Reproductive management through sterility and infertility in female goats slaughtered in Lubumbashi

Abstract

This study evaluated the reproductive management of goats culled for infertility or sterility in slaughterhouses in Lubumbashi, with the aim of improving the numerical productivity of traditional herds. The objective was to identify pathologies of the glandular and tubular portions, as well as the frequency of ovarian activity in non-pregnant females. The survey involved 118 goats aged from 2 to 8 permanent teeth, sampled between November 2021 and April 2022. Ante-mortem observations included weighing, dentition, and ocular mucosa coloration, while post-mortem examinations focused on measurements of the genital organs. The results revealed a low frequency of paraovarian cysts (2.54 %), follicular cysts (2.54 %), and bilateral ovarian tumours (1.69 %). Pathological uterine contents were sanguinopurulent (2.54 %) and mucopurulent (0.84 %). Ovarian activity was confirmed by the presence of corpora lutea (89.8 %) and follicles (16.9 %), with average ovarian dimensions of 17 mm in length and 11 mm in width. These findings indicate an absence of ovarian inactivity. In perspective, improved reproductive management could enhance the profitability of traditional goat farming. A complementary study based on the origin of the animals is recommended.

Keywords: Ovarian activity, pathological uterine content, reproductive management, goat, Lubumbashi