Udder traits were subjectively scored in 36 Slovenian Alpine goats as udder depth (UD), fore (FUA) and rear udder attachment (RUA), medial suspensory ligament (MSL), teat diameter (TD), length (TL) and position (TP), and measured as UDcm, RUAcm, TDcm, TLcm and TPcm. Phenotypic correlations among udder traits were estimated. Standardised regression coefficients were estimated for the effect of days in milk (DIM) on udder traits and daily milk yield (MY) and were tested for slope heterogeneity. Phenotypic correlations between UD and FUA, and UD and RUA were 0.25 and 0.11, respectively. Highly positive correlation was estimated between RUA and RUAcm (0.70), TD and TDcm (0.78), and TL and TLcm (0.85). Moderate correlations were estimated between days in milk and UDcm (-0.39), RUAcm (-0.34), and TDcm (-0.26), suggesting UD, RUA and TD become smaller as lactation progresses. Changes of udder traits over lactation were smaller than changes for daily milk yield. Decrease of TP, RUAcm, UDcm, TDcm, and milk yield throughout lactation was obtained. We found similar trend in changing UDcm and RUAcm with the trend of changing daily milk yield.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3787656
In this study, the body condition score (BCS) of 55 Slovenian Alpine goats at artificial insemination was recorded over a period of two years. The effect of the doe BCS at insemination on the litter size at birth, the number of weaned kids, the birth weight of the kids, and the interval between parities was studied. The BCS at artificial insemination significantly affected the litter size at birth (P ( 0.001) and, the number of weaned kids (P ( 0.05). The number of kids born and weaned per doe was the highest in does with a BCS of 2.0 and 2.5 compared to does with a BCS of 1.5, 3.0 or 3.5. The results suggest an optimum BCS between 2.0 and 2.5 at insemination or mating to achieve a higher litter size per female. The birth weight of the kids differed significantly depending on the BCS of the does (P ( 0.05) with the highest birth weight occurring in the kids of does with a BCS of 3.5, 3.0 and 1.5. Considering all these results, body condition scoring could be an effective method for the goat breeders to optimally manage body reserves and thus increase the production efficiency in terms of prolificacy in their flocks.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4021384
The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in the fermentation ability of goat’s milk from organic (ORG) and conventional (CON) farming. Sixty-six goats of the Slovenian Alpine breed were divided into two groups, ORG and CON. We sampled both types of milk for two years (10 samples) and made yogurt and sour milk. The lactation period affected the basic chemical composition of milk, and the rheological and sensory characteristics of yogurt and sour milk, but did not affect the basic microbiological composition and the somatic cell counts. Milk from ORG farming contained more proteins and had higher acidity. Although yogurt and sour milk of ORG farming exhibited greater firmness, consistency and cohesiveness, we did not detect significant differences in the sensory characteristics.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4004488
In Slovenia, a small number of farms produce sheep or goat milk. The quantities are small, and milk is mostly processed and sold on farms or locally. Only goat milk is currently purchased from dairies or other milk processors, and even though the quantities are small, a need to evaluate the production costs of goat milk is increasing. Due to the lack of adequate data, our approach was direct inventory of technologies and technological parameters for the goat milk production. In this regard, four breedings were considered, of which two were conventional and two organic. On the basis, collected technological parameters were used in developing a model for estimating production costs for goat milk. We tested the model simulating production conditions of the treated breedings and for the breeding which, according to our estimates, reflects the usual practice of goat milk production. We have found that all breedings are extensive, where feed ratio is based on hay and pasture and a small amount of compound feed. According to technology of goat milk production, breadings are very similar to each other, and organic farming does not represent a significant deviation from conventional farming and usual practices in goat milk production. Differences between breedings are mainly reflected in production price of goat milk, which is mainly influenced by the size of the herd and the average milk yield, and in the case of organic farming, also by more expensive feed and breeding animals.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4004744
In this study, we investigated the effect of organic and conventional farming technology on the behaviour of the Alpine goats on the lowland pasture. There is a general consensus that organic farming is better suited for the ethological needs of the animals. Therefore, we hypothesized that goats from this system spent more time on the pasture. Here are presented the weather factors that affected the frequency of spending time in the stable, outdoor area and on the pasture. The first results of the study, which showed the daily rhythm of the goat behaviour on the lowland pasture and the specific daily route gathered through the use of GPS receivers are presented.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4005000