Determination of Risk Factors Associated with Postparturient Udder Edema in Dairy Goats

ABSTRACT:A proposed research was carried out to assess the potential risks of udder edema in dairy goats. In this report, 350 dairy goats, either pregnant, close to kidding or recently birthed, were involved. Diagnosis of udder edema was made based on noticeable and detectable udder tissue alterations. Parameters like breed, age at pregnancy, days in pregnancy, etc. were considered as potential risk factors. Every parameter involved was analyzed by the Chi square test, and the R variables were estimated. Results showed that the vulnerability of goat's parturited recently (1-2 days) to udder edema was 1.18 folds more relative to 3-5 days goats after kidding. At first parturition, the doe was 1.26 folds more prone than the doe in second parity to experience udder edema and so on. Doe was 3.60 folds more prone to encounter udder edema with kidding difficulty (dystokia) than doe that had usual kidding. Doe with Retained Fetal membranes (RFM) is 2.27 timesmore susceptible than without RFM to udder edema. Goats with a prior background of udder edema were 3.26 folds more prone than goats with no history of udder edema to experience udder edema. In conclusion, many host, nutrition and management related risk factors are correlated with udder edema in dairy goats.