Abstract:
The study was conducted to assess management practices by goat farmers in uMgungundlovu of the KwaZulu-Natal province. A total of 70 farmers were interviewed by means of structured questionnaires. The average farm size in the uMgungundlovu district is 108.3 hectares. Most farmers farm with indigenous veld goats (78.6%). A considerable number of respondents have a low level of education n= 28 (40%). Management activities performed by respondents included control of internal and external parasites which was done by 94% and 96% respectively. The diseases most vaccinated for were Pulpy kidney (61.5%) and Pasteurella (51.9%). n = 58 respondents (78.6%) grazed their animals on natural veld. An insubstantial percentage of respondents had cultivated pastures (15.7%) n=11. Respondents provided winter and summer supplementary feed (46%) and supplementary lick (83%). A total of 17 farmers (24.3%) had a specific breeding season. Breeding management activities were done by farmers, and 5.7% of respondents were testing bucks for fertility, while 18.6% were provided flush feeding and 11.4% performed pregnancy diagnoses.
Farmers culled animals that did not measure up to standard (39%), while 61% did not have a culling programme. A number of 57 farmers (81.4%) farmers had made an average amount of R33 614.29 from selling goats in the uMgungundlovu district, but 12.9% respondents were not willing to share their sales records. A small percentage of farmers (5.7%) did not keep financial records at all. The majority of the farmers (60%) sold their goats to private buyers (individuals). The majority of the farmers (36.2%) obtained their information from farmers’ days.
To discover what influence various management practices had on the production of goats, the following four production variables were investigated: conception rate, kidding percentage, mortality rate and weaning percentage. Management practices investigated were: internal parasite control, external parasite control, provision of supplementary feed during winter and summer, provision of supplementary lick, fertility testing of bucks before mating; provision of flush feed before breeding season starts; the presence of specific breeding seasons and pregnancy diagnosis. There was a statistical significance (P<0.05) in the conception rate where flush feeding was provided and a specific breeding season existed. A statistically significant higher kidding percentage with the control of internal parasites, provision of supplementary feed, flush feeding and the existence of a specific breeding season was obtained. There was a statistically higher weaning percentage with the provision of supplementary feed (P<0.05), flush feeding, the existence of a specific breeding season and pregnancy diagnosis.
