Effect of grazing management on the behaviour and parasitic infestation in goats

Abstract

Two grazing systems were studied in Alpine and Saanen goats during summer and winter. A lot of goats had, during 60 days in the summer and 60 days in the winter, free access to pastures while another lot was withdrawn, daily, at 5 p.m. and released at 10 a.m. in the next day. The respiratory frequency at sun or shade, after resting 60m. was not influenced by free or not free management. Rectal temperature at sun was greater (P< 0.05) in the free management goats. Regarding to the grazing habit, it was observed that in the summer the lot of free grazing animals was already grazing at 7a.m., remaining grazing during the day,with an average of 415.8 minutes of daily grazing. The lot released at 10 a.m. started immediately grazing, maintaining an equal osccillating behaviour, sometimes with a high number of goats grazing and sometimes with less animals grazing, with an average of 336.8 minutes of daily grazing. ln the winter, the grazing behaviour presented less oscillation than in the summer, in the two lots, The free animals began grazing only after 8 a.m., although a higher number of animals maintained the grazing attitude, with an animal average of 464.8 minutes daily, while the lot released at l0 a.m. began grazing immediately, maintaining this activity in a constant manner, with a total average of 407.0 minutes of daily grazing. The smaller time at pasture did not cause weight loss. Goats from the free management reached high levels of helminthiasis more rapidly than the animals from the grazing restriction sistem. But after 56 days from the vermifugation both groups had similar levels of parasitic infestation.