The Post-Partum Exfoliative vaginal cytology of Local Goat in Northern Algeria

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine the approximate length of the post-partum period of the local goat breed in Algeria. Based on the identification of cell layers of the vaginal mucosa (vaginal cytology) from the first week after parturition. In this work we used 13 goats aged 2 to 4 years and weighing 18 to 34kg live weight. The experimental study was conducted at the experimental farm of the agro-veterinarian faculty of the Blida University. By swab, vaginal smears were made for each goat twice a week to 2 or 3 days interval from the seventh day post partum to 80 days post partum. We realized 312 smears of vaginal mucosa in total (stained with My-Grunwald-Giemsa staining) and we identify the resumption of the post-partum sexual activity when the superficial epithelial cells predominate in the smears. In the light of our study, the average interval parturition-resumption of sexual activity in the local goat in northern Algeria is short, estimated at 21,45 ± 3,56 days with a variation ranging from 16 to 27 days.