Abstract
We evaluated the possible effect of maternal social rank (SR) concerning different morpho-physiological maternal indicators such as live weight (LWM, kg), body condition score (BCS, units), thoracic diameter (TD, cm), thoracic perimeter (TP, cm), and serum glucose content (GLU, mg dL(-1)), upon the kid's live weights (LWGK, kg) during the birth-to-weaning period. To define the SR [either high (HSR) or low (LSR)], a behavioral study was conducted on pregnant goats managed under semi-extensive conditions in northern arid Mexico (25° N; Alpine-Saanen-Nubian × Criollo; n = 15, 2-3 y/old) 30 days before the expected kidding date. The behavioral study was conducted during feeding time (i.e., 08:00, 13:00, and 17:00; 60 min test(-1), 180 min d(-1)). The HSR goats showed higher values (p < 0.05) regarding prepartum, parturition, postpartum weights, and zoometric values. However, no differences (p > 0.05) between HSR and LSR goats occurred concerning the maternal serum glucose values, litter size, individual kid weights, or litter weights at weaning.