Behavioural Study of Sanan and Jamnapari Cross Bred Goats Kept in a Stilted House

Abstract

A sound understanding of the normal behaviour of an animal is important to assess its welfare standards. Behaviour of confined animals is useful in order to design proper housing systems. Objective of this study was to understand the behaviour of goats kept in a stilted house. Behaviour of 14 Sanan and Jamnapari goats (14Kg-37Kg) kept in stilted house was observed using an ethograme for six one hour sessions in two days (rainy and hot). Each session lasted for five minutes. Frequency and times spent on seventeen mutually exhaustive behaviours were recorded. Goats spent significantly (P<0.05) more time on eating (31%) than any of the other behaviours. Other important behaviours were resting (11%), licking (10%), ruminating (10%) and walking (9.5%). Goats spent a substantial time on behaviours such as lying (7.3%), running (6.3%), freezing (6%) and animal interaction (5.7%). The time budget on behaviours such as saltate (0.5%), sniffing (0.59%), chattering (0.59%) and importantly on drinking (0.6%) were very low. Behaviors such as freezing, head movement, animal interaction, saltate, running, rumination, chattering and chirping were affected by the climatic condition of the day. It was concluded that goats kept in stilted houses spend one third of their time budget on eating and but very little time on drinking.