The aim of this work was to evaluate the physiological, productive and behavioral variations in Alpine goats during transportation. Twelve multiparous Alpine goats at late lactation period were used. Milk production, composition and somatic cells count, as well as the behavioral responses of goats during milking were measured in three time periods: three days before transportation, in the transportation day and three days after transportation. Also, blood samples were collected 120 min and 10 min before transportation and equal period after transportation for cortisol and glucose dosages. Among the behaviors studied during milking, only overstep and grooming were significantly changed by transportation. Significant increases were observed on glucose and cortisol levels 10 minutes after transportation. Glucose levels remained high until 120 minutes after transportation; however, cortisol presented similar level from before transportation until 120 minutes after transportation. Thus, in the present study, transportation with return to known facilities and to milking routine caused little physiologic and behavioral variations that did not decrease milk production, composition and somatic cell count.
cortisol; glucose; milk yield; quality; stress
