Evaluation of maternal-filial stress in a dairy goat herd with small ruminant lentivirus infection in the Brazilian northeastern semiarid region

The objective of this study was to evaluate maternal-filial stress and maternal ability in a herd positive for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), submitted to a control program for this disease, in the Northeastern semi-arid region, through ethological analysis and quantification of cortisol in the blood plasma and the hair coat. After the parturitions, 4 subgroups were formed according to the order of birth (primiparous or pluriparous) and to natural or artificial suckling: primiparous goats with natural suckling (PriN), primiparous goats with artificial suckling (PriA), pluriparous goats with natural suckling (PluN) and pluriparous goats with artificial suckling (PluA). The attentive posture was higher in goats from the PriA group (30.6%) compared to PriN (15.9%) and PluA (13.7%). The matrices of the PriN group showed lesser positioning behavior when compared to the PluN, (17.8%, 31.6%, respectively) (P ≤ 0.05). As for the behavior of the kids, there was a difference (P ≤ 0.01) for the vocalization parameter between those separated from pluriparous mothers (60.48%) and those kept with the mother (8.54%). The same occurred with the kids of the primiparous mothers (43.20%; 6.99%), for those separated and those kept with their mothers, respectively. The separated kids of pluriparous mothers had a higher record for attempted escape (P ≤ 0.05), attentive posture (P ≤ 0.01), and restlessness (P ≤ 0.01), concerning those kept with their mothers. Primiparous kids were more restless (P ≤ 0.01) and attentive (P ≤ 0.01). The plasma cortisol and hair values did not differ (P > 0.05), except at parturition. It is concluded that the postpartum separation exerts higher levels of stress in the kids, that mothers already have a level of stress related to external factors, and that the postpartum separation does not interfere in the maternal ability of the mothers in subsequent births.