsciencepub.com by 42.104.213.107 on 02/02/24
dance with the European Union directives (EEC 1986)
and Spanish law (BOE 2005) concerning the protection before giving birth; 3060 min before giving birth;
of animals used for experimental and other scientific during the last 30 min and no enlargement of the udder
purposes. before parturition. The enlargement of the udder has
been defined as an increase in the udder depth (distance
between the rear udder attachment and udder base) of
Data Collection more than 5 cm as well as change in the udder
Observation of the animals and their adaptation to the conformation, as a result of complete mammary gland
presence of the observers began 1 wk before the filling and accompanied by milk secretion.
estimated date of birth. Observers were with the animals
from 0600 to 2000. Nightly controls at 2300, 0200 and Time of parturition. The hours of parturition were
0500 were performed to detect probable imminent recorded in all cases and were grouped into four periods:
births. One of the observers using two camcorders 1000 to 1400, 1400 to 1800, 1800 to 2200 and 2200 to
For personal use only.
(Canon VM-E2 camcorder, Climent Imagen, Murcia, 1000.
Spain) filmed each goat during the final stages of
parturition. Recording began when the first signs of Birth position. Defined as laterally recumbent or
preparturient behaviour were detected in the mother and standing.
finished when the placenta had been expelled. Newborns
were identified, weighed and their umbilical cord was Presentation of the kids. Defined as head, breech or
disinfected at the moment of birth. A Panasonic NV-67 forelegs.
video camera and a Sony KV-25 XSE television were
used to view and observe the previously collected
Duration of the birth. After the births, observation
images.
continued for possible ingestion of the placenta and
According to the methodology used by Ramı́rez et al.
for the total time (min) for the placenta to be expelled.
(1995a), the variables analysed and their categories were
To study the influence of the total frequency of
the following:
activities related to preparturient behaviour in the
maternal care toward the kids, the behaviour para-
Preparturient behaviour. A set of parameters was identi- meters, latency to first sniffing, latency to first licking
fied as behavioural indicators of the degree of rest- and time devoted to care for the first kid born during the
lessness and/or pain experienced by the goats in the last first hour after birth, were measured.
hour of parturition. This last hour was divided into four
15-min periods in order to examine the development of Latency to first sniffing. Time (min) from the instant of
the does’ behaviour with regard to parturition; these birth to the goat’s first sniffing of the kid.
periods were referred to as 6045, 4530, 3015 and 150
min. The behaviour parameters studied were standing, Latency to first licking. Time (min) from the instant of
grunting, kicking (other animals and objects), moving birth to the goat first likes of the kid.
the head and neck, licking the back, butting conspecific
and pawing the earth. The total frequency of activities
Time devoted to care to the first kid born. Total time
related to preparturient behaviour was calculated by the
(min) devoted to smelling or licking the kid during the
sum of these variables for each period, litter size and sex.
first hour after birth.
Postures. The percentage of time that the goats re- Statistical Analysis
mained in different postures, standing, lying or walking, The SPSS (version 15.0.1 SPSS, Chicago, IL) program
during the last hour before parturition. package was used for statistical analysis. Significance in
