Research and Training Strategies for Goat Production Systems in ...

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A comparison of goat growth performance in a communal and commercial farming system in the Central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. PJ Masika a , JV Mafu b , MW Goqwana a , C Mbuti b and J Raats a . a Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare b ARDRI, University of Fort Hare Abstract There exists a dichotomy in the farming systems, in the Eastern Cape Province, namely communal and commercial farming systems. These systems are characterised generally by “poor” and good management practices, respectively. There exists a perception that the performance of animals from the communal farming system is below that of animals from a commercial system. A lot of information is available concerning various aspects of livestock production in the commercial farming system, but, such information on the communal farming system is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare animal performance in a communal area, with performance on a commercial farm. Data on live weights of indigenous goats was obtained by monthly weighing of goats from a village in a communal farming system. These data were compared with goat data obtained retrospectively from the University of Fort Hare Research farm, which in this study is used to represent the commercial system. The mean weights of goats ± SD, (corrected for age) from the commercial system were 1.2 times higher than those of goats from the communal system (P
supplementation in the form of lucerne hay, mineral licks and concentrates. Periodic treatment against gastrointestinal worms with anthelmintics, and specific breeding periods are used which result in a correspondingly short kidding period. Goats are dipped to control tick infestation and tick borne diseases. Live body weight of each animal is taken once a month, and these are used to determine growth rates, on the basis of which, selection for replacement stock is made. Due to the unconventional production practices in the communal farming systems, there exists a perception that the performance of animals from these areas (communal farming system) is below acceptable levels, with the commercial system being used as the gauge. There is lack of information to prove otherwise. This study will give insight into the general performance of goats in the communal farming area. The aim of this study was to compare goat performance in a communal area with that of goats from a commercial farm. Materials and Methods Study site The study was conducted at Koloni, Middledrift district, Eastern Cape province, South Africa (32°53’50”S, 27°04’50”E). The livestock production system is of a communal type. It is situated in veld type number 7, which is the Eastern Cape thorn veld (Acocks, 1975), and receives about 500mm of rainfall per year (CV 22.7%) (Goqwana, 1998). The stocking rate for 1997 was 330 SSU/658 ha (Goqwana, 1998). Vegetation is dominated by Acacia karoo, which contributes more than 70% of the botanical composition. Other species include Coddia rudis, Grewia occidentalis, Scutia myrtina, Rhus and Maytenus species (Goqwana, 1998). University of Fort Hare Research farm The University of Fort Hare Farm’s livestock section, Honeydale (32°47’37”S, 27°06’58”E) is 1113,6ha in size and represents a commercial farming system. The farm is stocked at 4 ha/AU and veld management practices are based on applying correct stocking rates and rotationally grazing the livestock in paddocks of which one third is rested annually. Fire is applied when some paddock are deemed to be encroached by trees or shrubs and goats are kept to control bush in conjunction with fire. The veld type is the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape (Acocks, 1975), and the average annual rainfall is 620mm (CV 24%). Management of the goats Koloni (Communal system) Animals are kraaled in the night, and let out to graze midmorning at around 10.00 am. In the evening, 4.00-5.00pm, the animals are collected from the veld, to be kraaled. No specific breeding season is followed, leaving animals to breed whenever possible, this results in a prolonged kidding period. No specific feed supplementation is given to the goats and other stock, but they are allowed access to stover. All live stock are not weighed. There is minimal use of anthelmintics to control gastrointestinal worms, and a number of owners use herbal medications to treat their goats. Selection and culling of animals on the basis of their live weight gain, as replacement stock, is not practised, and there is a high degree of inbreeding in their stock. 35
Page 1 and 2: Research and Training Strategies fo
Page 3 and 4: Goat breeding and reproduction 1. R
Page 5 and 6: Welcoming address NH Casey Head: De
Page 7 and 8: understandable that the efficiency
Page 9 and 10: Winrock International, 1992. Assess
Page 11 and 12: 3. Investigate the potential benefi
Page 13 and 14: The Australian goat industries Barr
Page 15 and 16: The farming systems approach: the c
Page 17 and 18: expose others in the community to t
Page 19 and 20: Table 2 Total slaughtering during 1
Page 21 and 22: In the Northern Province a major co
Page 23 and 24: history of communal land use. The v
Page 25 and 26: Table 2 The livestock ownership pat
Page 27 and 28: Data analysis Data was analysed usi
Page 29 and 30: Dyamala Melani Univ. of Fort Hare R
Page 31 and 32: Illius, A.W. and O' Connor, T.G., i
Page 33 and 34: achieved in other parts of the worl
Page 35 and 36: The main disease identified was coc
Page 37: Table 2 Milk yields and milk compos
Page 41 and 42: Results Mean weights of goats from
Page 43 and 44: productivity of ruminants, is furth
Page 45 and 46: Anindo, D., Toe, F., Tembely, S., M
Page 47 and 48: project and driven by effective des
Page 49 and 50: profit from skins on the farm. It m
Page 51 and 52: Year n Kidded n Born n Weaned n Bor
Page 53 and 54: Table 6 Most preferred grass, tree
Page 55 and 56: the hair) of the various breeds is
Page 57 and 58: The down fibre diameter profile of
Page 59 and 60: Biological constraints and opportun
Page 61 and 62: development, although there is evid
Page 63 and 64: Feeding behaviour of free range goa
Page 65 and 66: habits of goats have demonstrated a
Page 67 and 68: R. lucida, 203.8 230.0 146.1 186.5
Page 69 and 70: Provenza, F.D., Burritt, E.A., Clau
Page 71 and 72: Treatments involved different combi
Page 73 and 74: programme following chemical bush c
Page 75 and 76: Potential of some agroforestry shru
Page 77 and 78: Jones, R.J. Value of Leucaena leuco
Page 79 and 80: Table 4 Total supplement intake (kg
Page 81 and 82: functioning of the whole plant and
Page 83 and 84: - on native pastures. - The use of
Page 85 and 86: Communal goat production In communa
Page 87 and 88: Rwandan goats (21 months). The dela
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30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Graph 3 Seasonal
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Cervical insemination of indigenous
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ovulated. Only a trial with control
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taken that females are not pregnant
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producing a pregnancy and a live ki
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Management of goats at pasture Barr
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1 Cradock Experimental Station, PO
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Table 2 Percentage raw combed cashm
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Our current ability to select, mani
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103 farming operations in Southern
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UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE CURRENT AND
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MARA RESEARCH STATION, DEPARTMENT O
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The billy goats also received light
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Goat research at Medunsa EF Donkin
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4. New Research Projects Using the
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UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Computerised
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Expected Benefits * The research re
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119 of healthy and nutritious produ
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121 farming systems. The following
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