Effects of training of Saanen goats for the first milking on behavior, milk yield, and milk quality traits

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of prepartum milking training of primiparous goats on behavior, plasma cortisol concentration, and milk yield and quality traits. Thirty-one primiparous Saanen goats were assigned into two treatments: CT = milking-trained (n = 16) and ST = not milking-trained (n = 15) goats. Milking training consisted of the handler entering the pen where the goats were and walking calmly among them for 20 minutes/day for seven days, and then driving the goats to the milking parlor, positioning them in the stanchion, and gently touching their ribs, legs, and udders for five minutes for seven days. Behavioral assessments were carried out measuring the latency that each goat took to get close to a known person (voluntary approach = LC) and the flight distance (FD) before training (BT), just after training (AT), at the beginning (between days five and seven, d5–7) and 30 days of lactation (d30). Milking reactivity was assessed by recording the step-kick (SK) and head, ear and tail movement (MOV) scores. Plasma cortisol concentrations (PCC) were measured after milking. All measurements were recorded at 5–7 (d5–7), 30 (d30), and 60 (d60) days of lactation, defining the assessment days. The number of animals that required restraint during milking was also recorded. Milk yield was recorded daily throughout the 120 days of the lactation period, and milk quality traits (dry matter, density, fat, protein, lactose, minerals, acidity, SCC, Staphylococcus and total bacterial count - TBC) at d5–7, d30, d60, d90, and d120. The goats’ reactivity decreased throughout lactation. CT goats showed a lower LC on d30 than before training. PCC showed higher values on d60 than prepartum. At the beginning of lactation, 73 % of ST goats were restrained for milking, while for CT goats, 45 %. Milk yield was highest in the period from 8 to 90 days of lactation and 0.5 kg/day higher (although not significant) in CT than in ST. Milk quality traits showed significant differences between assessment days, except for TBC and Staphylococcus counts. In conclusion, the training protocol did not significantly impact goats' reactivity during milking, PCC, and milk quality traits. However, there was a tendency to increase milk yield and reduce the number of animals restrained during milking.