Dynamic of rectal temperature of goat kids of different sex in the first hour after birth

Svetoslava Stoycheva

Abstract: Rectal temperature dynamic was studied in newborn goat kids of different genders during the first
hour of postnatal life. Goats were kept in a barn and rectal temperature of the newborns goat kids
was recorded at birth, at 15 min of birth, at 30 min, 45 min and 60 min after delivery. The dynamic of
the rectal temperature during the first hour after birth did not differ significantly in male and female
kids. The rectal temperature established at the indicated intervals was: in female kids (39.11 °C, 38.47
°C, 38.21 °C, 38.10 °C, 38.22 °C) and in male kids (39.14 °C, 38.55 °C, 38.49 °C, 38.55 °C, 38.51 °C),
respectively. After lowering the rectal temperature of both sexes after 15 minutes, the female kids
maintained a stable, almost unchanged temperature until the end of the first hour after birth. The
lowest temperature measured in males was on the 45th minute and in females – on the 30th minute. At
the time of birth, the kids had a well-developed thermoregulatory potential and were able to maintain
homeothermia with existing goat nurturing technology during the barn period.

Keywords: female; goats kid; male; newborn; rectal temperature; sex

Date published: 2021-08-27