O level Notes : Agriculture - Production of Goats

In Zimbabwe, goats are mostly kept for meat production and very few farmers milk goats in Zimbabwe. However, goat milk is very rich in proteins.

Breeds of goats

Breeds of goats which are commonly kept in Zimbabwe are the Boer, the Milch, Angora and Saanen goats.

Characteristics of goats kept in Zimbabwe

Boer goats

Boer goats originated  from South Africa but are now native breeds in Zimbabwe.

Characteristic features of Boer goats

• Boer goats  are  larger than  all the  indigenous  goat breeds.
• The Boer goats are hardy and can live in dry and hot areas.
• Boer goats are white in colour with red or reddish grey marks on the head and neck.
• The goat breed has good mothering ability.
• They are resistant to diseases and internal parasites.

Angora goats

Angora  goats  are  not  very  common  in  Zimbabwe because  of grazing  conditions  characterised  with  tall and piercing features which cause irritation on the skin of the goats.

• Milch goats are mainly kept for milk production
• They have the potential to produce 4 to 5 litres of milk per day.

Saanen goats

This is a common breed to Zimbabwe. 

Characteristic features of Angora goats

• Angora goats are white in colour and they have long curly silky hair.
• They are a small sized breed when compared to Boer goats.
• In  some   countries,   Angora   goats   are   kept   for their  hair.  The  hair  is  known  as  Mohair  and  is used to manufacture fabric used to make jackets  and blankets.

• Angora goats have low fertility,  hence they are not good breeders.

Milch goats

Milch  goats  are  not  common  m  Zimbabwe  because they  require  high  level  management  of which most smallholder farmers cannot afford.

Characteristic features of Saanen goats

• Saanen goats are all white in colour.
• They are a small breed of goats commonly kept in dry and hot communal areas of Zimbabwe.
• Saanen goats require less food because of their small stature.
• Saaneen goats are docile.

Management  practices for goats

Goats    require    less    management     than    cattle    and sheep because they are hardier and can survive from browsing. Goats can adapt to harsh and hot dry environmental  conditions.  Management  practices carried   out   on   goats   are   exactly   similar   to   those for   sheep.   These   include   identification   of  diseases, selection   of  breeding   stock,  dosing,  castration, dehorning, breeding, vaccination, dipping, weighing  and record keeping.

Breeding goats

In      the      extensive      system,      where      uncontrolled breeding    of   goats    occurs,    goats   breed    throughout the   year.   There   is   no   specific   time   when   breeding is   expected.   Male   goats   (He-goats)   not   to   be   used for   breeding   should   be   castrated.   Mating   is   done when   goats  are   18   to  20  months   old.   Two   to  four he-goats  are  needed  for   100   female   goats.   A  mature he-goat  can  serve 40 to  50  female  goats more satisfactorily.

In uncontrolled breeding,  both  male  and  female goats are kept together. In intensive  system, especially  where Boer  goats  are reared,  the he-goats  (male)  and  female goats  are  kept  separately.  They  are  only  put  together during  the  breeding  season  which  can  last  for  one  to three months  depending  on number  of female and male goats  available.  Breeding  is done  from  mid-November to mid-January  when grass growth is good and goats are in good body condition.

Dosing goats

Young     goats     are     prone     to     internal     parasites attack especially  roundworms  and tapeworms, therefore dosing   them   is  necessary.   Dosing   is   a  process   of controlling   internal   parasites.   Dosing   is  done   using a  dosing   gun.   Young   goats   can   be   dosed   using   a small  plastic  bottle.  Chemical  is put  in  the  bottle  and the  young   goat  is  forced   to  drink   and  swallow   the chemical.

The  drugs  which  are used  to  control  internal  parasites such  as  roundworms,  tapeworms   and  liver  flukes  are called  Anthelmintics.   Examples   of Anthelmintics are trodax,  tramisol,  systamex,  ripercol,  ranide,  valbezen and  valbandel.   Dosing  is  done  three  times  a  year  m October, January  and April.

Goats Castration

Male   goats   which   are  not   wanted   at  the   farm   for breeding    should   be   castrated    as   uncastrated    goats tend to produce bad odour which taint meat during slaughtering.   Castration   improves   meat   quality   and duality   of goats.   Male  kids  are  castrated   when  they are three  days to 90 days old. There  are three  methods which    are   commonly    used   to   castrate    male   kids namely  rubber  ring, burdizzo  and using  the knife. The processes  are the  same  as those  explained  under  cattle management practices.