Estimation of goat production potential and efficiency in the resource-poor communal areas of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Author： Rumosa Gwaze Francisca

Publisher： Springer Publishing Company

ISSN： 0049-4747

Source： Tropical Animal Health and Production, Vol.42, Iss.6, 2010-08, pp. : 1235-1242

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Abstract

It is often inappropriately assumed that the contributions of goats to household economies are similar across flock sizes. A monthly questionnaire was administered to 19, 21, and 13 farmers in Matatiele and Qawukeni and Mankone. Entries and exits to and from each flock were assessed. Most (P < 0.05) kids="" were="" born="" in="" august="" (4.92 ± 0.362="" and="" 2.03 ± 0.329="" for="" large="" and="" small="" flocks,="" respectively).="" total="" entries="" were="" higher="">P < 0.05) in="" august,="" september,="" and="" october="" than="" in="" the="" other="" months.="" kid="" mortality="" peaked="" in="" may="" and="" september="" at="" 21%.="" most="">P < 0.05) goats="" were="" sold="" in="" december="" (1.06 ± 0.127="" for="" large="" flocks="" and="" 0.23 ± 0.135="" for="" small="" flocks).="" goat="" production="" efficiency="" (gpe)="" was="" affected="">P < 0.05) by="" month="" and="" flock="" size.="" the="" gpe="" was="" higher="">P < 0.05) in="" small="" than="" in="" large="" flocks.="" the="" low="" gpe="" values="" obtained="" in="" this="" study="" indicates="" the="" need="" to="" devise="" other="" indices="" that="" factor="" in="" the="" neglected="" functions="" of="" goats="" when="" measuring="" goat="" production="" efficiency="" in="" communities="" where="" the="" main="" function="" of="" goats="" is="" not="" for="" sale="" or="" consumption.="">