Foetal loss in dairy goats: an epidemiological study in 515 individual goats

Effects of various factors pertaining to the individual goat on the reproductive performance were studied during one season in 515 pregnant dairy goats from seven herds. A significant difference in the risk of foetal loss was found between the herds. Advanced age, difficulty in conceiving, low social status, pregnancy with > or = 3 foetuses and previous foetal loss were significantly associated with current loss. No association was found between foetal loss and the current goat index, milk production last year, daily milk production at the time of dry-off and the presence or absence of horns or dehorning of the goat. The risk of foetal loss was not related to mating with specific bucks. No indication of relationship between goats with foetal loss was found by pedigree analysis including the sire, dam and dam's sire. However, the incidence of foetal loss was significantly higher in daughters of does that had suffered reproductive loss than in daughters of does without such a loss. This suggests a maternal or genetic influence on the occurrence of foetal loss. Culling of goats suffering non-infectious abortion and of their surviving progeny therefore seems reasonable.