Effect of Different Types of Floors on Beetal Goats’ Preference, Lying, Standing, and Elimination Behavior

Abstract

Production and performance of small ruminants is affected by the fluctuation of the housing system. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the behavior of Beetal goats on different types of floors including soil, sand, sawdust, and concrete. Twenty-eight (n=28) female Beetal goats having age of 3±0.5 years and weight 40±5kg were selected randomly and behavioral observations were recorded from 20 March to 3 May 2019 (spring season). All animals were individually weighed and randomly divided into 4 groups (G1, G2, G3, and G4) have seven animals each. Each group was restricted (remain on the one floor) for 10 days to each of the four treatments i.e., T1 (soil), T2 (sand), T3 (sawdust), and T4 (concrete). After the restriction phase, free access was given to all four groups for all the four treatments i.e., T1 (soil), T2 (sand), T3 (sawdust), and T4 (concrete) for 2 days, so that animal can spend time at any floor willingly and no of animals spending time between treatments was recorded. The data for the selected parameters (Lying time, lying bouts, standing time & other, Preference lying time, Preference Standing time & other, Defecation frequency, Urination frequency) were collected for one hour at 12:00, 16:00, 20:00, 24:00, 04:00, and 08:00 hours in the last two days of each treatment period. The method of behavioral observation was based on the method of “Time sampling and “Point sampling. The maximum average lying time observed on soil was 37.00min/hr, urination frequency was observed more on sand (1.10/hr) and defecation frequency was found more on soil (1.33/hr.) Average lying time during the free access period was also higher on soil 30.53min/hr as compared to other flooring types. Finally, it is found that lying time was higher on the soil floor, although the result was not significantly more urination frequency was noticed on the sand floor. Multiple floors in the far may provide the preferred area for goats lying and elimination and consequently help in managing the animal health security. The purpose of this study is to provide awareness about the effect of floor on the production and performance of Beetal goats.