Kid Health Problems in Swedish Goat Herds: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Herd-Level Risk Factors and Preventive Practices
2026
Theodoros Ntallaris | Athina Basioura | Ioannis A. Tsakmakidis
Kid health problems are important welfare and productivity concerns in goat farming, yet herd-level patterns and management responses remain poorly described in many production systems. This cross-sectional study investigated farmer-reported kid health problems in Swedish goat herds and their associations with herd size and management practices. An online questionnaire distributed through national goat networks during 2024 yielded 684 completed responses, representing approximately one-third of Swedish goat keepers. Overall, 27.63% of farms (189/684) reported at least one kid health problem during the preceding three years, most commonly gastrointestinal disorders (22.8%), followed by joint-related (15.1%) and neurological conditions (9.0%). A subset of farms (6.0%) reported multiple concurrent types of kid health problems, indicating more complex herd health profiles. The proportion of farms reporting at least one kid health problem increased with herd size: large herds (>:50 animals) were more likely to report health problems compared with small herds (RR = 1.51: 95% CI: 1.08&ndash:2.10), while medium-sized herds showed modest, non-significant increases. This herd-level outcome is inherently influenced by herd size, as larger herds have a higher probability of observing at least one case. Farms reporting multiple concurrent kid health problems more frequently implemented management measures such as isolation during kidding, early colostrum provision, and selenium supplementation, likely reflecting reactive adoption following previous health challenges rather than proactive prevention. Longitudinal studies using animal-level data are needed to clarify causal relationships.
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