Antibody detection against Brucella, spp. and farm characterization in goats of Marimenuco area in the County of Lonquimay, Chile

Chile is free of B. melitensis since 1975, but B. abortus is still present and also can infect goats. In Argentina there are both organisms. This situation is a potential risk for chilean herds that use common summer grazing areas near the border with Argentina. The aim of this study was to determine brucellosis antibody status in goats at common summer grazing areas and the productivity of local goat farms. A commercial Bengal Rose test was performed to 630 adult goat sera. Blood samples were taken from 30 herds at risk from the summer grazing area of Marimenuco, Lonquimay county. A questionnaire about herds productivity and farm characteristics was performed at sampling time at the same farms. All sera were antibody negative against Brucella spp. (smooth strains). The median farm size was 6 hectares. The median herd size was 35.5. The average fertility rate was 75%, culling rate was 15%, birth-weaning mortality rate was 12% and lambing ratio was 0.89. Except for the birth-weaning mortality rate all the performance indices differed statistically from references values. It was concluded that the studied herds had no antibodies against Brucella spp. (smooth strains) at the time that the survey was performed. Sanitary conditions, management and trade practices suggest that goats are farmed in a traditional subsistence system. The productivity indices could be improved to became closer to the references values.