APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND WELFARE

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1025748
• Multistate No.: NC-_old1029
• Project Start Date: Jan 25, 2021
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671

Performing Department
Animal Science

Non Technical Summary
This project will provide important epidemiological information on the health and welfare of genetically engineered dairy goats, when compared to non-transgenic dairy goats. The genetically engineered dairy goat transgene results in increased expression of human lysozyme, resulting in lysozyme-rich milk. This milk has been shown to promote intestinal health and may help protect against diarrheal illnesses. The health and welfare of genetically modified food animals is important to producers, consumers, and the general public, however few studies have focused on this area. To date no research has assessed the long-term health and welfare of dairy goats carrying the lysozyme transgene. The project will use records from multi-generational lysozyme transgenic dairy goats from the UC Davis dairy goat barn to assess illness and death overtime. The study results will provide valuable information about the impact of the transgene on dairy goat health and welfare.Plant and animal production, protection and health

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
303	3820	1080	16%
303	3820	1170	16%
311	3820	1080	18%
311	3820	1170	18%
315	3820	1080	16%
315	3820	1170	16%

Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 311 - Animal Diseases; 315 - Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection;

Subject Of Investigation
3820 - Goats, meat, and mohair;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 1170 - Epidemiology;

Keywords

transgenic dairy goats

genetically engineered dairy animals

animal health

animal welfare

goat welfare

transgenic goat welfare

transgenic goat health

Goals / Objectives
To develop novel behavioral and physiological indicators of animal welfare.

Project Methods
The overall goal of this project is to evalute the health and welfare of multi-generation genetically engineered dairy goats that express increased levels of human lysozyme in their mammary gland, producing milk with beneficial health impacts. This is a retrospective study that will assess the health records of a line of transgenic goats compared to non-transgenic goats, at the UC Davis Goat Teaching and Research Facility. Data extracted from the records will include information on mortality (example: culled animals), as well as morbidity parameters such as mastitis. Comparisons will be made between transgenic and non-transgenic dairy goats, with an emphasis on mortality rate and disease incidence.

Progress 01/25/21 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:Since not all relevant health information is provided in one set of records, we had to assess multiple sources of dairy goat health records. From the initial 275 transgenic dairy goats, and 515 control dairy goats that were included in the study, we were only able to compile complete records for 19 transgenic, and 51 control, dairy goats. This was largely due to the unreliable and missing data across all 4 of the sources of dairy goat health data. Due to the overwhelming amount of missing information, and mis-match in data across the different sources of health records, we were not able to complete this project. The best recording keeping was found at the UC Davis Dairy Goat Teaching and Research Facility, however health-relevant data was largely missing. The least reliable source of health related data for the dairy goats was the UC Davis Large Animal Clinic records. We found these records largely unreliable due to the large amount of missing data, as well as frequent discrepancies with the other record sources. This research highlights the need for improved record-keeping for the dairy goat health records, as well as accurate information to be collected and recorded across the different sources of dairy goat health data. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two undergraduate students ran this project in the summer months of 2021, and used this project as their Animal Biology Major Practicum Project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Students performed data collection by extracting dairy health data from 4 major sources: UC Davis Goat Teaching and Research Facility, UC Davis Large Animal Clinic, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, and the Council of Dairy Cattle Breeding. Dairy goat health information extracted included breed, tattoo, birthday date, cause of death, date of death/sale, health issues, number of lactations, and necropsy details. This project provided the students with research experience, as well education on common dairy goat health and welfare problems. The students wrote a proposal, as well as a final practicum report on this research project.

Publications