University Goat and Sheep Farm, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur - 680 651, (Kerala).
*Corresponding author: Associate Professor & Head, Department of Veterinary Physiology.
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Intensive goat production in tropics is often hampered by high endemicity of neonatal diseases and subsequent pre weaning mortality among goat kids. Humoral immune responses have been associated with neonatal diseases and mortality while such reports on CMI responses are scanty. With this background, cell mediated immune responses to PHA among 99 goat kids belonging to Alpine-Malabari (AM). 50% Boer and AM and 25% Boer and AM were studied. The effect of genetic group, sex, month of birth on birth weight and PHA response at 0 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr and also the association of enteritis, respiratory diseases and ectoparasitic infestation with PHA response and birth weight were analysed. Effect of genetic group on birth weight was highly significant (P < 0.01). 50% Boer crosses had the highest mean birth weight of 2.48 kg. Month of birth had highly significant effect on birth weight of kids (P < 0.01). Heaviest kids were born during October (2.61 kg). Sex of kid did not have any significnt influence on birth weight. Birth weight did not significantly influence the incidence of enteritis, respiratory diseases and ectoparasitic intestation. Effect of genetic group on initial skin thickness was highly significant (P < 0.01). Genetic group of the kid exerted significant influence (P < 0.05) on PHA response at 24 hr (peak response). However, persistence of PHA response at 48 and 72 hours was not influenced by genetic group. 50% Boer crosses had the highest initial skin thickness of 0351 mm and also highest peak PHA response at 24 hours (0293 mm). Correlation between 24 hour and 48 hour were found to be highly significant (0.2635). Sex of kid and month of birth did not exert any significant influence on PHA response. Peak PhPA response apparently appeared to have a nearly significant influence on respiratory infection in neonatal goat kids. PHA response was not found to have any significant association with ectoparasitic infestation and enteritis. Ectoparasitic infestation and enteritis did not exert any significant influence on PHA response.
