Patterns of Reproductive Management in Sheep and Goat Farms in Greece

Abstract

This paper reports findings regarding patterns of reproductive management in 325 sheep flocks and 119 goat herds throughout Greece. The objectives were to describe the patterns of reproductive management in sheep and goat farms, to highlight factors that were associated with these management patterns and the clinical application of the various reproductive management approaches in the farms and to establish potential associations with production outcomes. The median months of the start of the mating period for adult sheep and goats were May and June, respectively and for ewe lambs and replacement goats these were August and September, respectively. The median duration of the mating period was 2 months for adults and 1 month for replacements. The median ratio of female to male animals was 22:1 and 25:1 in sheep and goat farms, respectively. Control of reproduction was applied in 33.2% and 16.8% of sheep and goat farms, respectively, mostly by intravaginal progestagen sponges and less often by melatonin implants; multivariable analysis indicated five (availability of milking parlour, number of ewes in a farm, number of daily milkings, daily period spent by farmers at the farm, farming tradition in the family) and two (number of daily milkings, availability of milking parlour) predictors in sheep and goat farms, respectively. Pregnancy diagnosis ultrasonographically was performed in 36.6% and 16.8% of sheep and goat farms, respectively; multivariable analysis indicated as significant three (management system applied in farms, age of farmer, farming tradition in the family) and two (management system applied in farms, availability of milking parlour) predictors in sheep and goat farms, respectively. The control of reproduction and pregnancy diagnosis were associated with a higher number of vaccinations during pregnancy: 2.6 and 2.7, respectively, versus 2.2 and 2.1 in farms where they were not performed. The average per farm number of lambs/kids born per female animal was 1.33 ± 0.01 and 1.30 ± 0.02 for sheep and goat farms, respectively; five (control of reproduction, location of the farm, presence of working staff, collaboration with veterinary practice, breed of ewes) and two (control of reproduction, breed of female goats) predictors were identified in sheep and goat farms, respectively, for high numbers of lambs/kids. Lambs/kids were taken away from their dams at the age of 50 and 65 days, respectively. The average culling age (females, males) was 5.9 and 4.4 years and 6.9 and 4.9 years for sheep and goats, respectively. Farmers sourced animals to be used as replacements for those removed from the farm, mostly from the animals in their own farms, considering criteria related to milk production. Finally, the application of the control of reproduction was associated with increased milk production and the number of newborns, whilst an inverse correlation between the culling age of animals and milk production was seen.

Data on Mapping 444 Dairy Small Ruminant Farms during a Countrywide Investigation Performed in Greece

“…The visits to the farms had to take place during the milking period of the ewes and does, in order to collect samples of bulk-tank milk for laboratory examinations ( Table S2 ). Lambing/kidding of small ruminants in Greece takes place during the autumn (on average, the mating season in Greece starts in May or June [ 25 ]), hence only a smaller proportion of farms could have been visited during that season; this was reflected in the significantly smaller proportion of farms visited in autumn. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the proportions of farms visited during the other three seasons, which further explains the reason for the reduced proportions of visits to farms during the autumn.…”

“…Previous papers discussed associations and interactions between the various variables and focused on establishing predictors for various outcomes related to these results, e.g., [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. The present paper presents the entirety of the findings, thus showing details of the sheep and goat industries in Greece and allowing overall comparisons with the respective animal industries of other countries and regions of the world.…”

Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples

“…Moreover, at the second month post-lambing, milking starts, with the peak milk yield being achieved at the 4 th to 6 th month of the lactation period, which increases the stress of animals and thus the excretion of helminth eggs. The application of reproductive control has been associated with a generally better management of flocks [ 26 ]; in this way, the start of the lambing season can be programmed and the application of anthelmintic treatments can be finetuned to minimise helminth burdens at lambing; therefore, avoiding the peri-parturient egg-rise and the consequent high helminth burdens.…”