aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

government institutions as researchers,
administrators and lecturers. No technologies
were generated from the project but it supplied
useful information for developing management
strategies. The biggest drawback was that the
research team was unprepared to manage and
analyse the survey (monitoring studies) data.
The initial forms in which data were collected
was cumbersome and required significant
manipulation before the data could be entered
into the main record sheet. Also shortage of
full-time personnel to enter and verify data
meant that a great deal of information had to be
discarded. This led to long delays before analysis
and the patterns of production and constraints
to production were identified. The introduction
of computer packages for data entry, management
and analysis kideas from ILCA, Ethiopia
and 3-way from Wageningen University, The
Netherlands) has considerably altered the
scenario with all previously collected data now
being analysed and cross-checked.
On-station results were aimed at establishing
the genetic potential of indigenous breeds if
optimum nutrition and management was
provided. Results showed that growth rates onstation
studies were twice as high as those
obtained in on-farm studies while pre-weaning
mortalities were maintained at close to zero.
However, the cost of feeds and veterinary
supplies that had to be used to achieve these
productivity levels were untenable in communal
area systems.
A weakness of the programme was its
inability to conduct market studies on demand
and supply of goat meat in the country. The
current pricing system is too ltw to encourage
farmers to adopt technologies that require
capital outlay and labour inputs,
Impact of the research programme
There had been no formal assessment of the
impact of the research programme. Hence
qualitative indicators of the impact will be
discussed. To carry out the monitoring studies,
all goats in flocks under study were ear-tagged
for identification purposes. This also assisted
farmers to identify their animals easily since
different colour codes and numbers were used for
each flock. Stock theft is prevalent in the areas
under study and ability to spot one's animal at a
quick gla.ace has immense benefit in recovering
References
Arrowsmith S P and Ward H K. 1983. Indigenous sheep
selection programme andprductivityof indigenous
sheep andgoats. Annual,-eport 1980/81, Division of
Livestock and Pastures, Department of Research
and Specialist Services. pp. 92-95.
Barnes DL.1973. An exploratory study ofthe production
potential of goats in Lowveld grass woodland.
Annual Report, 1973/74. Division of Livestock and
Pastures, Department of Research and Specialist
102
strayed/.owlen a imals. Discussions with farmers
confirmed that most requests from farmers
outside the project to join were motivated by the
latter consideration. The use of ear tags, as
opposed to ear notching, as a means of identifying
animals is however, constrained by the
scarcity of ear tags and their high cost.
Close monitoring of flocks allowed farmers to
quantify their losses. Whenever enumerators
visited a flock the farmer supplied the reasons
for the absence of any animal. Sometimes the
farmer would not even be aware that a particular
animal was missing, Thus the introduction of
record keeping benefited the participating
farmers. It is hoped that they will maintain
records even after the termination of the project.
Future research programme
The research programme under review indicated
that the all year round breeding practised by
communal area farmers optimises production in
the system. However, there are heavy losses at
pre-weaning due to the lack of proper management
of perinatal does and of kids after 30
days of age. Future research programmes will
focus on improving management and will mainly
be on-farm trials. Availability of feed would
enable farmers to keep advanced pregnant does
around the homestead whilst the rest of the flock
grazed. This would work to enhance chances of
early intervention during kidding, should any
problems arise and would also enable farmers to
ensure that kids suckle colostrum as early as
possible as it is of importance in providing
immunity against several diseases to the young.
Feed availability would also enable the farmers
to restrain kids from following adult animals
especially when they had not yet reached one
month of age. Losses due to missing kids would
be reduced in this manner. Technologies for
increasing feed availability need to be investigated
and appropriate multipurpose trees and
forage legumes have to be identified ind introduced
in the areas. As goat producing areas are
semi-arid the herbage to be introduced must
be drought-tolerant. Utilisation of indigenous
browse species also needs ..o be investigated.
Adoption of improved management packages
requires a thriving market environment for the
product (goat meat in this case). Market research
studies on goat and goat meat are therefore
urgently required.
Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Salisbury,
Rhodesia. pp. 129-130.
Borne P M and Monicat F. 1992. Kids mortality in the
communal lands ofZimbabwe: Results of coprologic
analyses, evaluation of gastrointestinal parasitism.
In: Ndlovu L R (ed), Goats Research and
Development in Zimbabwe: Constraints and
potential. University of Zimbabwe Press, Harare,
Zimbabwe. In press.