Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
animals is effective only if the serotype is identified. Control of outbreaks is by
elimination of mosquito breeding places.
Sheep and Goat Pox.
Sheep and goat pox are caused by a virus transmitted by
contact or by airborne particles from infected animals. There is only one serotype, but
several strains produce the disease in either goats or sheep. Symptoms include devel-
opment of pox lesions on the skin and inside the mouth. It is present in Africa, the
Middle East, India, and most of Southeast Asia. Infected adults may suffer up to 50
percent mortality while infected lambs and kids may have as much as 95 percent
mortality. Control of outbreaks is primarily by destruction of infected animals and
vaccination of nearby animals. Strict control on movements of animals and animal
products is required.
7.6.4 Marketing
Sheep and goats provide four types of products for marketing: meat, milk, wool, and
hides. Milk and hides are handled in much the same ways as for cattle and buffaloes
and will not be covered in detail here. Meat and wool marketing have characteristics
unique to sheep and goats and these will be described in more detail. Meat from
sheep is further differentiated into meat from a mature sheep (mutton) and meat
from young sheep (lamb).
Meat products of both sheep and goats are subject to heavy seasonal consumer
demand. This demand is often linked to religious or cultural holidays. Each holiday
has slightly different preferences for the age and weight of lambs or goats. A compi-
lation of major religious and national holidays is shown in Table 7.2. Each holiday
T A B L E 7.2. Holiday Markets for Sheep and Goat Meat
Religious Holidays
Christian (eastern)
Easter: variable date
Christian (western)
Easter: variable date
Christmas: December 25
Navadurgara or Navratra
Dashara: variable date
Hindu
Jewish
Passover: variable date
Rosh Hashanah: variable date
Muslim
Ramadan: variable date
Eid-ul-Fitr: variable date
Eid-ul-Adha: variable date
Nonreligious Holidays
July fourth
United States
Carnival
Most of Latin America
National Independence days
Different for each country
