Comparison of behavior, performance and health traits of lambs and goat kids raised straw and wood slatted floor

This study examines the behaviors, performance and health characteristics of lambs and goat-kids, which were raised on the floor with straw and wood slatted. The study was performed with a total of 24 (12 Female; 12 Male) Tahirova sheep genotype lambs, 24 (12 Female; 12 Male) Turkish Saanen goat genotype kids. Within the study, 8 groups were kept on the floor with straw laid on a concrete floor whereas another 8 groups were kept on a wooden slatted. Each group consisted of three animals of the same species and gender, which were 2.75 x 2.75 m in size. The study was completed 120 days after lambs and kids, weaned at 52 days of age at average. It was daytime behavior observed that the lying behavior was higher in the animals on the slatted floor and the behavior of rumination was higher in the animals on the floor of straw (P≤0.05). Behavioral observations at night showed no significant difference compared to the type of floor, but their behavior changed significantly compared to animal species and genders (P≤0,05). Bipedal stance, climbing on the feeder and fighting behaviours had significant higher in goat-kids than in lambs (P≤0,05). The behavioral characteristics during the social isolation test, did not vary significantly depending on the type of floor (P>0.05). Animal performance traits, the consumption of feed and water was similar in terms of the types of floor (P>0.05). The study found that the group on the straw floor, compared to the group on the slatted floor, the lambs compared to the kids and the females compared to the males had higher numbers of hematocrit and erythrocytes (P≤0.05). In a similar way, group on the straw floor, compared to the group on the slatted floor and the lambs compared to the kids had higher values of Hemoglobin (P≤0.05). The number of oocysts in the determined per grams of faeces (OpG) did not vary depending on the type of floor; yet, the kids had higher OpG burden than the lambs (P≤0.05). At the study, the slatted floors were characterized by the behavior of lying, OpG burden and the low frequency of diarrhea whereas the straw floors had a positive impact on the blood values in animals.