Repeatability of Health and Welfare Traits and Correlation with Performance Traits in Dairy Goats Reared under Low-Input Farming Systems.

ABSTRACT: The objectives of the study were to estimate the repeatability of health and welfare traits and investigate their association with performance in three breeds of dairy goats reared under low-input farming systems in Greece. A total of 1210 goats of Eghoria (n = 418), Skopelos (n = 429), and Damascus (n = 363) breeds were assessed. Udder health, parasitic resistance, welfare, milk yield and quality, and body condition score were recorded monthly for two milking periods. Udder health records included somatic cell count (SCC) and total viable count (TVC). Based on combinations of SCC and TVC and thresholds set at >10⁶ cells/mL and >2 × 10⁴ cfu/mL, respectively, additional udder health phenotypes were defined. Parasitism included myiasis, tick i

SUBMITTER: Vouraki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9231351 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature