Effect of Various Flooring Treatments on Body Weight and Hematology of Desi Goat (Capra aegagrushircus) Under Feedlot Production System

Goat welfare and productivity have a direct connection with housing management, including the type of floors, which might effect on physiological and hematological alterations. Flooring also influences variables related to hygiene, comfort, and stress, among others, impacting animal health status. Knowledge of how different floor types influence body weight and blood indices is fundamental for designing optimal goat production systems, especially in intensive feedlot production. The experiment analyzed 21 desi goats (Caprahircus) reared on three flooring materials, namely ground, wooden, and plastic, for three months. Although body weight was not significantly different among the flooring materials, hematological parameters differed. Goats on wooden floors appear significant differences in white blood cell, hemoglobin content, and lymphocytes, suggesting possible stress or physiological adaptation. In comparison, goats on plastic floors had more controlled blood values, implying improved living conditions and minimized physiological perturbations.Flooring material is crucial to goat welfare and health, with a greater impact on hematological response than body weight. Wooden flooring could be a source of physiological stress, whereas plastic flooring supports a more stable and cleaner environment. These results can be used to guide housing choices to improve the well-being and productivity of goats in feedlot systems.