Pedigree analysis in a herd of dairy goats with respect to the incidence of hydrometra

Abstract

The average incidence of hydrometra in a herd of white Dutch dairy goats during four oestrous seasons was 10.4%. Hydrometra recurred in seven does during separate oestrous seasons, which gives a repeatability of 16.3%. Pedigree analysis did not reveal a relationship between 42 pseudopregnant goats. Compared with the pedigrees of a random sample of 42 unaffected animals, there was no marked difference in the frequency of mating with one or more bucks. The frequency of hydrometra was significantly higher in daughters of pseudopregnant does than in the random group and also tended to occur more often in mothers of pseudopregnant goats. The results provide indications for a genetic influence on the occurrence of hydrometra in goats.