Journal articles: 'Feral goats'

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Pisanu, Philip, Paul Bayne, Robert Harden, and Ann Eggert. "Feral goats (Capra hircus L.) in the Macleay River gorge system, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. II. Impacts on rainforest vegetation." Wildlife Research 32, no. 2 (2005): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr03085.

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The impacts of feral goats in rainforests and thickets of the Macleay River system were studied. Rainforest floristics and diversity and goat browsing were measured over five years in a large-scale experiment with two experimental controls (density <1 goat km–2 and density ~20 goats km–2), and a goat-removal treatment (670-ha exclosure, initial density ~20 goats km–2). Feral goats browsed forb, shrub, tree and vine species. Sites with many goats were browsed at significantly higher levels than sites from which goats were removed and sites where goats occurred at very low density (<1 goat km–2). Contrary to findings in other studies, no plant species declined substantially where goat densities remained high throughout the study. Only the native forb Urtica incisa increased markedly following removal of goats. High goat numbers were not linked to increased exotic species abundances. At the community scale, species richness, diversity and evenness did not vary substantially among treatments in any year, nor did ordinations of sites (multidimensional scaling) reveal any pattern of site similarity between years that could be related to either goat presence or absence. Rainfall may have influenced plant density and masked the effects of feral goats. Rainforests in the region appear to be resilient to browsing under present feral goat densities, probably because goats feed predominantly in adjacent grassy woodlands and forests. However, we recommend a precautionary approach to feral goat management as these rainforests and thickets are of high conservation value.

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Holt, C., and G. Pickles. "Home Range Responses of Feral Goats." Rangeland Journal 18, no. 1 (1996): 144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9960144.

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The variability in size and the extent of the overlap of feral goat home ranges are important considerations when formulating control strategies. Radio telemetry data revealed home range sizes were similar to what was found in other studies performed in pastoral areas. This study confirms the need for a wide ranging cooperative approach, by neighbouring pastoral properties, to feral goat control if all the feral goats using an area are to be targeted. Aerial control activities had little effect on the home ranges of resident feral goats and so can continue to be an effective control tool without causing the reinfestation of previously cleared areas.

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Edwards, GP, TF Clancy, J. Lee, and J. Mcdonnell. "An Evaluation of Feral Goat Control Methods on Currawinya National Park, South-Western Queensland." Rangeland Journal 19, no. 2 (1997): 166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9970166.

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This study was designed to develop monitoring techniques based on aerial survey and to evaluate the effectiveness of control methods for large feral herbivores (especially goats) in the mulga woodlands. It was conducted on a study site in south-western Queensland encompassing Currawinya National Park. Two control programs were undertaken on the park: a ground-based shooting program and a two-stage live-muster and aerial culling program. Population estimates of feral goats based on 100 m strip counts from a fixed-wing aircraft were 4.6/km2 for the survey block for the initial survey with a decline to less than 2/km2 by the end of the project. It was concluded that fixed-wing aerial surveys provide an accurate estimate of the density of large feral herbivores, such as goats. The first control program, based on ground-based shooting, was of only limited success. The second control program, based on contract mustering with the aid of fixed-wing aircraft followed by aerial culling using a helicopter, was very successful in reducing the number of feral goats and other feral animals. This approach represents best practice management of feral goats in the mulga woodlands. The effect of the reduction in goat numbers on goat impact within the park is yet to be evaluated.

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Russel, A. J. F., and J. E. Adkins. "Production and composition of milk from suckled feral, dairy and crossbred coats." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1990 (March 1990): 71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600018523.

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The developing UK cashmere goat industry utilises a variety of goat breeds and crosses as base stock in breed improvement programmes. Native feral goats contribute small but significant quantities of very high quality fibre and the attribute of hardiness. Stock from overseas are imported to increase the weight of cashmere produced. Some dairy goats are used for their higher prolificacy and because their superior ability to rear kids is important in the production of goat meat which is a secondary but nonetheless important source of income in cashmere production enterprises.Early growth rates of feral kids have been shown to be low in relation to those of dairy breed and crossbred kids when reared by their natural mothers (Russel, Lippert, Ryder and Grant, 1986) but it is not known whether this is a result of a low potential growth rate or a limitation in the production or composition of their dams’ milk.Little is known of the milk production characteristics of feral goats or even of dairy goats kept under suckling as opposed to milking regimes. This paper describes the milk production characteristics of suckled feral, dairy and feral x dairy goats and the effects of these characteristics on early kid growth rate.

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Khairo, S. A., R. B. Hacker, T. L. Atkinson, and G. L. Turnbull. "Alternative strategies for management of feral goats: implications for natural resource management policies in New South Wales rangelands." Rangeland Journal 35, no. 2 (2013): 201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj13020.

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Feral goats (Capra hircus) are increasing in abundance and distribution in the semi-arid and arid rangelands of New South Wales, and elsewhere in the southern rangelands. They present a conundrum for natural resource managers and policy-makers as they can be both an agricultural and environmental pest and an economic resource for landholders. This paper presents an economic analysis of a range of alternative approaches to feral goat management and assesses their implications for natural resource management policies. ‘Opportunistic harvesting’ and ‘value-added’ strategies (the latter involving use of a paddock to increase the liveweight of feral goats before slaughter for meat) returned positive net benefits to landholders, whereas the strategy of ‘no management’ resulted in a negative net benefit if the overall stocking rate was held constant. The erection of goat-proof boundary fencing to enhance production from domestic livestock generated negative net benefits unless increases in stocking rates of domestic livestock could be achieved within the exclusion fencing through improved grazing management. The use of goat-proof fencing to establish an individual paddock for domestic livestock production returned positive net benefit for landholders but also required increases in domestic stocking rate to be competitive with the best feral goat harvesting strategy. The ‘opportunistic harvesting’ and ‘value added’ strategies are thus likely to be adopted by producers without financial incentive and could result in positive resource conservation outcomes if goat prices encourage harvesting. The ‘no management’ strategy will most likely promote resource degradation and should be discouraged. Strategies involving goat-proof fencing are likely to provide positive net benefits for landholders and achieve positive natural resource outcomes if associated with improved grazing management, and reduced density of feral goats outside the exclusion fencing. It is concluded that resource conservation benefits of feral goat control strategies may be positive, negative, or neutral depending on the management strategy adopted, the extent of goat-proof fencing, and the price of meat from feral goats. It is, therefore, difficult to rely on the commercial harvesting of feral goats to achieve resource conservation objectives. Public funds could be better used to support education and training in grazing management and provide incentives for achievement of measurable natural resource outcomes than to support infrastructure establishment for the harvesting of feral goats on private properties.

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Russell, Benjamin G., Mike Letnic, and Peter J. S. Fleming. "Managing feral goat impacts by manipulating their access to water in the rangelands." Rangeland Journal 33, no. 2 (2011): 143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj10070.

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Feral goats are a significant threat to biodiversity in Australia. However, goats are also harvested by some landholders for commercial benefit and this can lead to disagreements regarding control techniques. In the rangelands of New South Wales, feral goat distribution is closely linked to artificial watering points (AWP) such as tanks and bores. Previous surveys indicated that goat activity was rare more than 4 km from water. We hypothesised that constructing sections of goat-proof fencing in areas where goats were feeding on National Parks but watering on neighbouring properties, such that they had to travel more than 4 km from the AWP to access the park, would result in a significant decrease in goat abundance in these areas. We tested this hypothesis in Paroo-Darling National Park, Gundabooka State Conservation Area and Gundabooka National Park using changes in index (fresh goat dung groups per 100-m transect). We also measured kangaroo dung and ground cover index changes. Twelve months after the fences were constructed, goat dung significantly declined compared with non-treatment areas and the relationship between distance to water and goat dung broke down at the treatment sites. Kangaroo indices were not affected by the fences. The results for bare ground were the same as for goat dung, with significantly less bare ground and a breakdown in the relationship with distance to water at the treatment sites after the fences were constructed, but this was due to a corresponding increase in litter rather than live vegetation. This technique can be a significant tool for protecting biodiversity from feral goats, without removing the potential for neighbouring landholders to harvest the goats. If strategically used to create zones free of resident goats around the boundaries of conservation reserves, it should increase the effectiveness of other techniques such as trapping, mustering and shooting, by reducing post-control reinvasion. Recognition of access to water as an important management tool should substantially improve our management of feral goats in the rangelands.

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Thompson, J., J. Riethmuller, D. Kelly, E. Miller, and J. C. Scanlan. "Feral goats in south-western Queensland: a permanent component of the grazing lands." Rangeland Journal 24, no. 2 (2002): 268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj02015.

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Feral goats were harvested in south-western Queensland at four sites under two regimes (opportunistic harvesting and sustained control). We assessed how this impacted on their contribution to total grazing pressure, on soil and pasture conditions and on the economics of goat management. The population impact was not consistent across sites with the same treatment, with 62% and 84% reductions in numbers in the two northern sites (one opportunistic harvesting site and one sustained control site) while numbers in the southern sites essentially remained the same. The contribution of goats to grazing pressure ranged from 3 to 30%; kangaroos contributed 16–36%; and livestock contributed 37–72%. Harvest rates of feral goats calculated for each of the sites ranged from 17 to 41%. There was no consistent relationship between population changes and the harvest rates. Seasonal conditions had greater influence on pasture and soil conditions than did changes in feral goat populations. The average cost of mustering goats (based on 34 operations) was $1.93 per head. Mustering costs increased markedly when goat density was lower than 10/km2. Average trapping costs (based on 7 trapping programs) were $2.08 per head. This compared with on-farm prices of $16–$25 per head in 1997. Personal circumstances and preferences of individual landholders were the key determinant of the level of control undertaken. Variability in price contributed to landholders being apprehensive about the viability of the goat industry. There are few simple tools available for landholders to estimate feral goat numbers and this makes effective management of total grazing pressure difficult.

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Cassidy, Lara M., Matthew D. Teasdale, Seán Carolan, Ruth Enright, Raymond Werner, Daniel G. Bradley, Emma K. Finlay, and Valeria Mattiangeli. "Capturing goats: documenting two hundred years of mitochondrial DNA diversity among goat populations from Britain and Ireland." Biology Letters 13, no. 3 (March 2017): 20160876. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0876.

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The domestic goat ( Capra hircus ) plays a key role in global agriculture, being especially prized in regions of marginal pasture. However, the advent of industrialized breeding has seen a dramatic reduction in genetic diversity within commercial populations, while high extinction rates among feral herds have further depleted the reservoir of genetic variation available. Here, we present the first survey of whole mitochondrial genomic variation among the modern and historical goat populations of Britain and Ireland using a combination of mtDNA enrichment and high throughput sequencing. Fifteen historical taxidermy samples, representing the indigenous ‘Old Goat’ populations of the islands, were sequenced alongside five modern Irish dairy goats and four feral samples from endangered populations in western Ireland. Phylogenetic and network analyses of European mitochondrial variation revealed distinct groupings dominated by historical British and Irish samples, which demonstrate a degree of maternal genetic structure between the goats of insular and continental Europe. Several Irish modern feral samples also fall within these clusters, suggesting continuity between these dwindling populations and the ancestral ‘Old Goats’ of Ireland and Britain.

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Miller, SM, JD Brooker, A. Phillips, and LL Blackall. "Streptococcus caprinus is ineffective as a rumen inoculum to improve digestion of mulga (Acacia aneura) by sheep." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, no. 8 (1996): 1323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9961323.

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This study examined the distribution of Streptococcus caprinus in domestic and feral ruminants, and the effect of rumen inoculation with S. caprinus on nitrogen digestion in mulga-fed sheep. S. caprinus is a tannin-resistant rumen bacterium found in feral goats and may play a role in alleviating the nutritive depressing effects of high concentrations of plant tannins in these animals. S. caprinus was present in samples of rumen fluid from feral goats and feral camels but was not detectable in rumen fluid from sheep and domestic goats that had not previously grazed forages containing condensed tannins. A proportion of sheep, domestic goats, and cattle grazing in mulga paddocks, with either feral goats or camels, had detectable populations of S. caprinus. Pure cultures of S. caprinus grown in vitro were successfully placed in the rumen of sheep; however, nitrogen digestion was unaffected by rumen inoculation. Interactions between several populations of micro-organisms may therefore be involved in achieving improvements in protein digestion.

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Southwell, CJ, and GS Pickles. "Abundance, Distribution, and Rate of Increase of Feral Goats in Western Australia." Rangeland Journal 15, no. 2 (1993): 334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9930334.

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Aerial survey of 1.2 million km2 of Western Australia in 1987 and 1990 indicated minimum feral goat populations (� standard error) of 363,000�44,000 and 596,500�41,200 respectively. The observed rate of increase over the three-year period was r = 0.17, corresponding to a finite rate of increase of 18% per annum. In the period between the surveys an average of 187,000 goats were known to be commercially harvested each year. The observed rate of increase is below maximum potential rates of increase predicted theoretically for goat-sized mammals and derived from age-specific fecundity and mortality data for feral goats in South Australia.

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Bishop, S. C., and A. J. F. Russel. "Crossbreeding and selection for fibre traits in cashmere goats." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1993 (March 1993): 37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600023667.

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The agricultural industry in the UK is under increasing pressure to diversify its forms of production. One of the potentially most viable options suited to hill and upland farms is the production of cashmere, the fine undercoat produced by down bearing goats. Currently no breed of cashmere goat exists in the U.K. which meets market requirements, however, i.e. large quantities of fine, white cashmere. This paper presents results from a crossbreeding trial with Scottish Feral goats and several exotic lines of cashmere goats, the first step in improving production, and it considers future selection plans for improving cashmere production traits.Cashmere fibre production was evaluated on Scottish Feral goats (F) and on goats imported from Iceland (I), Tasmania (T), New Zealand (N) and Siberia (S), and on two and three way crosses between the F and exotic lines. These goats are owned by a group of commercial farmers, along with the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, forming a group known as Cashmere Breeders Limited.

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MCDOUGALL, PETER. "The feral goats of Kielderhead Moor." Journal of Zoology 176, no. 2 (August 20, 2009): 215–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1975.tb03194.x.

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TARIGAN, S., PW LADDS, and RA FOSTER. "Genital pathology of feral male goats." Australian Veterinary Journal 67, no. 8 (August 1990): 286–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1990.tb07798.x.

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Daly, Kath. "Eradication of feral goats from small islands." Oryx 23, no. 2 (April 1989): 71–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605300022729.

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Concern about the effects of feral goats on Aldabra atoll—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—led to a search for solutions. The search highlighted the inaccessibility of information on feral goat eradication campaigns. As a result the International Council for Bird Preservation and the FFPS, through its Oryx 100% Fund, commissioned a report to bring together and assess known techniques and potential strategies and to consider their implications for conservation practice. This article is a shortened version of that report.

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Pahl, Lester. "Macropods, feral goats, sheep and cattle. 2. Equivalency in what and where they eat." Rangeland Journal 41, no. 6 (2019): 519. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj19059.

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The extent to which sheep, cattle, feral goats, red kangaroos, western grey kangaroos, euros and eastern grey kangaroos are equivalent in their use of the Australian southern rangelands is partly dependent on the extent to which their diets and foraging areas overlap. These herbivores all eat large amounts of green annual grasses, ephemeral forbs and the green leaf of perennial grasses when they are available. Overlap in use of these forages by all seven herbivores is concurrent and high. As the abundance of these preferred forages declines, sheep, cattle and feral goats consume increasing amounts of mature perennial grasses and chenopod and non-chenopod perennial forbs. Red kangaroos and western grey kangaroos continue to graze mature perennial grasses longer than sheep, cattle and feral goats, and only switch to perennial forbs when the quantity and quality of perennial grasses are poor. Consequently, overlap in use of perennial forbs by sheep, cattle, feral goats, red kangaroos and western grey kangaroos is sequential and moderately high. When palatable perennial forbs are eaten out, the diets of all herbivores except feral goats comprise predominantly dry perennial grass, and overlap is again concurrent and high. In comparison, feral goats have higher preferences for the browse of a wide range of shrubs and trees, and switch to these much earlier than the other herbivores. When perennial grasses and perennial forbs become scarce, sheep, feral goats and cattle browse large shrubs and trees, and overlap is sequential and high. If climatic conditions remain dry, then red and western grey kangaroos will also browse large shrubs and trees, but overlap between them, sheep, cattle and goats is sequential and low. In contrast to the other herbivores, the diets of euros and eastern grey kangaroos are comprised predominantly of perennial grasses, regardless of climatic conditions. As for diet composition, concurrent overlap in foraging distributions of sheep, cattle, feral goats and the four species of macropods is often low. However, over periods of several months to two or three years, as climatic conditions change, overlap in foraging distributions is sequential and high. While equivalency in what and where these herbivores eat is not quantifiable, it appears to be high overall. This is particularly so for perennial grass, which is the dominant forage for herbivores in the southern rangelands.

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De Jesús-Laboy, Kassandra M., Filipa Godoy-Vitorino, Yvette M. Piceno, Lauren M. Tom, Ida G. Pantoja-Feliciano, Michelle J. Rivera-Rivera, Gary L. Andersen, and María G. Domínguez-Bello. "Comparison of the Fecal Microbiota in Feral and Domestic Goats." Genes 3, no. 1 (December 21, 2011): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes3010001.

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Pareja, Javier, Elena Baraza, Miguel Ibáñez, Oriol Domenech, and Jordi Bartolomé. "The Role of Feral Goats in Maintaining Firebreaks by Using Attractants." Sustainability 12, no. 17 (September 1, 2020): 7144. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12177144.

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The threat of large forest fires is increasing, and the main causes are the depopulation of rural areas, along with the effects of climate change. To counter this threat in recent decades, there have been numerous proposals and actions aimed at promoting grazing in the forest as a tool for controlling biomass fuel. However, the continued disappearance of traditional herds makes this activity difficult. Rural depopulation has also meant that domestic species become feral, being habitual in the case of goats. Currently, little is known about the role that feral goats can play in the fight against forest fires. In this work, an analysis is made on the effect of feral goats on the control of the vegetation in firebreak areas. Furthermore, the effect of attractants, such as water, salt, or food, on goat behavior is also studied. The study was carried out on the island of Mallorca, where a population of feral goats occupies the mountain areas, and where it is common for them to graze on the network of firebreaks. The results showed that these areas in themselves exert an attractive effect with respect to the neighboring forest, and that the herbaceous biomass is reduced. This effect was enhanced with the implementation of water and salt points, although only in certain periods of the year. In general, it was possible to reduce the phytovolume of many species without affecting biodiversity in the short or medium term. Therefore, strategic management of feral animals, aimed at firebreak areas, could contribute not only to reducing the risk of fires and, consequently, to the mitigation of climate change, but also to attracting these animals to the forests, thus avoiding their dispersion to conflictive places such as roads, residences, agricultural fields, and gardens.

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Roger, Louise C., G. J. Gunn, and A. Waterhouse. "Reproductive and kid performance of a newly established feral goat herd being graded up for cashmere production." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1989 (March 1989): 122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600011120.

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Interest in farming goats for cashmere production has recently arisen, both as a means of farm diversification and, through goats grazing preferences, to utilise previously under exploited resources on hill farms.A herd of 160 feral does of Irish and Scottish origin was established at the West of Scotland College's Kirkton Unit in June 1987 to investigate the potential for cashmere production from goats on a hill sheep farm. The Irish goats are of mixed ancestry with obvious dairy crossbreds in addition to many of more feral phenotype. The Scottish feral does came as an established group but proved excitable and difficult to handle. Whenever goats were grouped together for handling or at feeding points there was considerable fighting and other agonistic behaviour. A year later the level of this has reduced.One hundred and fifty eight does were divided into four groups and oestrus synchronised (goats sponges 45 mg progesterone supplied by Intervet). These were then artificially inseminated by laparoscope in two, two day sessions a week apart (21/10, 22/10, 29/10 and 30/10).

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McIlroy, J. C., and E. J. Gifford. "The ‘Judas’ Pig Technique: a Method that Could Enhance Control Programmes against Feral Pigs, Sus scrofa." Wildlife Research 24, no. 4 (1997): 483. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr96109.

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The successful ‘Judas’ goat technique has been adapted for use with feral pigs. The ‘Judas’ goat technique involves releasing radio-collared goats into a control area and, after a sufficient period to allow them to join other goats, tracking them down and culling the other individuals associated with them. Trials with the technique on feral pigs in Namadgi National Park, ACT, indicated that it worked best with sows captured in the same area. Each of these sows established contact with 1–8 other pigs in the area within 1–7 days of release and was located with at least one other pig on 67–100% of occasions. In contrast, sows and boars from outside the study area took longer to come into contact with ‘local’ pigs and associated with them much less frequently. A subsequent control exercise in Namadgi, using ‘Judas’ pigs to indicate where to lay warfarin baits from a helicopter, resulted in a 75% reduction in the low-density population still present after a larger control exercise two years earlier. Since then, the technique has been used to eradicate a small colony of feral pigs in central Australia and is proving successful for control of feral pigs and other ungulates in other parts of Australia and New Zealand.

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Pople, A. R., T. F. Clancy, J. A. Thompson, and S. Boyd-Law. "Aerial survey methodology and the cost of control for feral goats in Western Queensland." Wildlife Research 25, no. 4 (1998): 393. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97123.

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Feral goats (Capra hircus) were shot from a helicopter on four sites in central-western Queensland. These sites centred on Idalia National Park (660 km2) and three nearby properties: Lissoy (360 km2), Mt Calder (260 km2) and Ravensbourne (320 km2), the order reflecting increasing goat density. On Idalia, 134 goats were shot in 8 h of flying time. On Lissoy, 28 goats were shot in 3 h, 1038 goats were shot on Mt Calder in 15 h, while 2307 goats were shot on Ravensbourne in 21 h. The reduction was monitored by aerial surveys using fixed-wing aircraft. No goats were recorded on either Idalia or Lissoy immediately following shooting and substantial reductions in goat numbers were achieved on Mt Calder (75%) and Ravensbourne (49%). Surveys conducted six months after this reduction indicated population increases on all sites following shooting. This was particularly marked on Ravensbourne, where goat numbers had increased by 31% despite further substantial removals by commercial mustering. These population increases were largely the result of immigration. The cooperation of landowners over a large area is therefore essential for effective control of goats. The per capita cost of shooting goats from a helicopter was essentially constant down to a threshold density of <1 goat km-2 , below which the cost increased substantially. The accuracy of fixed-wing aerial surveys was improved by using double-counting and these corrected estimates compared favourably with index–manipulation–index estimates. Estimates of densities <1 goat km-2 were imprecise and at these densities goats were difficult to detect. The extent of vegetation cover did not affect the sightability of goats, whereas group size was positively correlated with the sightability of goats. To estimate true density, correction factors of 1–2 were applied to goat group sizes using survey parameters of 100 m strip width, a survey height of 76 m and a speed of 187 km h-1.

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Coblentz, Bruce E., Dirk Van Vuren, and Martin B. Main. "Control of feral goats on Aldabra atoll." Atoll Research Bulletin 337 (1990): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.337.1.

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MAIN, DC, and JH CREEPER. "Coccidiosis of Brunner's glands in feral goats." Australian Veterinary Journal 77, no. 1 (January 1999): 49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb12431.x.

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Lethbridge, Mark R. "Insights into feral goat movement in Australia using dynamic Brownian Bridges for movement analysis." Rangeland Journal 38, no. 4 (2016): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj15024.

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Movement analyses were conducted for 50 goats across southern Australia using GPS satellite collars. A radio or satellite-tracked animal used to direct culling operations is generally called a ‘Judas’ animal. Goats used as ‘Judas’ animals in control operations were compared with non-‘Judas’ goats in the states of South Australia and Victoria, respectively. Their movement in two land systems were also compared. Dynamic Brownian Bridges Movement Models were used to calculate home ranges (95% utilisation areas). Changes in movement behaviour were identified to partition sedentary behaviour from long-distance movement events, defined here as ranging. Eleven goats exhibited ranging behaviour and moved from 9 to 33 km between their home ranges. After partitioning, their home ranges varied from 1.97 to 223.8 km2. In this study in the Southern Australian Mallee regions, non-‘Judas’ goats had significantly smaller home ranges than ‘Judas’ goats. However, no significant differences were found in the ranging distances between non-‘Judas’ goats and ‘Judas’ goats. Understanding these two distinct forms of goat movement is important in the planning and budgeting of removal operations. To demonstrate this a simple goat management decision tool is used to illustrate the biases that can result in the expected hours of removal operations when the assumptions about goat movement are ill-defined.

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Shi, Jianbin, R. I. M. Dunbar, David Buckland, and David Miller. "Daytime activity budgets of feral goats (Capra hircus) on the Isle of Rum: influence of season, age, and sex." Canadian Journal of Zoology 81, no. 5 (May 1, 2003): 803–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z03-055.

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The activity budgets of feral goats (Capra hircus) on the Isle of Rum, northwest Scotland, were studied from January to December in 1981 and from May to November in 2000. We investigated differences in activity patterns in relation to season, time of day, and agesex classes of goats, and their possible causes. Since the goats spent the night sleeping (or resting) in caves or other sheltered sites, only diurnal activity budgets were considered. Activity patterns were very similar between the two study periods (from May to November). All agesex classes of feral goats spent most of the daytime feeding in both years, especially during autumn and winter. Feral goats increased the percentage of daytime that they spent feeding and decreased their resting time from summer to autumnwinter in response to the decrease in available day length and, possibly, the decrease in forage quality and biomass. Feral goats on Rum had two or three daily peaks of feeding in summer, but showed no obvious daily feeding peaks in winter, although their percentage of feeding time remained relatively high throughout the daytime in winter. No significant differences in general activity budgets between adult males and females were found, but yearlings were found to spend more time feeding than adults and kids. Adult males spent more time in social activities than did other agesex classes, and adult males sharply decreased the percentage of daytime that they spent feeding during rutting periods, which may have contributed to their higher mortality over the subsequent autumn and winter.

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Southwell, C. "Bias in Aerial Survey of Feral Goats in the Rangelands of Western Australia." Rangeland Journal 18, no. 1 (1996): 99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9960099.

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Broad-scale aerial surveys of feral goat populations in the aridsemi-arid rangelands of Western Australia have used strip transect methods without correction for visibility bias to estimate minimum abundance. Improved accuracy of these minimum estimates is necessary for more effective control. Line transect methodology was used to assess visibility bias in aerial survey of feral goats in a 375,000 km2area of north-west Western Australia. Visibility of goat groups decreased with increasing vegetation cover. In open country with little or no cover there was no decline in visibility within a 200 m strip from the transect line. In country with high vegetation cover visibility declined markedly with distance from the transect line, and it was estimated that only half the goat groups within the 200 m strip were seen. No size-bias in the estimation of mean group size was detected, The line transect results, and consideration of possible violations to the line transect method, suggest that previously published minimum estimates of feral goat abundance may be negatively biased by at least 30-40%.

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Reddiex, Ben, David M. Forsyth, Eve McDonald-Madden, Luke D. Einoder, Peter A. Griffioen, Ryan R. Chick, and Alan J. Robley. "Control of pest mammals for biodiversity protection in Australia. I. Patterns of control and monitoring." Wildlife Research 33, no. 8 (2006): 691. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05102.

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Foxes, wild dogs, feral cats, rabbits, feral pigs and feral goats are believed to have deleterious impacts on native biodiversity in Australia. However, although considerable resources have been expended controlling these six species, little is known about national patterns and costs of control and monitoring. We therefore conducted a survey of pest-control operations undertaken by conservation-focused organisations in Australia. A total of 1306 control operations were reported, with most conducted during 1998–2003: there was little information prior to 1990. Foxes and rabbits were the most, and feral cats the least, frequently controlled pest species. The total area on which control was undertaken in 2003, the year for which most information was available, ranged from ~0.4 × 104 km2 for feral cats to ~10.7 × 104 km2 for foxes. A wide range of techniques and intensities were used to control each of the six species. The estimated cost of labour expended on control in 2003 ranged from $0.4 × 106 for feral cats to $5.3 × 106 for foxes. Monitoring of the pest or biodiversity occurred in 50–56% of control actions in which foxes, wild dogs and feral cats were targeted, but only 22–26% of control actions in which rabbits, feral pigs and feral goats were targeted. Our results are discussed in relation to previous studies of pest animal control and monitoring in Australia.

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Freudenberger, D., and J. Barber. "Movement Patterns of Feral Goats in a Semi-Arid Woodland in Eastern Australia." Rangeland Journal 21, no. 1 (1999): 71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9990071.

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The movement patterns of ten feral goats fitted with radio transmitters were examined over a 20 month period in a semi-arid woodland of western New South Wales. The mean distance between locations (fixes) was 3.1 km at 42 day intervals. The mean interfix distance for male goats was 1.1 km greater than for females. The mean home range for the five males was 29.4 km2 and 10.9 km2 for the five females (95% convex polygon). The movement patterns of feral goats in this woodland system were predictable. Goats usually moved small distances and remained close to intermittent lakes and creeks with abundant tree and shrub cover. Goats commercially harvested in this area were likely to have come from local populations living in an area of 15-35 km2, an area encompassed by 1-2 paddocks on a single property.

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BEVERIDGE, I., A. L. PULLMAN, R. HENZELL, and R. R. MARTIN. "Helminth parasites of feral goats in South Australia." Australian Veterinary Journal 64, no. 4 (April 1987): 111–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1987.tb09642.x.

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29

Ris, D. R., K. L. Hamel, and Allison M. Weaver. "Natural transmission of Johne's disease to feral goats." New Zealand Veterinary Journal 36, no. 2 (June 1988): 98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1988.35496.

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30

Rubinoff, Daniel, and Samuel M. ‘Ohukani‘ōhi‘a Gon. "The role of feral goats in Maui fires." Science 381, no. 6664 (September 22, 2023): 1294. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adk4719.

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31

Harrington, GN. "Herbivore diet in a semi-arid Eucalyptus populnea woodland. 2. Feral goats." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 26, no. 4 (1986): 423. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9860423.

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The diet of feral goats was recorded by direct observation in a shrub-dominated Eucalyptus populnea woodland between Nyngan and Bourke, N.S.W., on 7 sampling occasions over 2 years. Different nutritional opportunities were provided by the effects of rainfall on 4 contrasting grazing treatments. The goats foraged evenly over the paddocks and encountered most foods with the same frequency as they occurred. With unlimited quantities of forage available the goats spent 63% of their time grazing and only 28% browsing. Most browsing took place under dry conditions when pasture quality was low. When forage was in short supply the goats accepted some shrubs not normally eaten, and these plants died; other woody plants were consumed erratically or not at all. Acacia aneura was the only woody plant which was both palatable and resilient to goat browsing. Goats mostly ate the same plant species as sheep and with the same preference, but tended to eat more browse and less forbs than sheep in dry times. The browse consumed was principally the same as consumed by sheep, demonstrating sequential competition for dry-season fodder. Goats demonstrated a potential for overgrazing in dry times, indicating that stocking rates must be adjusted at such times to avoid pastures becoming extinct.

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32

Pople, AR, GC Grigg, SC Cairns, P. Alexander, LA Beard, and RP Henzell. "Trends in numbers and changes in the distribution of feral goats (capra hircus) in the South Australia pastoral zone." Wildlife Research 23, no. 6 (1996): 687. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9960687.

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Trends in numbers and changes in the distribution of feral goats in the South Australian pastoral zone (217300 km*2) during 1978-94 were determined by winter aerial surveys. Only the presence or absence of goats on sample units was scored between 1978 and 1988. On the assumption of a random distribution of goat groups, these indices were transformed to densities of goat groups. Between 1989 and 1994 actual goat numbers were recorded on each sample unit, allowing goat density to be estimated. Goats were consistently at their highest densities in the south-east of the pastoral zone, a region dominated by open mallee scrub and chenopod shrubland. Densities of goat groups fluctuated from a low in 1984, following a drought, to a peak in 1990, following above-average rainfalls, when there were an estimated 193700 +/- 29600 goats in the pastoral zone. This estimate is conservative because it is uncorrected for the visibility bias associated with sighting groups and undercounting their sizes. The estimate also excludes the Flinders Ranges for which a similar number of goats has been estimated.

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Miller, S. M., A. V. Klieve, J. J. Plumb, R. Aisthorpe, and L. L. Blackall. "An in vitro cultured rumen inoculum improves nitrogen digestion in mulga-fed sheep." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, no. 4 (1997): 403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a96100.

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Mixed cultures of anaerobic micro-organisms were derived from feral goat rumen fluid (FGRF) using a laboratory fermentor to selectively culture microbes actively degrading mulga, and were evaluated as rumen inocula in digestion and liveweight studies with mulga-fed sheep. When placed in the rumen of sheep, FGRF enhances mulga digestion; however, limited supplies of feral goats, the labour involved in locating and mustering goats, and likely variations in the microbial composition of FGRF between animals and localities make the production of an in vitro cultured inoculum a desirable alternative to enable widespread adoption. The cultured inoculum significantly (P < 0·05) improved nitrogen digestion and retention in mulga-fed sheep by 16 and 76%, respectively. Inocula consisting of simplified mixtures of bacteria isolated from sheep, feral goats, and native marsupials did not affect mulga digestion. In the first of 2 liveweight studies, sheep inoculated with the fermentor inoculum lost significantly less weight than uninoculated sheep for the first 57 days (0·3 v. 4·6 kg); however, after 83 days the difference in the rate of liveweight loss between the fermentor inoculum group and the uninoculated sheep was not significant (53 v. 95 g/day). In the second study, liveweight loss was not significantly reduced by the fermentor inoculum. An inoculum based on FGRF, and produced in vitro using a fermentor, is potentially valuable to grazing enterprises reliant on mulga-fed sheep. However, problems in generating a consistent inoculum need to be addressed before such an inoculum can be generally considered.

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Bishop, S. C., and A. J. F. Russel. "Initial responses to selection for fibre value and fibre diameter in cashmere goats." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1995 (March 1995): 99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1752756200590954.

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The production of cashmere from goats is one of the most promising options for hill sheep farmers wishing to diversify. Not only is cashmere, the down from the secondary hair follicles, a valuable commodity but goats’ grazing preferences can benefit pasture management and ecology. Because no economically viable breeds of cashmere bearing goats are indigenous to the UK, goats were imported from Iceland, Siberia, Tasmania and New Zealand and an extensive crossbreeding programme involving these genotypes and native feral goats was undertaken to produce genotypes suitable to Scottish conditions (Bishop and Russel, 1994). At the completion of this crossbreeding programme the best means of continued improvement of the existing cashmere goat population was considered to be selection for genetic merit, based on an index combining traits of economic importance. This paper summarises responses to the first two years of this selection.

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Bishop, S. C., and A. J. F. Russel. "Initial responses to selection for fibre value and fibre diameter in cashmere goats." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1995 (March 1995): 99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s030822960002866x.

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The production of cashmere from goats is one of the most promising options for hill sheep farmers wishing to diversify. Not only is cashmere, the down from the secondary hair follicles, a valuable commodity but goats’ grazing preferences can benefit pasture management and ecology. Because no economically viable breeds of cashmere bearing goats are indigenous to the UK, goats were imported from Iceland, Siberia, Tasmania and New Zealand and an extensive crossbreeding programme involving these genotypes and native feral goats was undertaken to produce genotypes suitable to Scottish conditions (Bishop and Russel, 1994). At the completion of this crossbreeding programme the best means of continued improvement of the existing cashmere goat population was considered to be selection for genetic merit, based on an index combining traits of economic importance. This paper summarises responses to the first two years of this selection.

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36

Bayne, Paul, Robert Harden, and Ian Davies. "Feral goats (Capra hircus L.) in the Macleay River gorge system, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. I. Impacts on soil erosion." Wildlife Research 31, no. 5 (2004): 519. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr03039.

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The impact of feral goats (Capra hircus) on the rate of erosion in steep gorge country was estimated. The erosion (sediment flux) in a manipulated treatment area before and after the removal of goats was compared with erosion in two adjacent unmanipulated areas: one with goats at high density (~20 goats km–2) and one with very few goats (~0.2 goats km–2). Erosion was measured with 36 2-m-wide catch fences, collecting debris (soil and rock) moving down 40° slopes over 10 collection periods spanning 31 months. In the central manipulated area, goats were initially at high density but were completely removed during the third collection period. Over the 10 collection periods, erosion was consistently greater in the area with many goats than in the area with few goats (mean five times greater, range 2.4–11.8). This difference was significant for 6 of the 10 collection periods. Before goats were removed from the manipulated treatment, the erosion in this area was not significantly different from that in the area with many goats, but was significantly greater than the area with few goats. After goat removal erosion in the manipulated area decreased relative to each of the other treatments. By the final collection period erosion in the manipulated (goats removed) area was significantly less than in the area with many goats, but not significantly different from the area with few goats. Initial reduction in erosion following goat removal was rapid, followed by a continued slower decline over the next two years coincident with a relative increase in ground-cover vegetation. It was thought that both direct physical disturbance by the goats and secondary effects due to goat impacts on the substrate and ground-cover vegetation contributed to the increase in erosion associated with the presence of goats.

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37

Eason, CT, and D. Batcheler. "Iophenoxic and Iopanoic Acid as Bait Markers for Feral Goats." Wildlife Research 18, no. 1 (1991): 85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9910085.

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As part of assessments of the palatability of different formulations for baits to be used for the control of feral goats, iopanoic acid and iophenoxic acid were compared as bait markers. After goats ingested iopanoic acid (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg), peak plasma iodine concentrations (4.86, 17.25 and 19.11 micro g/ml respectively) were reached after 4 to 8 h, followed by rapid excretion. In contrast, iophenoxic acid (1.5 mg/kg) was more slowly absorbed but remained stable in the plasma at concentrations greater than 2.40 micro g/ml for 3months after ingestion. When goats were fed 10 marked leaves smeared with non-toxic petrolatum containing a total of 50 mg iophenoxic acid, plasma iodine concentrations were proportionally and significantly higher than in animals fed on marked leaf smeared with non-toxic petrolatum (total of 5 mg iophenoxic acid), indicating a potential for quantifying the amount of bait ingested. Iophenoxic acid, therefore, shows the greatest potential as a bait marker for goats, particularly for quantitative use in palatability and acceptance studies.

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38

Burke, Margaret Gould. "Seawater Consumption and Water Economy of Tropical Feral Goats." Biotropica 22, no. 4 (December 1990): 416. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2388559.

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39

Coblentz, Bruce E., and Dirk Van Vuren. "Effects of feral goats (Capra hircus) on Aldabra Atoll." Atoll Research Bulletin 306 (1987): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.306.1.

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40

BATEY, R. G., C. M. SPEED, and C. J. KOBES. "Prevalence and distribution of caseous lymphadenitis in feral goats." Australian Veterinary Journal 63, no. 2 (February 1986): 33–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb02916.x.

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41

GHERARDI, SG, and TJ JOHNSON. "Feeding of feral goats before live export by ship." Australian Veterinary Journal 72, no. 11 (November 1995): 429–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1995.tb06196.x.

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42

Tracey, John P., and Peter J. S. Fleming. "Behavioural responses of feral goats (Capra hircus) to helicopters." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 108, no. 1-2 (December 2007): 114–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.10.009.

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43

Parkes, John P. "Eradication of feral goats on islands and habitat islands." Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 20, no. 3 (September 1990): 297–304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03036758.1990.10416824.

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44

O'Callaghan, M. G. "Coccidia of domestic and feral goats in South Australia." Veterinary Parasitology 30, no. 4 (March 1989): 267–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(89)90095-2.

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45

Calhim, Sara, Jianbin Shi, and R. I. M. Dunbar. "Sexual segregation among feral goats: testing between alternative hypotheses." Animal Behaviour 72, no. 1 (July 2006): 31–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.08.013.

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46

Rudge, M. R. "A ROLE FOR FERAL MAMMALS IN CONSERVING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF LIVESTOCK." Animal Genetic Resources Information 5 (April 1986): 9–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1014233900004016.

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SUMMARYThe rationale for conserving breeds of livestock may be extended to free-living populations which are descended from domestic stock (= feral). An important management difference is that feral animals are not maintained as fixed breeds, but are free to vary and adapt. Many feral populations are pests, and threaten the status of native flora and fauna. This means that they continue to diminish as a result of control operations. Nevertheless, some populations and herds of goats, cattle, horses, sheep and pigs have now been protected. Positive values of commercial and scientific Interest are emerging as animals of feral extraction are studied. Further work is needed to assess the contribution that feral animals can make to the cause of conserving genetic diversity in the world's livestock.

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47

Miller, SM, JD Brooker, and LL Blackall. "A feral goat rumen fluid inoculum improves nitrogen retention in sheep consuming a mulga (Acacia aneura) diet." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, no. 8 (1995): 1545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9951545.

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Rumen micro-organisms which are resistant to high levels of condensed tannins (CT) may constitute a unique response by feral goats to the nutritive depressing effects of mulga (Acacia aneura) CT. Transferring these micro-organisms to domestic livestock lacking this response may be beneficial when CT-rich mulga diets are consumed. Three experiments were conducted in which sheep consuming a mulga diet were given a ruminal inoculation of feral goat rumen fluid (FGRF). Feed intake and nitrogen (N) retention were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in both sheep and domestic goats following inoculation and in inoculated compared with uninoculated sheep. Inoculation also improved N digestibility and reduced the rate of liveweight loss in sheep and domestic goats. These improvements were of similar magnitude to those attributable to the traditional N, phosphorus and sulfur mineral supplement for mulga fed sheep. FGRF inoculated sheep also grew as much wool as uninoculated sheep receiving a production enhancing mineral supplement. The results from these experiments suggest that FGRF is readily transferable to sheep and improves N metabolism in these animals. Using micro-organisms from FGRF as an inoculum for sheep consuming a mulga diet has the potential to be an alternative to mineral supplements.

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48

Taylor, C. S., J. I. Murray, and M. L. Thonney. "Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats 4. Carcass muscle, fat and bone." Animal Science 49, no. 3 (December 1989): 385–409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0003356100032608.

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ABSTRACTMales and females from Soay, Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Finnish Landrace, Jacob, Wiltshire Horn and Oxford Down sheep breeds and a breed of feral goats were slaughtered when proportionately 0·40, 0·52, 0·64 or 0·76 of mature live weight. On average, carcasses contained 583 g muscle, 243 g fat and 174 g bone per kg. Individual cuts (four commercially higher-valued and six lower-valued cuts of the shoulder, rib, loin and gigot joints) ranged from 375 to 670g muscle, 129 to 625 g fat and 0 to 294 g bone per kg.Allometric coefficients are given for 32 traits. The distribution of bone in the carcass joints changed little as animals matured but carcass muscle and fat distributions changed significantly.Breeds differed significantly in proportion of carcass muscle, fat and bone and also in their distribution. Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Wiltshire and Oxford Down all deposited carcass fat about three times more rapidly than did the Soay, goat, Finnish Landrace and Jacob. The Oxford Down had the lowest proportion of muscle (514 g/kg) and most fat (317 g/kg). The Southdown had least bone (148 g/kg) and the feral goat most muscle (662 g/kg). Southdown and Soay had the most muscle in commercially higher-valued cuts and Jacob and feral goat the least. Males had significantly more of their muscle in the neck and shoulder and significantly less in the gigot and flank.As breed size increased, proportion of carcass muscle and bone decreased and proportion of carcass fat increased. These breed regressions were attributed to the small but exceptionally lean feral Soay and goat breeds, rather than to a failure of genetic size-scaling. There were no significant trends with breed size among the domesticated breeds.

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Harrington, K. C., W. B. Beskow, and J. Hodgson. "Recovery and viability of seeds ingested by goats." New Zealand Plant Protection 64 (January 8, 2011): 75–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.30843/nzpp.2011.64.5965.

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Seeds of eight plant species were fed to four penned goats on three separate occasions The faeces were collected over subsequent days then seeds were recovered and tested for viability Less than 10 of the ingested seeds survived passage through the goats for five of the species though 323 of broadleaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) seeds and 192 of gorse (Ulex europeaus) seeds were excreted undigested The percentage of viable seeds ingested that remained viable when excreted ranged from 257 for broadleaved dock to 05 for variegated thistle (Silybum marianum) A large proportion of recovered seeds was excreted within 24 h of ingestion and all seeds had passed through the goats within 72 h Grazing by goats of weed seedheads is generally seen as beneficial due to large decreases in the number of viable seeds added to the soil However as all species established from intact goat dung potential exists for dispersal of weeds to new areas especially by feral goats

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Thonney, M. L., St C. S. Taylor, and T. H. McClelland. "Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats 1. Growth and food intake." Animal Science 45, no. 2 (October 1987): 239–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0003356100018833.

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ABSTRACTGenetic size-scaling accounts for most of the variation found among mammalian species in food intake and growth rate, with food conversion efficiency independent of the body size of the species. Is the same true of breeds and strains within species?Animals from Soay, Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Finish Landrace, Jacob, Wiltshire Horn and Oxford Down sheep breeds and from a breed of feral goats were grown to 0·40, 0·52, 0·64 or 0·76 of the mean mature weight of their breed and sex. Food was offered ad libitum and individually recorded.Allometric growth coefficients were obtained for fleece weight, femur weight and femur length. Fleece was late maturing and femur early.Breed and sex size-scaling coefficients, obtained by regression of breed and sex means on mature size, were similar to those found at the species level for age from conception to slaughter, time taken to mature and food conversion efficiency. Coefficients were higher than expected for total and daily food consumption, especially at early stages of maturity. Most breed coefficients were close to expectation while sex coefficients were somewhat higher than expected.There were significant breed deviations: Welsh Mountain, Oxford Down and probably Soay sheep required less time and Jacob sheep and feral goats required more time to mature than expected from differences in mature size. Soay and Welsh Mountain sheep appeared to be more efficient and feral goats and Jacob sheep less efficient food converters over the same maturity interval.

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Journal articles on the topic 'Feral goats'

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