Surapol Choldumrongkul and Thanya Sookyoi

pp. 339 - 350

Abstract

The causes and influence of factors on, health problems, morbidity and mortality rate of Thai native and Anglo-Nubian crossbred goats raised by farmers in southern Thailand, were studied. Out of 620 goats during the period of study (January 2003 - January 2004), There were 464 sick cases and 65 goats died (10.48%). Major causes were helminthiasis, pneumonitis, mellioidosis, infections, weak-starvation complex, predator and accident. The morbidity rate of postweaning goats (3 months-1 year) by helminthiasis especially in the light rainy season was higher than that for other causes and season. The mortality rate for postweaning goats from pneumonitis in the heavy rainy season was greater than that from other causes. Genotype and birth weight of preweaning kids significantly (P<0.05) influenced the mortality rate of goats. Mortality rate for Thai-native goats (5.38%) was lower than Anglo-Nubian cross-bred (15.65%). Mortality rate for kids born with a birth weight of less than 1 kg was highest (30%) and mortality decreased as birth weight of kid increased. Mortality rate for goats during the heavy rainy season (5.65%) were greater than that in other seasons (2.10-2.74%) but their was no significant difference (P>0.05)