0.9 Situation analyses in relation to death rates in exported entire male livestock
Options to modify aggressive behaviour in exported entire males
Page 17 of 60
4.1.3 Goats
Death rates Table 6 have been high in some goat shipments, ranging across years from 1.8 down to 0.8 more recently Norris and Norman 2003, 2004, 2005. This reduction in mortality is
probably a direct result of the recent standard DAFF 2005 that requires goats must be held ‘behind wire’ for at least 3 weeks prior to shipment. In the case of entire male goats, death rates during
shipping have tended to be higher than for other species. Between 1993-2002 death rates ranged from 1.04 - 4.55 Norris and Norman 2003, but in the
past two years have decreased to between 0.8-0.9 Norris and Norman 2004, 2005. In some years death rates have been higher in mature bucks, but in other years young animals have
experienced greater mortalities Norris and Norman 2004, 2005. As for sheep and cattle there appear to have been no detailed investigations into causes of mortality in entire male goats R Norris
pers comm.. Details of an analysis on goat mortalities undertaken by More and Brightling 2003 are discussed subsequently Section 4.2.3.
The export goat industry remains constrained by a number of fundamental factors including the opportunistic nature of ‘harvesting’ of feral and semi-feral goats to supply inconsistent levels of
demand. There is a wide variation in quality of goats, and there have only been limited attempts at genetic improvement of quality, primarily through crossing feral goats with Boer goats. Stress factors
associated with harvesting and transport can lead to high mortalities in the pre-shipment period, and inanition and enteric diseases can contribute to high mortalities during assembly and shipment
More and Brightling 2003. In addition, abnormal sexual behaviour, and high levels of aggressive behaviour, including bullying and constant riding of smaller goats, is a problem with most goat
shipments. Anecdotal comments from industry, and limited published information, suggest that of all the
livestock species exported, entire male goats are the most difficult to handle, and aggressive behaviour and management difficulties are greater than in either bulls or rams. A consequence has
been that death rates have tended to be higher in goat shipments than in shipments of other species.
Table 6. Goat exports and death rates by destination 1999 to 2004. Norris and Norman 2003, 2004, 2005
Destination 1999-2002 2003
2004 Middle East
124,800 16,552
1021
SE Asia
97307 36048
20801
Total exports 229,492
52,600 23,048
Death rate 1.8