Effect of electronic identification with ruminal bolus on growth parameters and stomach development in young goat kids

Abstract

Although most of the European goat farms are dairies, there are a significant number of herds dedicated to meat production as the main product. Due to the current policy of food safety in European Union, the traceability, particularly the electronic identification, is taken into consideration; however, the effect of this electronic identification has not been studied on goat kids for fattening. For this reason, the effect of the ruminal bolus on the growth of goat kids and the development of their stomachs were studied. At 16 kg, animals were randomly assigned in two groups: control (n=23) and bolus (n=27), the latter identified with Inoxeramic Bolus. Both of them were slaughtered at 24 kg. Statistical differences in growth parameters and stomach development were not observed, except in the reticulum-omasal orifice diameter, which was bigger in the bolus group. Moreover, when the breed was taken into account (Majorera, Palmera and Tinerfeña), interbreed differences were found in orifice diameter and empty rumen–reticulum weight, due to treatment (P<0.05).

Keywords:

• goat
• bolus
• ruminal
• carcass
• identification

Acknowledgements

Research was supported by the European Commission, 5th Framework Program, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, contract QLk1-2001-02229 (EID + DNA Tracing), and by the Spanish Ministry of Education (Plan Nacional I + D + i; project AGL-2007-64541).