Background Junipers ( Juniperus spp. ) are woody native, invasive plants that have caused encroachment problems in the U.S. western rangelands, decreasing forage productivity and biodiversity. A potential solution to this issue is using goats in targeted grazing programs. However, junipers, which grow in dry and harsh environmental conditions, use chemical defense mechanisms to deter herbivores. Therefore, genetically selecting goats for increased juniper consumption is of great interest for regenerative rangeland management. In this context, the primary objectives of this study were to: 1) estimate variance components and genetic parameters for predicted juniper consumption in divergently selected Angora (ANG) and composite Boer x Spanish (BS) goat populations grazing on Western U.S. rangelands; and 2) to identify genomic regions, candidate genes, and biological pathways associated with juniper consumption in these goat populations. Results The average juniper consumption was 22.4% (± 18.7%) and 7.01% (± 12.1%) in the BS and ANG populations, respectively. The heritability estimates (realized heritability within parenthesis) for juniper consumption were 0.43 ± 0.02 (0.34 ± 0.06) and 0.19 ± 0.03 (0.13 ± 0.03) in BS and ANG, respectively, indicating that juniper consumption can be increased through genetic selection. The repeatability values of predicted juniper consumption were 0.45 for BS and 0.28 for ANG. A total of 571 significant SNP located within or close to 231 genes in BS, and 116 SNP related to 183 genes in ANG were identified based on the genome-wide association analyses. These genes are primarily associated with biological pathways and gene ontology terms related to olfactory receptors, intestinal absorption, and immunity response. Conclusions These findings suggest that juniper consumption is a heritable trait of polygenic inheritance influenced by multiple genes of small effects. The genetic parameters calculated indicate that juniper consumption can be genetically improved in both goat populations.

Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are woody invasive plants that have caused encroachment problems in the U.S. western rangeland, decreasing forage productivity and biodiversity. A potential solution to this issue is the use of goats in target grazing programs. Selecting goats for juniper consumption is of great interest to rangeland farmers. Therefore, our main objectives were to 1) estimate genetic parameters, including heritability and repeatability, for juniper consumption in Angora (ANG) and Boer x Spanish (BxS) composite population of goats grazing on West Texas rangelands (USA); and, 2) perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify candidate genes associated with juniper consumption. Fecal samples were collected multiple times between 2008 and 2017 and analyzed using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate the percentage of juniper in the diet of goats, using calibration equations previously developed in controlled studies. We analyzed a dataset comprising 2,327 records from 459 ANG and 8,714 records from 1,996 BxS. The pedigree file included 1,601 and 2,426 ANG and BxS goats, respectively. Genomic information for 50,957 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from 93 ANG and 238 BxS goats was included in the analyses. Sampling date and sex were fitted as categorical fixed effects and age as a linear covariate in the statistical models. Animal direct additive genetic and permanent environment were considered as random effects. Genetic parameters were calculated based on the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method under the single-step genomic BLUP procedure implemented in the BLUPf90+ family of programs. We used de-regressed estimated breeding values and whole-genome sequence data for the GWAS analyses with 8 million SNP for the ANG and 5.3 million SNP for the BxS. The software GCTA was employed for these analyses. Juniper percentage in their diets varied across the years and ranged from 2.14% (± 7.51%) to 14.6% (± 11.0%) for ANG and from 10.5% (± 14.7) to 33.8% (± 18.1) for the BxS population. The heritability estimate for juniper consumption was 0.19 (± 0.038) for ANG and 0.28 (± 0.022) for BxS, indicating that juniper consumption can be increased through selection. The repeatability values were 0.21 for ANG and 0.37 for BxS. The GWAS revealed 1,257 significant SNP located within or close to 220 genes in ANG, and 878 SNP related to 159 genes in BxS, suggesting their association with juniper consumption. These findings suggest that juniper consumption is under genetic control and has a polygenic inheritance pattern influenced by multiple genes of small effect. The heritability and repeatability estimates indicate that genetic improvement of juniper consumption is feasible in both goat populations.

The objective of this experiment was to compare overall productivity between Dorper (n = 96) and Rambouillet (n = 100) ewes in West Texas commercial production conditions. Ewes originated from private flocks and were mated to produce terminal cross or purebred lambs, depending upon the year. These ewes generated 1,091 records of reproductive performance and lamb weights. Ewe traits included weight at the beginning of the fall breeding season, fertility (ewes that gave birth per ewe exposed), condition score, lambing interval, and stayability to 9 years of age. Mixed linear models included flock of origin and ewe as random effects. Fixed effects included the age of the ewe nested within year of record (P < 0.001 all analyses). Ewe longevity assessed using survival analysis included the effect of birth year of the ewe. Analyses of lamb birth weight and weaning weight included the type of birth (litter size: singles, twins, triplets) and sex (P < 0.0001) as fixed effects. Lamb weaning weight included lamb age in days as a linear covariate (0.33 +/- 0.013 kg; P < 0.0001). Fertility did not differ between ewe breeds (P > 0.05). Dorper ewes had higher condition score (3.02 +/- 0.08), more lambs born per litter (1.6 +/- 0.05) and shorter lambing intervals (386 +/- 6.6 d) than Rambouillet ewes (2.69 +/- 0.077, 1.4 +/- 0.05, 403.3 +/- 6.1 d, respectively). Dorper ewe weight (66.9 +/- 1.3 kg) and stayability (0.69 +/- 0.03) tended (0.08 < P < 0.13) to be lower than that of Rambouillet ewes (69.8 +/- 1.3 kg, 0.77 +/- 0.03, respectively) and higher number lambs weaned (1.15 +/- 0.05) than Rambouillet (1.05 +/- 0.05). There were more Rambouillet ewes (n = 26) present at 9 years of age than Dorper ewes (n = 12); survival curves correspondingly differed for the breeds (P < 0.05). A ewe breed x type of birth interaction was detected for lamb birth and weaning weight (P < 0.01); in each birth type category, lambs out of Rambouillet ewes were heavier than lambs out of Dorper ewes (P < 0.01). Birth weight was progressively lower for lambs as singles, twins, and triplets. Weaning weights of lambs born to Dorper ewes were progressively smaller for singles, twins, and triplets (P < 0.01); from Rambouillet ewes single lambs were heavier than other types (P < 0.01). Among twins, but no other birth type category, lambs raised by Dorper ewes were heavier than those raised by Rambouillet ewes (P < 0.01). Without respect to wool production, Dorper ewes appear to be a viable alternative breed to Rambouillet for West Texas production systems, with advantages in lambing interval, number born per litter, and weaning weight, but offset somewhat by lower longevity.

The objective of this study was to determine if ruminal fermentation characteristics differed in goat lines selectively bred for high or low consumption of J. pinchotii foliage. Ten Boer x Spanish-composite bucks (age = 2 yr; initial body weight (BW) = 67.2 +/- 4.3 kg) previously selected for high (High; n = 5) or low (LOW; n = 5) juniper consumption selected from each line were subjected to three periods: Period 1, d 0, grazing native range predominated by Juniperus spp; Period 2, d 1 to 26, group fed for ad libitum intake of sorghum x sudan hay; and Period 3, d 27 to 63, indivually fed sorghum x sudan hay at 3% of body weight (BW) and offered fresh J. pinchotii foliage for ad libitum intake. During each period, rumen fluid was evaluated for pH, VFA, ammonia N (NH3-N), and juniper foliage was evaluated for 48-hr true IVDMD (tIVDMD). There was a Selection line x Period interaction observed for total VFA (P < 0.01) explained by a reranking of Total VFA observed in HIGH compared to LOW selection lines in Periods 1 and 3, but the effect was reversed in Period 2. However, total VFA did not differ within any period between HIGH and LOW. During Period 1, rumen fluid from HIGH contained greater (P < 0.05) ruminal isovalerate and tended to have greater ruminal isobutyrate (P = 0.09) and NH3-N (P = 0.07) than LOW. There was a period effect (P < 0.02) for all response variables. When transitioned to a sorghum x sudan hay diet (Period 2), total ruminal VFA concentrations declined 26 and 4% for HIGH and LOW, respectively, and total VFA (P = 0.08) and valerate (P = 0.09) tended to be greater for LOW compared with HIGH. In vitro digestibility of juniper did not differ (P >= 0.48), but numerically, digestibility declined 13 and 12% for HIGH and LOW, respectively, from Period 1 to 2. During Period 3, when transitioned to individual pens with ad libitum access to sorghum x sudan hay and juniper foliage, juniper intake did not differ (P = 0.16) with HIGH consuming 1.2 g/kg BW of juniper compared with 0.62 g/kg BW for LOW. No differences were detected (P > 0.05) for VFA, NH 3 -N, pH, and tIVDMD between HIGH and LOW goats during Period 3. Goats selectively bred for high or low juniper consumption exhibited minor differences in rumen fermentation parameters measured in the current study.

The objective was to determine if rumen microbial characteristics differed in goats selectively bred for greater consumption of Juniperus pinchotii. Ten Boer × Spanish-composite bucks (age = 2 yr; initial BW = 67.2 ± 4.3 kg) previously selected for high (HIGH; n = 5) or low (LOW; n = 5) juniper-consumption, were subjected to three periods: Period 1, d 0, grazing native range predominated with Juniperus spp.; Period 2, d 1 to 26, fed ad libitum hay; and Period 3, d 27 to 63, fed 3% of BW of hay and ad libitum J. pinchotii offered fresh daily. During each Period (d 0, 24, and 61), ruminal fluid was evaluated for microbial species composition and diversity. Within Period 1, Shannon’s bacterial index of LOW tended to be greater (P = 0.06) than HIGH; no differences (P > 0.44) were observed within Periods 2 or 3. For archea, Shannon’s diversity index was greater (P = 0.03) in Period 2 vs. 1 and greater (P = 0.04) in Period 3 vs. 1. PERMANOVA analysis using square root transformed sequence counts of bacterial phyla with treatment nested within Period, indicated that Period and treatment significantly affected microbial community composition (P < 0.01); within Period, treatments had different (P < 0.02) bacterial communities. Distance-based redundancy analysis indicated environmental variables that best explained variation in bacterial communities were expected breeding value for juniper consumption and ruminal pH and acetate (P < 0.003), with 8.5, 20.5, and 7.2%, respectively, of the variation in bacterial communities. Ruminal pH best explained the variation in archaeal communities. Results suggested that clustering is potentially driven by expected breeding values.

Scrapie is the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of sheep and goats, and it can be transmitted in both directions between these species. Scrapie eradication programs worldwide have utilized strong genetic resistance to classical scrapie in sheep, but such resistance has not been available for goats until recently. Both S146 (serine at position 146) and K222 (lysine at position 222) amino acid substitutions in the prion protein have been dramatically underrepresented in natural scrapie cases, but exposure times are not known in most natural situations. Therefore, we used a goat classical scrapie homogenate to orally challenge: 1) 5 goat kids with control genotypes [two copies of the most common haplotype], 2) 8 kids with one copy of S146 and one copy of the control haplotype, and 3) 8 kids with one copy of S146 and one copy of the control haplotype. All control goats developed classical scrapie by an average age of 2 years, but there has been no confirmed scrapie in the S146 group by an average age of 7.8 years, or in the K222 group by an average age of 6.8 years (both P<0.001). Thus, goats with a single copy of either S146 or K222 have not developed classical scrapie for longer than the productive lifetimes of most commercial goats. Recently, the European Food Safety Authority convened a large panel to consider all the evidence from this experiment and many others. They concluded both S146 and K222 have more evidence for scrapie resistance today than sheep R171 did when it was first recommended as a source of resistance to classical scrapie in sheep. The panel recommended both S146 and K222 for use in scrapie programs. There are commercially available DNA testing services to identify S146 and K222, which occur naturally in many North American goats.

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of sheep and goats, and scrapie eradication programs in many parts of the world rely on strong genetic resistance to classical scrapie in sheep. However, the utility of putative resistance alleles in goats has been a focus of research because goats can transmit scrapie to sheep and may serve as a scrapie reservoir. Prior work showed that disease-free survival time was significantly extended in orally inoculated goats singly heterozygous for prion amino acid substitutions S146 or K222, but average durations were only around 3 years post-inoculation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether extended survival would exceed 6 years, which represents the productive lifetimes of most commercial goats. While all control homozygotes were clinically affected by an average of <2 years, none of the NS146 or QK222 goats developed clinical scrapie or had PrPSc-positive rectal biopsies. Several NS146 and QK222 goats developed other conditions unrelated to scrapie, but tissue accumulation of PrPSc was not detected in any of these animals. The NS146 heterozygotes have remained disease-free for an average of 2734days (approximately 7.5 years), the longest duration of any classical scrapie challenge experiment with any genotype to date. The QK222 heterozygotes have remained disease-free for an average of 2450days (approximately 6.7 years), the longest reported average duration for QK222 goats challenged with classical scrapie. This research is ongoing, but the current results demonstrate S146 and K222 confer strong resistance to classical scrapie in goats.

Data from 271 Boer-Spanish and Spanish does and their 1,936 kids obtained between 1995 and 2004 in the Edwards Plateau region of West Texas were examined to compare BoerSpanish and Spanish does for kid production and stayability. The does were progeny of 24 sires, and their kids were progeny of 39 sires. Goats were maintained on native pastures for most of the year and were managed in an annual kidding system. Kids from Spanish and Boer-Spanish does had similar birth weights (3.19 kg ± 0.05 kg), 90-d weaning weights (16.9 kg ± 0.8 kg), and preweaning ADG (151 g ± 3 g). There were no significant differences between Boer-Spanish and Spanish does for litter weight at birth (5.59 kg ± 0.13 kg vs. 5.36 kg ± 0.14 kg, P = 0.12) or at weaning (23.33 kg ± 0.81 kg vs. 23.86 ± 0.91 kg, P = 0.57). Kid birth weight, weaning weight, and preweaning ADG generally increased with age of dam. Litter weight at birth and at weaning increased (P < 0.05)with age of dam. Stayability of Boer-Spanish does tended to be greater than that of Spanish does at 6 years of age (65 percent ± 4 percent vs. 54 percent ± 5 percent P = 0.07) and similar at all other ages (P > 0.2). No significant breed differences were observed for doe reproduction and kid growth through weaning from Spanish and Boer-Spanish goats in Texas.

We conducted this study to describe the intermediate-term periodicities in percentage juniper (Juniperus spp.) in goat diets and to develop optimal sampling schemes to estimate individual animal variation in juniper consumption. Fecal samples were collected from 12 multiparous female Angora goats on Monday and Thursday for a 24-mo period. Percentage juniper in the diet was determined using fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Spectral analysis was used to determine the presence and length of cyclic variation in juniper consumption during growing and dormant season periods. Significant periodicities were found for 37% and 68% of the goats in the dormant and growing seasons, respectively. Cycle lengths varied from 9 d in the dormant season to 7 or 8 d in the growing season. The simple coefficient of determination between a two-sample moving average and the mean of all observations on individual goats was highest during a 3-mo period in the spring, which indicates that samples collected in the spring provided the best estimate of the yearlong percentage juniper in the diet. Monte Carlo simulations for 7-d cycles showed the root mean squared difference between estimated and population mean for two samples with 2 or 3 d between samples was only 1% greater than the root mean square difference for three or four samples collected every other day. The optimal sampling strategy for determining the dietary percentage of a species is to collect two samples separated by one-half of the cycle length.

Data from Dorper and Rambouillet ram lambs (n = 79) were used to estimate breed means for postweaning growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (kilograms of gain divided by kilograms of feed consumed), and residual feed intake on a high concentrate diet during the typical age and weight range for U.S. lamb production. Lambs were progeny of 6 unrelated sires/breed and were born over a 2-yr period. Dams of the lambs were a representative sample of Dorper ewes in the United States and Rambouillet ewes in Texas. Data were analyzed using SAS PROC MIXED with a model that included year, breed, birth type, and feeder pen as fixed effects and sire as a random effect. The mean BW at the start of the feeding trial was 31.4 ± 3.7 kg at a mean age of 92.7 ± 9.2 d. Electronic feeders were used to record individual animal feed intake. Growth rate and feed intake were measured for 77 d during the postweaning growth period. Mean ADG was 340 ± 9.2 g for Dorper lambs and 346 ± 8.6 g for Rambouillet lambs. The mean final bodyweight was 58.1 ± 4.8 kg when the mean age was 170 d. Average daily feed intake was 2,223 ± 50 g for Dorper lambs and 2,215 ± 48 g for Rambouillet lambs. Feed conversion efficiency was 0.153 ± 0.003 for Dorper lambs and 0.158 ± 0.003 for Rambouillet lambs. No significant differences were observed between Dorper and Rambouillet lambs for weaning weight, postweaning gain, final weight, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, or residual feed intake. Growth rate, feed intake, and feed conversion efficiency were similar for Dorper and Rambouillet ram lambs fed from a mean of 31 kg BW and 93 d of age to a mean BW of 58 kg and a mean age of 170 d.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the serologic and bacteriologic culture prevalence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in sheep and goats and the value of such assays for prediction of future development of caseous lymphadenitis (CL).DESIGN:Observational study.ANIMALS:919 goats and sheep in 3 herds in southwest Texas.PROCEDURES:During an initial evaluation, serologic and bacteriologic culture status for CL was determined for all animals. Subsequently, animals were evaluated every 6 months for a 13-month period to detect external CL lesions. Affected animals in 2 herds were treated with tulathromycin or a control treatment; affected animals in 1 herd were culled. The value of assays for prediction of future development of CL lesions was determined.RESULTS:The serologic prevalence of CL in herds at the start of the study ranged from 7.52% to 69.54%. The bacteriologic culture prevalence of CL ranged from 0% to 6.12% at the start of the study and 0% to 9.56% at the end of the study. Synergistic hemolysin inhibition results were poor predictors of future development of CL lesions in animals during the study period; however, animals with positive bacteriologic culture results for CL were more likely to develop lesions in the future than were animals with negative bacteriologic culture results.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Caseous lymphadenitis was detected in animals in this study despite prior management of affected animals in herds via culling. Use of a synergistic hemolysin inhibition test for management of CL may cause unnecessary culling of animals; treatment might allow retention of genetically valuable CL-affected animals in a herd without substantially increasing the prevalence of CL.

Production records from 291 Boer-Spanish and Spanish does, collected between 1994 and 2004 in the Edwards Plateau region of West Texas, were examined to compare Boer-Spanish and Spanish does for body weights, fertility, prolificacy, and number of kids weaned. Traits were analyzed using single-trait mixed models. Boer-Spanish does were heavier at birth than Spanish does (2.79 vs. 2.67 kg, P = 0.05) but similar weight at weaning (15.2 vs. 15.0 kg, P = 0.59). Boer-Spanish does had a heavier body weight at breeding than Spanish does (46.5 vs. 43.5 kg, P < 0.01). Boer-Spanish does had similar fertility over 8 annual breeding seasons (0.87 vs. 0.84, P = .22). Boer-Spanish does had an advantage over Spanish does for fertility to a 30-d breeding season (0.53 vs. 0.48; P = .09). Boer-Spanish does produced more kids than Spanish does (1.70 vs. 1.62, P = .09). Boer-Spanish does weaned a similar number of kids (1.30 vs. 1.31, P = .76). Age of doe significantly affected (P < 0.05) both number of kids born and number of kids weaned, with older does giving birth to, and weaning, more kids. Boer-Spanish does had greater birth weight, body weight at breeding, and number of kids born than Spanish does. Boer-Spanish does had a similar number of kids weaned as Spanish does.

Scrapie is the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of sheep and goats, and scrapie eradication in sheep is based in part on strong genetic resistance to classical scrapie. Goats may serve as a scrapie reservoir, and to date there has been no experimental inoculation confirming strong genetic resistance in goats. Two prion protein variants (amino acid substitutions S146 and K222) in goats have been significantly underrepresented in scrapie cases though present in scrapie-exposed flocks, and have demonstrated low cell-free protein conversion efficiency to the disease form (PrPD). To test degree of genetic resistance conferred in live animals with consistent exposure, we performed the first oral scrapie challenge of goats singly heterozygous for either PRNP S146 or K222. All N146-Q222 homozygotes became clinically scrapie positive by an average of 24 months, but all S146 and K222 heterozygotes remain scrapie negative by both rectal biopsy and clinical signs at significantly longer incubation times (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Recent reports indicate small numbers of S146 and K222 heterozygous goats have become naturally infected with scrapie, suggesting these alleles do not confer complete resistance in the heterozygous state but rather extend incubation. The oral challenge results presented here confirm extended incubation observed in a recent intracerebral challenge of K222 heterozygotes, and to our knowledge provide the first demonstration of extended incubation in S146 heterozygotes. These results suggest longer relevant trace-back histories in scrapie-eradication programs for animals bearing these alleles and strengthen the case for additional challenge experiments in both homozygotes to assess potential scrapie resistance.

Objective —To evaluate cross protection provided by administration of contagious ecthyma vaccines against strains of orf virus in goats. Animals —126 Boer-Spanish crossbred goats (3 to 20 days old). Procedures —85 goats were vaccinated with a goat-derived contagious ecthyma vaccine. Of these, 41 were challenge exposed with the virus strain for the contagious ecthyma vaccine, 40 were challenge exposed with a more virulent field strain of orf virus, and 4 were lost to predation or died. Another 41 goats were vaccinated with a vaccine produced from a more virulent field strain of orf virus; of these, 18 were challenge exposed with the virus strain of the goat-derived contagious ecthyma vaccine, 18 were challenge exposed with the more virulent field strain of orf virus, and 5 were lost to predation or died. Results —Vaccination with the goat-derived contagious ecthyma vaccine did not significantly reduce the number of goats with lesions or lesion severity caused by challenge exposure with the more virulent field strain of orf virus. Vaccination with the vaccine produced from the more virulent field strain of orf virus significantly reduced the number of goats with lesions attributable to challenge exposure with the virus strain of the goat-derived contagious ecthyma vaccine, but it failed to significantly reduce lesion severity. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance —Vaccination did not result in cross protection for the 2 strains of orf virus. This may have been attributable to antigenic differences and may be a factor in outbreaks of contagious ecthyma in vaccinated goats.

Understanding existing levels of genetic diversity of sheep breeds facilitates in situ and ex situ conservation activities. A comprehensive evaluation of US sheep breeds has not been previously performed; therefore, we evaluated the genetic diversity among and within 28 US sheep breeds. Both major and minor breeds were included in the analysis and consisted of 666 animals from 222 producers located in 38 states. The level of within-breed genetic diversity was variable and not dependent upon status of a breed as a major or minor breed. Bayesian cluster analysis indicated the breeds were grouped more by physiological differences (meat vs. wool production) rather than geographic origin. Results suggest several actionable items to improve in situ and ex situ conservation. The results clearly identify breeds in need of increased in situ and ex situ management (e.g., Hog Island and Karakul) and allow several suggestions for in situ management of flocks. Conversely, several of the breeds appear genetically similar and therefore require less emphasis on collecting germplasm samples for the gene bank. Commercially important breeds (e.g., Rambouillet and Suffolk) were found to have substantial variation, which should enable breeders to proceed, unencumbered by genetic diversity concerns, with selection strategies that maximize profit.

A pharmacokinetic dosing study with camphor was used to determine whether selection lines of high-juniper-consuming goats (HJC, n = 12) and low-juniper-consuming goats (LJC, n = 12) differed in their respective disposition kinetics. Postdosing plasma camphor concentrations were used to examine whether a timed single blood sample collected after intraruminal administration of camphor would be a useful screening test to aid in the identification of HJC. Yearling female Boer x Spanish goats (n = 24) received a single intraruminal dose of monoterpene cocktail (0.270 g/kg of BW) containing 4 different monoterpenes that represented their composition previously reported for Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). Camphor, the predominant monoterpene in Ashe juniper, was 49.6% of the mix and was the monoterpene analyzed for this study. Blood samples were taken at 15 time points from 0 to 8 h after dosing. Concentrations of camphor were measured in plasma using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography/flame-ionization detection analysis. Maximal plasma concentration of camphor was greater for LJC than HJC (P = 0.01), and area under the curve extrapolated to infinity was greater for LJC than HJC (P < 0.01). Total systemic exposure (area under the curve) to camphor was 5 times less in HJC goats. We conclude that 1) HJC goats possess internal mechanisms to reduce the bioavailability of camphor, and 2) a blood sample taken at 45 min or at 60 min after intraruminal administration of camphor may be useful for identifying HJC individual animals from within large populations of goats.