Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 56 No. 4, 2025.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.56.4.7
Impact of global warming on the productive and reproductive efficiency of goats
Mirta Sudarić Bogojević
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Dražen Đuričić
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Stefani Fruk
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivona Žura Žaja
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Sandra Kunštek
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mislav Kovačić
; Department of Biology, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
*
Marko Samardžija
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Climate change has had an enormous impact on domestic animal production system. Thermal stress is the most prominent impact of global warming in goat production resulting in a range of physiological, metabolic and production disorders. Negative energy balance due to poor food quality and heat stress cause endocrinal disturbances: increased frequency of LH-waves (anovulatory cycles), increased diameter of dominant follicle (lower concentration of oestradiol)) and increased system or intrafollicular level of insulin–like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Glucocorticoids inhibit the release of gonadotrope hormones, which reduces fertility probably due to ovulation failure and reduced growth and maturation of follicles. A high temperature several days prior to and after mating was found to reduce conception rate, since heat stress may negatively affect oocytes, spermatozoa and embryos. Increased ambient temperature also affects animal health, reproduction and nutrition, resulting in poor reproductive performance, low product quality and quantity, or the possible outbreak of new diseases. The indirect impact of global warming is manifested in the reduced production of fodder used to feed animals due to long-term droughts or floods. In addition to decreased quantity of animal feed, the quality of fodder grown during droughts or floods is also questionable. As a result of feeding with poor quality feed and insufficient quantities, numerous metabolic and endocrine disorders occur that can significantly affect fertility and sexual performance in goats.
Keywords
global warming; goat; heat stress; production; reproduction
Hrčak ID:
322232
URI
Publication date:
26.1.2025.
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