Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Herd Health Management
A healthy animal is generally productive and one that
normally performs well in terms of growth, reproduction,
and lactation. The aim of any health program must be to
be proactive, and any effective health program starts with
the goat kids. If suppressed in growth at an early stage, it
is refl ected later in the animal's productive life.
this phenomenon are kid size, body condition, frame size,
and litter size.
Buck Soundness
An effective managerial program would not be complete
without the evaluation of the male. Reproductive aspects
such as libido, semen quality, body condition, and health
need to be constantly monitored. In the case of temporary
sterility (irrespective of the cause), a period of 60-70 days
must be allowed for the buck to once again produce mature,
viable, and fertile sperm. Make sure that the buck suites
your breeding goals. Look at the performance records and
breeding history of the animal.
Nutritional Management
The effi ciency of nutritional management (regarding repro-
duction) is normally refl ected by the body condition of the
animal, an indication of the nutritional status of the animal.
Nutrient intake infl uences the body reserves and is related
to the reproductive performance of the animal. A balance
should be maintained between the overfeeding of energy,
which is related to a lower conception rate, abortions, and
retained placentas, and underfeeding of energy, which in
turn could be related to problems of delayed puberty, lower
semen production, the occurrence of silent heats, decreased
libido, and irregular estrous cycles. The strategic feeding
of breeding animals is important in that nutritional fl ushing
of energy 3 weeks prior to mating could have a dramatic
effect on ovulation and conception rate, while nutrition
during pregnancy is crucial, because 70% of fetal growth
occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy.
SUMMARY
The goat is a hardy (adapted to arid conditions), fertile,
and versatile (milk, fi ber, meat, skins) animal with a gener-
ally extended breeding season. By using controlled breed-
ing practices, goat's reproductive and genetic potential can
be exploited to the fullest. The goat with its excellent
reproductive qualities (high fecundity) and low mainte-
nance requirements also makes it an ideal animal for the
rural small-scale farmer in serving as a source of animal
protein. Under intensive feeding conditions and acceler-
ated breeding practices, very high kidding rates are feasi-
ble. With an average daily gain of 160-220 g reported
under intensive production systems, goat meat production
as such is also a viable proposition.
Pregnancy Diagnosis
The diagnosis of pregnancy is not only a managerial tool
in terms of determining the reproduction effi ciency of the
herd, but also in determining the fodder fl ow program in
terms of does with singletons, twins, triplets, or those that
are not pregnant. Much time and money can be saved by
the timely use of this practice. Currently sonography
(abdominal 6-7 weeks or rectal 4-5 weeks after breeding)
is the standard procedure for determining pregnancy and
multiple births in goats.
REFERENCES
Ahmed , M.M.M. , S.A. Makawi , and A.A. Gadir . 1997 .
Reproductive performance of Saanen bucks under tropical
climate . Small Rumin. Res. 26 : 151 - 155 .
Amoah , E.A. and M.J. Bryant . 1984 . A note on the effect of
contact with male goats on the occurrence of puberty in
female goat kids . Anim. Prod. 38 : 141 .
Barkawi , A.H. , E.H. Elsayed , G. Ashour , and E. Shehata .
2006. Seasonal changes in semen characteristics, hormonal
profi les and testicular activity in Saraibi goats. Small
Rumin. Res. 66 : 209 - 213 .
Bath , G. and J . De Wet . 2000 . Sheep and goat diseases .
Tafelberg Publishers , Cape Town .
Bettencourt , E.M. , C.M. Bettencourt , J. Chagas e Silva ,
P. Ferreira , C.I. Manito , C.M. Matos , R.J. Ramao , and
A. Rocha . 2008 . Effect of season and gonadotrophin
preparation on superovulatory response and embryo quality
in Portuguese Black Merinos. Small Rumin. Res. 74:
134 - 139 .
Boshoff , D.A. 1980 . The effect of lactation and season on
sexual activity and synchronization of oestrus in lactating
Karakul ewes. Ph D Thesis, University of Stellenbosch,
Stellenbosch, South Africa .
Mating
Timing of a restricted breeding season (preferably in the
natural breeding season) of approximately 6 weeks is
crucial, with breeding delayed in maiden does until the
animal has attained 60-75% of its mature body weight.
The availability of adequate nutrition is essential during
and prior to the breeding season and also during the kidding
season.
Dystocia
Diffi cult births are generally not a problem experienced in
goats and can be controlled and manipulated by a manage-
rial program. The main factors generally contributing to
