author(s)
Muthukumar Subramaniyan, Thamilvannan Thanga, Meenakshisundaram Subramanian, Hemalatha Sentilnayagam and Samuel Masilamoni Ronald B

abstract
Goat production system in India has started slowly moving from traditional low input extensive to high input intensive commercial production system. One of the important limiting factors of intensive goat rearing is the high level of mortality among kids, which can affect the economic viability of commercial goat farming. A study was carried out to find the various causes of kid mortality and to optimize the management strategies to improve kid survivability in an organized goat farm under intensive system of rearing with more than 500 breedable Tellicherry does at Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. During the study period (2014 - 2015) 52 kid mortality was recorded out of 551 live kids born and detailed necropsy was carried out. On detailed laboratory examination Clostridium perfringens type D was found to be the single major cause of kid mortality (65.38%) in this farm, while low birth weight, pneumonia, navel ill, cystic calculi, intussusception, round worm infestation and brain suppurative encephalitis were other causes for kid mortality. Among the different management interventions tried vaccination of ewes during last month of pregnancy and controlled nursing provided significant protection to kids from neonatal enterotaemia. Maximum survivability was observed in kids born to vaccinated does (98.21%) followed by control group (89.70%). In conclusion, kid mortality due to neonatal enterotoxaemia can be significantly reduced by vaccination and controlled nursing.