GOAT REARING: an overview

GOAT REARING. A goat is a hollow-horned small ruminant also belonging to the family Bovidea of the genus Capra.

The goat is reared for its meat, milk and hide and skin, e.g. morocco leather from Sokoto Red. Goat milk is the richest of all the milk produced by animals including man.

breeds of Goats and management of goat farm

BREEDS OF GOAT

(i) Sokoto Red (ii)Bornu Red (iii) West African long-legged goat (iv)West African dwarf goat (v) Bantu (vi) Anglo-Nubian (vii) Aiphine (viii) Saanen (ix) Kano Brown (x)Bauchi type (xi)Togenburg (xii) Nubian (xiii)Boer (xiv) Anglo (xv)Nandi (xvi) East Africa Small Goat (xvii) Angora

TERMINOLOGIES USED IN GOAT

Buck (Billy) Adult male goat
Doe (Nanny) Adult female goat
Kid A young or baby goat
Whether A castrated male goat
Kidding Act of giving birth (parturition) in goats
Chevon Meat of goats

Reasons for rearing Goats in West Africa: Reasons for rearing goats in W Africa are: for meat (food) production, skin production,

for milk production highly prolific; producing twins triplets two times a year, hardy animals which are exceptionally healthy,

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOATS

(i) Goats are tough and hardy animals that can survive unfavourable environmental conditions
(ii) They are small-bodied animals
(iii) They can produce kids twice a year
(iv) Goats are reared mainly for skin, meat, milk and fibre
(v) Male goats are often bearded

(vi) Goats are very inquisitive animals
(vii) Both male and female goats have horns
(viii) They are mostly reared on the extensive system of management

(ix) They have a gestation period of between 145 – 154 days or four to five months
(x) They can browse many forage plants. Hence, the cost of producing goats is cheap

SYSTEM OF REARING GOAT

There are three main systems of rearing goats. These are extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems.

Extensive System

: Under this system, the goat is allowed to roam about in search of pasture and water. A goat can thrive on any edible material and browses even in extreme conditions of drought and rain.

It can fend for itself under any condition. It requires very little care as no good housing, feeding and health care are provided. Although the system is cheap, the animals are exposed to adverse weather conditions and thieves.

ADVANTAGES OF THE EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF REARING GOATS

(i) Low cost of labour
(ii) Low cost of feeding
(iii) Low capital investment e.g. housing
(iv) Ensures fair distribution of manure (waste) which is used for fertilizer
(v) It is difficult to implement a planned breeding programme

(vi) There is little effort to control pests
(vii) Animals fall victim to thieves and predators
(viii) It is difficult to control disease outbreak
(ix) Lots of efforts are needed in controlling the animals
(x) Productivity of animal is low i.e. low growth in meat and milk production

Semi-intensive System of goat rearing

: In this system, goats are provided with a house which protects them against adverse weather conditions like heat, cold, rain, etc.

However, they are allowed to come out and graze in the pasture which is fenced around the goat house. In some cases, feed is provided for the goats in the house which includes grass, household waste and other remnants.

The system needs little initial capital outlay but a large labour requirement. Disease and parasite incidence are slightly high.

Intensive System in goat rearing

: In this system, the goats are confined within, the stall in a building with limited access to grazing. As a result of this confinement, medication, water, balanced feed in terms of concentrates,

forage plants (soilage) as wel1 as salt licks to provide the necessary minerals and vitamins are provided. This system saves labour, increases production, maintains records, and reduces mortality

It however requires high capital expenditure in terms of housing, medication and feeding.
Housing

Goat houses are intended to offer protection against bad weather, predators and to provide an ideal environment for the development of the animals. Common features of the goat house are:

(i) It must provide shade from the sun and protection against rain.
(ii) It must be well-ventilated and kept dry.
(iii) The shape may vary from the circular type to rectangular structures with series of stalls.
(iv) Walls can be made of bricks, mud or wood.

(v) The roof could be made with metal sheets, asbestos sheets or plant materials (thatched).
(vi) Bedding materials could be straw, wood shavings, etc.

The materials chosen must be very absorbent.
(vii) Under a confined management system, a loose housing system is preferred. Animals are not tied and can therefore move about freely within the building.

(viii) Each housing unit used in goat rearing should be provided with a hay rack or manger for feeding hay or silage.
(ix) Gates should be strong and the fence should be made with woven wires, barbed wires or chain links.

FEEDING REQUIREMENT FOR GOAT REARING

(i) The feed for goats must be a balanced diet, i.e. should contain protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to promote growth and production.

(ii) A goat feeds mainly on roughages, i.e grasses, browse plants and fodder plants

(iii) Common grasses that can be fed on by goats include giant star grass, carpet grass, etc and some fodder crops like groundnut, cowpea and styllosanthes spp.

(iv) Goats can also feed on concentrate feeds to provide the required nutrients for fast growth and high production

(v) Goats can feed on household and kitchen waste as they are capable of converting this waste into meat
(vi) Zero-grazing (soilage) can be practised for goats

(vii) Rotational grazing can also be practised, whereby goats are moved about in paddocks as they graze on the pasture

(viii) Feeds should be provided in accordance with production, e.g. colostrum for kids while pregnant and lactating goats need more feed than dry goats.

HEALTH CARE AND SANITATION

Common routine measures that can be adopted for goat health care and sanitation include:
(i) The goat pens and stalls should be washed and cleaned daily.
(ii) Sick animals should be isolated and treated urgently.

(iii) Dead animals should be buried.
(iv) Goats should be dewormed on a regular basis.
(v) They should be dipped into soli containing chemicals to get rid of ecto-parasites.

(vi) Rotational grazing should be practised to avoid parasites bi up
(vii) The environment ought to be c at all times.

Common diseases of goats are anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis rinderpest, red water fever, etc. Drugs and vaccines should be administered at appropriate times to prevent the outbreak of these diseases.

1. 159. TAPE WORM
   160. ROUND WORM OF PIGS
   161. LIVER FLUKE
   162. ECTO PARASITES
   163. TICK

Originally posted 2021-12-13 07:45:42.