Effects of housing environment on social isolation response, weaning stress, and immune reaction in goat kids

Authors : Cemil TÖLÜ, Semra GÖKTÜRK, Türker SAVAŞ

Pages : 635-642

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :  This study investigated how environmental structuring in the growing units of goat kids influences their ability to cope with social isolation and weaning-induced stress. Two experimental groups were arranged in an enriched insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E); or barren insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(B); environment and each of the two groups had 10 female and 10 male kids. During the social isolation, the goat kids in group E started bleating earlier insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.1612); and more frequently insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0125);. Goat kids also bleated earlier insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0005); and more often after the weaning period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0006);. Only the rearing behavior of the groups exhibited significant differences in social isolation. However, after the weaning, kids showed more bipedal stance behavior insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0204); and less running behavior insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0394); than before the weaning period. Cortisol, triiodothyronine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T3);, and thyroxine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T4); hormone concentrations were lower at weaning than in the other periods with social isolation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05);. The T3 hormone concentrations of the groups at weaning were significantly different insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.0201);. The immune response to Brucella vaccination did not differ between the groups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.2753);. Findings revealed that both social isolation tests created stress in the goat kids. Considering the bleating frequencies, it can be concluded that the goat kids in the enriched environment experienced more social isolation stress than the goat kids in the barren environment.
Keywords : Environmental enrichment, bleating, rearing, bipedal stance, cortisol, thyroid hormones