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¹ Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
² Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye DOI : 10.46897/livestockstudies.1848162 - This study aimed to determine the effects of macro-environmental factors such as sex, birth type, parity, and birth weight on the hair cortisol concentrations of newborn Akkeçi goat kids. Hair samples were collected from 44 Akkeçi goat kids within the first 24 hours following birth and cortisol concentrations were quantified using an ELISA assay kit. Statistical analysis revealed that sex, birth type, parity, and birth weight had no significant effect on the hair cortisol concentrations (p>0.05). Although not statistically significant, male kids tended to exhibit higher cortisol levels than females; singleton kids showed higher levels than twins or triplets; and kids born to multiparous does had higher levels than those born to primiparous does. These findings suggest that hair cortisol collected at birth reflects intrauterine hormonal exposure but is not strongly influenced by macro-environmental factors. Overall, the hair matrix appears to be a useful indicator for assessing intrauterine hormonal exposure in newborn Akkeçi goat kids. Keywords : Neonatal Perinatal Stress Pregnancy Dairy goat