The benefits of different management interventions on the performance of goats in Oodi village, Kgatleng District: Botswana

Abstract

The aim of this research was to find the benefits of supplementation with molasses urea block (MUB) and Ivermectin injections on the growth as well as on gastro-intestinal parasites load of goats grazed extensively, during the wet season. Experimental animals were blocked by age (adults & weaners) and allocated into two (2) dietary treatments (MUB supplementation and no supplementation). Goats were allocated two injection treatments (Ivermectin dewormed & no deworming). Supplemented and dewormed weancr goats had higher (P < 0.05) weights at the end of the wet season since they grew at a higher (P < 0.05) rate than control weaners. A low (P < 0.05) egg per gram count (EPG) was evident for supplemented and dewormed weaners at the end of the season. A similar trend was observed for supplemented and dewormed adult goats which also exhibited a higher (P < 0.05) average daily growth (ADG) than control animals, On the contrary supplemented adult females had a lower (P > 0.05) weights and ADG at the end of the season but had low (P<0.05), EPG. The other objective was to find out how management practices affected the profitability of smallstock relative to marketing constraints and production constraints. Data was collected by administering a questionnaire and analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Smallstock fanners in Oodi extension area preferred to sell their animals to individuals and secondly to butcheries. Lack of organised smallstock market was identified as a marketing constraint. Production constraints included aged farmers, illiteracy, lack of record keeping, high cost of labour and feeds and lack of health management strategies. The farmers’ management practices indeed affected the profitability of their animals. Farmers who had a health management strategy, fed their smallstock, low input costs on their stock and sold their animals made more profit than farmers who did not carry out the above mentioned practices.