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The relationships between heat production, body temperature, and body posture (standing/lying) were studied in goats suffering from trypanosomiasis. Sixteen goats were selected and infected with 1 x 10(6) Trypanosoma vivax parasites and 8 goats served as controls. In week 2, 4, and 6 after infection heat production, body posture, and body temperature were measured at 15-minute intervals. Heat production was higher (P < 0.01) in infected animals compared with control animals (342, respectively 306 kJ.kg- 0.75.d-1), body temperature was also higher (P < 0.001) in infected goats (39.78 degrees C, respectively 38.51 degrees C). The standing related energy costs per day were lower in infected animals (27 respectively 36 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1). Infected animals, therefore, masked part of the energy costs of infection by reducing the standing time. The heat production of infected animals was increased by 21 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1 per 1 degree C fever (7% increase). During periods of standing, body temperature increased with time, whereas during lying periods, it decreased. The number of standing periods was increased in infected animals. It was discussed whether postural behaviour is influenced by thermoregulatory mechanisms.

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.

Twenty-three mature dwarf goats were used to study whether there is a relationship between the decrease in feed intake for individual goats and infection with T.congolense and T. vivax. Furthermore, it was investigated how rectal temperatures and blood parameters were affected by the T. congolense infection and how changes in these parameters can be used to predict the effect of a T. vivax infection on feed intake. For individual goats a ranking correlation was found between relative dry matter intake and infection (r = 0.59; p < .05). Animals with the most marked decrease in dry matter intake during the T. congolense infection showed a smaller increase in urea and a higher increase in non esterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxy butyrate levels in their blood. Evidence was obtained that the relative decrease in dry matter intake for individual goats during a T. vivax infection can be predicted on the basis of urea and creatinine responses measured in the blood during a previous infection with T. congolense infection.