FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Integrated goat farming for drylands, wastelands
M.J. Prabu
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Integrating goat farming with cropping systems can supplement income.
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— PHOTO: TANUVAS
EASILY BRED: The normal breeding ratio is one buck for 25 does.
INTEGRATED GOAT farming is a viable income-generating sector, especially for marginal farmers. Studies on cross breeding of the Kanni variety and other local varieties with the Boer goat and the economics of integrating them in dryland farming have shown promising results according to Dr F.R. Sheriff, Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).
"Integrating goat farming with cropping systems like agro forestry models such as, agrisilviculture, hortipasture, boundary plantations, wind belts and silvipasture models with trees and grasses can be established in wastelands to supplement farm income," said Dr. Sheriff.
Feeding variety
Being hardy animals, goats can be fed on Neem (Azadiracta indica) and a wide variety of fodders and grasses such as Kolukattai grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Stylo (Stylosanthus hamata), Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora), Fodder cowpea (Vigna uinguiculata) and Vagai (Albizia lebbek).
For healthy and active animals, farmers are advised to provide a concentrate mixture of 50 parts of wheat, maize or broken rice, 25 parts of groundnut cake, 23 parts of wheat bran or rice bran, one part of mineral mixture and one part of common salt.
Breeding ratio
Does (female goats) normally come to heat in one to one and half years of age. The normal breeding ratio is one buck for 25 does. Goats can be bred three times a year. Usually a buck can service 20-25 does in a single breeding season.
For pregnant does, farmers should provide 300 gm of concentrate feed comprising a mixture of groundnut cake, fish meal, rice, bran and mineral salts.
The gestation period usually lasts for 147-149 days. It is advisable to keep pregnant does in separate enclosures with straw bedding and fresh water. In case of any difficulty during delivery of lambs immediate veterinary attention is necessary.
As soon the lamb is born the mucous on its face and nostrils should be removed to help breathing. The newborn lamb is to be fed with its mother's milk immediately.
Lactation period usually lasts for four months. In a well-maintained flock, healthy does yield about one and half litre of milk daily. In case the mother dies, foster does, that are in milking, may be allowed to feed the lamb.
In the absence of any milking doe, cow or buffalo's milk may be fed to the lamb using a rubber teat. Generally mortality in kids is ten per cent and in adults 5-10 per cent.
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