Considerable production losses may occur when rangeland goats, which are largely undomesticated, are brought in to intensive environments such as depots and feedlots. The sudden introduction to these environments can be stressful for rangeland goats, impacting their health and behaviour.
In a project funded by MLA, researchers from Murdoch University in Western Australia are looking to reduce the productivity losses associated with stress by investigating the most effective ways to settle goats into a depot or feedlot environment.
The study is looking at domesticating goats and determining the best practice methods for farming goats in intensive livestock systems.
The trial, which started three years ago at the Keynes family’s feedlot at Chapman Valley just out of Geraldton, WA, is assessing a number of alternative regimes to minimise stress and maximise productivity.
Dr David Miller, Associate Professor of Animal Production at Murdoch University, is using a range of measures to monitor the goats, including weekly weight and condition scores and faecal sampling. The research also includes filming the goats remotely, so that their behaviour in relation to their new environment can be assessed.
At the conclusion of the trial, data will be collated and management strategies developed to allow goat producers to reduce goat stress in confined circumstances. This will deliver improved productivity and animal welfare and have application in depots, high-end feedlots and the livestock export industry.
Goatmeat eating quality also stands to benefit from the trial given the important relationship between eating quality and pre-slaughter stress.
The trial, which is now in its fourth year, is expected to conclude by the end of 2014 with results and management recommendations to be made available shortly thereafter.