Voedingstres Indikatore as Maastaf van Voedingspeil in Bokke (Capra hircus hircus)

Abstract

An in-depth study was launched to evaluate the potential use of nutritional stress indicators in goats. Several blood metabolites, body characteristics and production functions were evaluated under different levels of nutrition (fasting, maintenance and ad lib), nutrient requirements (non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating) and environmental conditions (penned and free ranging). Generally the results were disappointing and with the exception of the fasting experiment the reaction time [(P < 0.05) differences between groups] for all 13 indicators was never shorter than seven weeks. Very few cases were observed where all the individuals within a group responded uniformly to the treatments. It was also not possible to confirm a clear linear relationship between the measured indicators and the level of feeding. This study shows that none of the measured indicators satisfied the predetermined levels of sensitivity or repeatability and can therefore not be recommended for use under free ranging conditions.