Morteza Mokhtari

Perinatal kid loss in the early and later stages of production is a major problem in goat breeding. This study investigates the associated risk factors of stillbirth and dystocia in the Murciano-Granadina goat breed under an intensive production system in the semi-arid tropical region of southern Iran. Data were collected from 2017 to 2024 on a private dairy farm in Ghale-Ganj city, the southern area of Kerman Province, Iran. Data included information from 8,349 kidding records across the first three parities. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the influences of independent variables, including kidding year, kidding season, parity, birth type of kid born, sex of kid born, birth weight of kid born, gestation length of doe, and age of doe at kidding. The average incidence rates of stillbirth and dystocia across the first three parities were 2.73% and 3.90%, respectively. The obtained results revealed that stillbirth was significantly influenced by kidding year, sex of the kid born, gestation length of doe, and age of doe at kidding, whereas dystocia was significantly associated with kidding year and sex of the kid born. These findings can inform better management and breeding strategies to reduce perinatal losses and improve reproductive performance in Murciano-Granadina goats raised under intensive conditions.