Goat animal experimentation division

The unit located in the cheese 'crottin de Chavignol' protected designation of origin (PDO) zone. Recent research focused on the genetic variability of milk composition and lipolysis, the genetic improvement of mastitis resistance through the divergent selection of lines with high or low concentrations of somatic cells in the milk.

The herd includes 250 Alpine goats in lactation and 150 replacement kids, 50 Alpine billy goats and around a hundred goats not in production.

Five technicians and animal handlers work on the goat rearing operation.

Milking takes place from January to October. Reproduction occurs between August and September and calving between December and January.

The main research areas are :

• Genetics of mastitis resistance
• Genetic of deseasoning, as an alternative to the use of exogenous hormones to control reproduction;
• Genetic resistance to scrapie
• Genetic of milk quality (type of caseine, protein and fat content, …)
• Genetic of long lactations