Monitoring Body Weight Gain of Goat Kids for Improving Productivity
Narayan G. Hegde *
BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune, India.
Avinash D. Deo
BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Goat husbandry has been supporting the livelihood of over 100 million families living in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia and Africa, but most of them have not been able to earn substantial income, due to poor goat husbandry practices. Key factors influencing goat productivity have been - better management of pregnant does, high weight of kids at birth and acceleration of weight gain during pre-weaning period, apart from general factors such as goat breed, efficient breeding service, health care and marketing. This paper has identified various factors contributing to poor status of goats owned by small goat keepers and suggestions to improve the weight of kids at birth and the growth rate during pre-weaning and post weaning periods, through supplementary feeding and regular monitoring of weight. A suitable extension tool in the form of a Growth Monitoring Chart for different breeds can be developed, which goat keepers can readily use for taking suitable corrective measures. Goat keepers should also be advised on culling weak animals at an early age and replacing them with healthy animals to improve the production.
Keywords: Goat kids, pregnant does, weight gain, goat husbandry