Some performance indicators of Malawi indigenous goats under village and ranch conditions

Goat performance in 6 villages around Bunda College and at lifidzi ranch in Salima was monitored during 1985 and 1986. In the villages age at first kidding was 15.0±1.9 months; season of the does own birth affected her age at first kidding on the ranch. Kidding percentage was 107 under village conditions and 175 on the ranch. Kidding interval was 44.9±11.3wk in the villages and 35.2±6.8 wk on the ranch. Season had a significant effect on kidding interval in the villages but to on the ranch. Village goat litter size was 1.35±0.5; on the ranch it was 1.38±0.5. In both systems litters were largest during the cool dry season (May or August) and smallest during the cool dry season (September or Novemebr). Birth weight of single born kids was 1.75±0.4 kg in the villages and 1.77±0.5 kg at the ranch. Birth weight was positively correlated to dam postpartum weight (r=0.58). Dams kidding multiples were heavier than those kidding singles. Kid mortality was different in different seasons in the villages but not on the ranch. Mortality was 11.0% in the villages and 20.1% on the ranch while abortion was 5.6% in the villages and 9.5% on the ranch

The effect of supplements of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products on the growth performance of Swazi goats

Goat production in Swaziland is characterized by low offtake resulting from lack of management of rangelands and seasonal fluctuations in feed resources. Periodic droughts and extensive dry spells in winter which cause nutritional stress result in low productivity of the goats. The aim of the study reported here was to assess the growth response in young male Swazi goats grazed on natural pastures to supplementation with maize stover, sugar-cane tops and dry pineapple pulp. The major findings from the study were that (a) the growth rates in goats under natural grazing can be improved by protein supplementation (b) dried pineapple pulp has considerable potential as an energy feed for goats (c) higher growth rates can be achieved by supplementing the pineapple pulp with protein (d) maize stover and sugar-cane tops, in their present form, have limited possibility for improving weight gains in goats

The performance of the Small East African goats and their Saanen crosses in Malawi

The performance of randomly selected Malawian local goats and their Saanen crosses was compared. The average litter size at kidding was 1.35 and 1.52, respectively. Birth weights, 12-week weights and weaning weights at 17 weeks were respectively 2.2 kg (SE = 0.12 kg), 8.2 kg (SE=0.41 kg) and 10.7 kg (SE = 0.62 kg) for the local goats and 2.31 kg (SE=0.40 kg), 11.4 kg (SE = 1.59 kg) and 19.2 kg (SE = 2.39 kg) for the Saanen crosses (P<0.001). The growth rate up to weaning was 71 g (SE = 4.8 g/day) and 139 g (SE=18.5 g/day) for the local goats and their Saanen crosses respectively (P<0.01). Saanen crosses produced more milk (83 kg, SE 4 kg) during a 12-week period (P<0.001) than the local does (37 kg, SE 5 kg).The results indicate that crossing Small East African goats with Saanens would improve not only milk production, but also the growth rate of their kids, contributing to improved meat production

Dairy goat breeding in Malawi: gestation length, birth weights and growth of the indigenous Malawi goats and their Saanen crosses

Some Malawi local goats were mated to Saanen bucks and others to local bucks under the same management at the Bunda College farm. Gestation length, birthweights, weaning weight, weight gain per day and weights at one year were observed and compared.The average gestation length of local dams sired by Saanen bucks (146.90±2.68 days) was not significantly different from that of dams sired by local bucks (147.76±3.44 days). Sex of kids and litter sizes did not affect gestation length and although younger dams and dams kidding in the hot wet season had shorter gestation lengths than older dams and those kidding in the cool dry and hot dry seasons, respectively, the differences were not statistically significantWith the exception of twin-born males, birthweights of Saanen crosses were significantly higher than local kids. Likewise, weaning weights and weights at one year were higher in the Saanen crosses than in the local kids. Weight gains per day were higher before weaning than after and were higher in Saanen crosses than in the local kids. Mortality was 22% in Saanen crosses and 21% in the local kids