Environmental enrichment in dairy goats in a semi-arid region: Thermoregulatory and behavioral responses

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on the thermoregulatory and behavioral responses of goats raised in semi-arid conditions. 12 Saanen goats lactating, aged between 2 and 4 years, clinically healthy with a mean body weight of 31.4 ± 1.65 kg and body condition score between 2.0 and 2.5 were used. The types of enriched environments used were: 1) without environmental enrichment (control); 2) classical music;3) PET plastic bottles with corn;4) suspended tires;5) logs of wood; and 6) all objects simultaneously. The air temperature, black globe tempeature and humidity index, and radiant heat load were higher (P < 0.05) during treatment with all objects simultaneously. The respiratory rate (RR) was higher (P = 0.001) in the control treatment compared to those with environmental enrichment. The rectal temperature (RT) was higher in the control and acoustic groups (P < 0.05), however it was lower with all objects. The coat surface temperature (CST) was higher (P < 0.01) in the control group and lower in the treatment with music, tires, logs of wood, PET bottles and all objects. The behaviors lying down, drinking water, urination, ruminating while standing, and defecating were similar (P > 0.05) between treatments. The first two discriminant functions were significant (F₁ and F₂: P < 0.001) and discriminated 93.40% of the data variation. A static pattern was observed in the classification of goats in their group of origin for thermoregulatory and behavioral responses when a single type of enrichment was used with the formation of two more groups: (i) goats which had access to all enrichments simultaneously; and (ii) the control group. The offer of the diversity of various objects for environmental enrichment positively contributed to the thermoregulatory and behavioral responses, thereby providing well-being to the animals.