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White liver disease in goats
H Black1, J B Hutton, R J Sutherland
1Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal Health Laboratory, Private Bag, Whangarei, New Zealand.
New Zealand Veterinary Journal
|March 1, 1988
Summary
White liver disease (WLD) in Angora goats is linked to vitamin B12 deficiency, potentially caused by high-propionate diets. This condition, characterized by ill-thrift and liver changes, may be a metabolic issue specific to certain ruminant species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Nutrition
- Ruminant Metabolism
Background:
- White liver disease (WLD) is a condition affecting livestock, characterized by hepatic lipodystrophy and ill-thrift.
- Previous descriptions of WLD exist in sheep, but its occurrence and etiology in goats require further investigation.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency has been implicated in metabolic disorders of ruminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report three field cases of WLD in young Angora cross goats.
- To investigate the potential link between WLD, vitamin B12 deficiency, and dietary factors in goats.
- To develop a hypothesis regarding the metabolic basis of WLD in susceptible species.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case reporting of three affected Angora cross goats.
- Assessment of clinical signs including ill-thrift and hepatic lipodystrophy.
- Measurement of tissue vitamin B12 levels.
- Review of dietary factors, particularly propionate content.
Main Results:
- Three cases of ill-thrift, hepatic lipodystrophy, and low tissue vitamin B12 were identified in young Angora cross goats.
- The clinical and pathological findings met the diagnostic criteria for WLD previously described in sheep.
- The affected goats were on diets potentially rich in propionate.
Conclusions:
- The reported cases suggest WLD can occur in Angora goats and shares characteristics with the condition in sheep.
- A hypothesis is proposed that WLD is a metabolic consequence of cobalt/vitamin B12 deficiency, exacerbated by high-propionate diets.
- Further research is needed to understand why WLD appears to affect goats and sheep but not cattle or red deer.