The study evaluated the causes and risk factors associated with pre-weaning mortality in extensive and semi-extensive lamb production systems in a municipality in the coastal region of the state of Colima, Mexico. Mortality was assessed by necropsy and information on the number of births and the body condition of the ewe before lambing, litter size, sex, breed and weight of the lamb was recorded at the time of lambing. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test of independence and by means of stepwise Logistic Regression. The overall pre-weaning mortality rate was 27.9%. The number of lambs born and dead was 875 and 244, respectively, where 88.1% of the mortality occurred during the first 48 hours of birth due to starvation-exposure syndrome. Pre-weaning mortality was significantly associated (p<0.05) with the flock, body condition of the ewe at parturition and with the l...

            The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of the creole goat of the Volcanes de Colima physiographic sub-province, Mexico. Seventeen body measurements were taken from 371 goats older than two years and four racial indices and 17 functional indices were calculated. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation, principal component, and hierarchical cluster analysis. The rump angle, chest width and all measurements of the ears and udder showed the greatest variability. Also, the goats showed great morpho-structural harmony. Racial indices showed that goats are dolichocephalic, ellipometric, and have a convex rump, while functional indices indicated dual-purpose zootechnical aptitude. Four principal components explained 84.5% of the variation of body measurements. Rump angle, hearth girth, body length and ear l...

            The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of the creole goat of the Volcanes de Colima physiographic sub-province, Mexico. Seventeen body measurements were taken from 371 goats older than two years and four racial indices and 17 functional indices were calculated. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation, principal component, and hierarchical cluster analysis. The rump angle, chest width and all measurements of the ears and udder showed the greatest variability. Also, the goats showed great morpho-structural harmony. Racial indices showed that goats are dolichocephalic, ellipometric, and have a convex rump, while functional indices indicated dual-purpose zootechnical aptitude. Four principal components explained 84.5% of the variation of body measurements. Rump angle, hearth girth, body length and ear l...