Ferning test as a qualitative way to assess the tear in the "Majorera" goat

Abstract

In the present study, the determination of the Ferning test was carried out in twenty 45-day-old healthy Majorera goatlings (10 females and 10 males, 40 eyes in total). The results were compared with the classification in the two scales established for humans: Rolando and Masmali. The main purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of Ferning test in the goat species and to analyze if the results are adequated to consider this test for the evaluation tear quality. The findings were compared with the Schirmer test for a better estimation. It was observed that 52.5% of the animals' eyes were classified in types considered healthy (types I and II) in the Rolando scale and according to the Masmali scale, 85% were healthy eyes (grades 0, 1 and 2). It was concluded that the Masmali scale seems the most accurate, as it provides us more information and also, thanks to the results obtained, it offers us a superior concodance with the ocular health of our animals