INVESTIGATION ON MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR OF GOATS OF BULGARIAN WHITE MILK BREED

S. Stoycheva, Ts. Hristova, P. Zunev, Y. Alexiev, Ts. Dimitrova

Abstract: The development of maternal behavior in 35 goats from the breed Bulgarian white dairy was examined. The animals were reared indoor and fed with hay and concentrated fodder during the delivery of kid in the months February-March. The assessment of maternal qualities was based on the speed of implementation of behavioral responses in the first hour after birth. It was found that during the controlled period, goats sniff and lick the female kids and single kids earlier, compared with the occurrence of these events in terms of male kids and twins. Total time spent in care for newborns during the first hour after birth is also longer in female kids and twins.

Keywords: goats; maternal behaviour; newborn kids

Date published: 2017-05-17