Farmer perceptions on factors influencing water scarcity for goats in resource-limited communal farming environments

The objective of the study was to compare factors influencing water scarcity for goats in areas where there are seasonal and perennial rivers under resource-limited communal farming environments. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire (n?=?285) administered randomly to smallholder goat farmers from areas with seasonal and perennial rivers. Ceremonies was ranked as the major reason for keeping goats. Water scarcity was ranked the major constraint to goat production in areas with seasonal rivers when compared to areas with perennial rivers (P?<?0.05). Dams and rivers were ranked as the major water source for goat drinking in areas with seasonal and perennial river systems during cool dry and rainy seasons. Rivers were ranked as an important water source for goat drinking where there are seasonal and perennial river systems during the cool dry season. Households located close (≤?3 km) to the nearest water source reported drinking water for goats a scarce resource. These results show that river systems, season and distance to the nearest water source from a household were factors perceived by farmers to influence water scarcity for goats in resource-limited communal farming environments. Farmers should explore water-saving strategies such as recycling wastewater from kitchens and bathrooms as an alternative water source. The government may assist farmers through sinking boreholes to supply water for both humans and livestock.

     

Characterization of the production system and breeding practices of indigenous goat keepers in Hai district,Northern Tanzania: implications for community-based breeding program

Indigenous breeding practices of the farmers and the livestock production system form the bases for designing community-based breeding programs. The aim of this study was to characterize production system and examine breeding practices of the indigenous goat farmers in Hai district in Northern Tanzania to determine their relevance in establishing a community-based breeding program in the area. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which information was collected from 160 households randomly selected from 6 villages. Average household herd was 29.2 goats with majority keeping less than 20 goats. Major reasons for keeping goats were income generation, meat and milk production. Controlled mating was practiced mainly using apron and castration. Castration was practiced using traditional methods to control breeding and improve meat quality. Farmers in the study area had large goat flocks and a small buck to doe ratio. Farmers do not have a good understanding of inbreeding and its negative effects but practise other good breeding methods which could impact the productivity of their animals. Diseases and feed shortages were the main constraints to production. Opportunities exist for a community-based breeding program to genetically improve goat productivity.

     

Seroprevalence of, and risk factors for, peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in Northern Jordan

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important disease that affect sheep and goat industry in Asia and Africa. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence, and risk factors, of PPR in sheep and goat flocks from five different governorates (Irbid, Jarash, Ajloun, Mafraq and Zarka) located in Northern Jordan. Serum samples from 929 and 400 sheep and goats, respectively, corresponding to 122 sheep flock and 60 goats flock were collected. Seroprevalence was determined using PPR competitive ELISA. Health status and management information were collected using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire. The individual true prevalence of PPR in sheep and goats was 29 and 49%, respectively. The flock level true prevalence of PPR was 60 and 74% in sheep and goats, respectively. In both sheep and goat flocks, large flock size, visiting live animals market and inadequate veterinary services were identified as risk factors for PPR seropositivity. Mixed (sheep and goats) raising was identified as a risk factor for PPR seropositivity in sheep flocks only.     

陕西富平县关中奶山羊生产现状与发展对策分析

陕西省富平县以培育出著名的关中奶山羊闻名于世,并以奶山羊作为农村经济发展的突破口,因势利导,发展形成了一种具有富平特色的“奶山羊农村经济”。通过对全县奶畜产业中的品种资源与分布、畜群结构、饲料饲草供应、奶源、奶价、乳品加工以及奶山羊业与其他相关产业协同发展等相关方面进行调查,分析了当前奶山羊生产中的羊奶收购、羊奶质量安全等方面存在的问题,提出了建设饲草生产基、完善基层收奶点及奶品质安全监控、落实责任和加速乳品企业自身发展等意见,为发展生产、加工和销售一条龙的具有富平特色的奶山羊区域经济提供了科学依据,旨在通过奶山羊生产,提高农民收入和健康水平,加速农村经济发展实现城乡经济协调发展。     

子午岭黑山羊与辽宁绒山羊产肉性能、肉品质、肌肉营养成分和脂肪酸含量比较

1990年,甘肃省庆阳市开始引入辽宁绒山羊对子午岭黑山羊进行杂交改良,但目前尚不清楚2个品种在脂肪酸含量、肌肉营养成分等方面的差异,影响了杂交改良效果。试验旨在分析两个绒山羊品种的产肉性能、肉品质、肌肉营养成分和脂肪酸含量差异,为绒山羊的杂交改良提供理论依据。本研究选取相同饲养管理条件下、9月龄的子午岭黑山羊和辽宁绒山羊公羊各5只,测定其屠宰性能以及背最长肌、前腿肌和后腿肌处的肉品质、脂肪酸含量和肌肉营养成分。结果表明：子午岭黑山羊的胴体重、屠宰率、净肉重、净肉率、眼肌面积、GR值、剪切力和滴水损失低于辽宁绒山羊（P<0.05）,但其肌肉的平均亮度值、色度值、pH₁和pH₂₄高于辽宁绒山羊（P<0.01）。营养成分测定结果表明,子午岭黑山羊肌肉的水分和粗灰分含量高于辽宁绒山羊（P<0.05）,但肌内脂肪和粗蛋白含量低于辽宁绒山羊。在2个山羊品种的肌肉中均检测到11 种饱和脂肪酸（SFA,以棕榈酸和硬脂酸为主）、10种多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA,以亚油酸和顺-11,14-二十碳二烯酸为主）和6种单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA,以油酸为主）,子午岭黑山羊肉中的SFA、PUFA、n-3 PUFA、n-6 PUFA含量和PUFA/SFA值均高于辽宁绒山羊（P<0.01）,但MUFA含量低于辽宁绒山羊（P<0.01）。结果表明,辽宁绒山羊有更高的产肉力,但子午岭黑山羊肌肉品质和营养成分更佳,脂肪酸组成和含量更符合人类健康膳食标准。     

湿度对奶山羊健康与生产性能的影响及应对措施

环境对于家畜养殖非常重要,奶山羊对环境湿度较为敏感,羊舍湿度过高、过低,均不利于奶山羊的生长发育,会危害奶山羊的健康,导致奶山羊生产性能下降,对疾病的抵抗力降低.因此,加强对羊舍环境湿度的监测和调控,能够更好地发挥奶山羊的生产性能,提高养殖经济效益.本文综述了湿度对奶山羊健康和生产性能的影响以及除湿措施,为羊舍防潮除湿...     

Traders' preference for goat characteristics in selected markets of Pangasinan, Philippines

Preference for goat characteristics was determined from 42 traders in six markets in Pangasinan, an important trading center for goats in Luzon, the Philippines, and analyzed using a hedonic price model to determine whether these characteristics are important price determinants of goats. This information is important to goat raisers to respond to the needs of the local market, and thus to achieve a better price and higher income in goat raising. Meatiness, size, breed, sex and age (in descending order) were the dominant goat characteristics preferred by traders. Meatiness had the largest positive influence on price, with a price premium of US$6.24 (US$1.00 = PhP 53), whereas the age of the animal had the smallest influence at US$3.72. However, size and meatiness are manifestations of good breeds. Therefore, continued efforts to improve breeds in order to produce good quality goats are imperative to cater to market needs. Different characteristics implied different price premiums. Traders offered a higher price premium for better goat characteristics; thus, the improvement of these characteristics could result in higher returns for goat raisers.     

Perceptions of households on purpose of keeping,trait preference,and production constraints for selected goat types in Ethiopia

A study was carried out to understand the needs and perception of goat keepers in selected areas of Ethiopia in order to identify the breeding objectives, traits of preference, and production constraints that may be required in designing improvement programs. The study was conducted in three districts (Bati, Meta, and Kebri-Beyah) representing the lowland crop–livestock (LLCL), highland cereal–livestock (HLCL), and pastoral/agropastoral (P/AP) systems, respectively. The study targeted the three goat types (Bati, Hararghe Highland, and Short-eared Somali) found in Ethiopia. Households in all systems considered meat production, milk production, and income generation as major purpose of keeping goats. However, those in the low rainfall and arid environments of P/AP systems gave high ranking to adaptability to harsh environments and also to building social and religious values. In LLCL and HLCL systems, goat skin and manure were more valued than in P/AP systems. Principally, in P/AP systems, the awareness of households to skin utilization and marketing was very low. Despite diverse multiple breeding objectives identified, household breeding practices were affected by constraints related to disease prevalence, feed shortage and water scarcity, and lack of awareness on skin management, utilization, and marketing. Thus, designing and implementing of sustainable goat improvement programs is an overriding priority and should take into account the breeding objectives and knowledge of goat keepers in all production systems. Along with the breed improvement, a strategy should also be devised to enhance the utilization and marketing of goat skin at all levels of production.     

The in vitro effect of six antimicrobials against Mycoplasma putrefaciens, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum isolated from sheep and goats in jordan

Respiratory disease in sheep and goats is a major problem in Jordan and is often associated with Mycoplasma species. Without effective vaccines, control is mainly by chemotherapy, but the uncontrolled use of antimicrobials has led to concerns about the potential development of antimicrobial resistance. The in vitro effect of chloramphenicol, florfenicol, enrofloxacin, tylosin, erythromycin and oxytetracycline was determined against 32 isolates of Mycoplasma species-M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC (6), M. capricolum subsp. capricolum (8) and M. putrefaciens (18), all isolated from either nasal swabs or milk, from sheep and goats in different regions of Jordan. The antimicrobial susceptibility showed some Mycoplasma species-specific differences, with M. capricolum subsp. capricolum being more susceptible to tylosin and erythromycin. Chloramphenicol and florfenicol were the least effective for all three Mycoplasma species. No trends or significant differences in antimicrobial susceptibilities were observed between sheep and goat isolates, between milk or nasal swab isolates, or between isolates from different regions of Jordan. Some isolates of M. capricolum subsp. capricolum and M. putrefaciens showed higher MIC levels with oxytetracycline, as did two isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC with tylosin, possibly indicating signs of development of antimicrobial resistance.     

Przhevalskiana silenus myiasis among slaughter goats in northern Jordan

During the period December 1998-May 2000, 900 local goats slaughtered at the Irbid Abattoir (northern Jordan) were examined for the larval instars of Przhevalskiana silenus. Of 900 goats, 10% (95% CI: 9,13) were infested with P. silenus larvae. Only the second and third larval instars were seen. A multiple-regression analysis (with the error variance described by the negative-binomial function) suggested that infestation depended on the month of sampling, and that infestation with live larvae was associated with a poorer carcass. The percentage of infested goats and the mean monthly total number of larvae per goat peaked in samples taken in the autumn and winter. Larval numbers were highly aggregated: most animals had no larvae but the maximum was 69. Analysis of the pattern of aggregation suggested that the best model fit was one in which the larvae counts per goat varied with the monthly prevalence.     

奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的筛选与功能研究进展

奶山羊作为乳用品种的山羊,因其具有奶质优良、产奶性能稳定、乳汁营养丰富等特点,逐渐成为畜牧业发展的一大亮点。经过多年的选种选育,我国现已拥有了多个地方奶山羊品种。随着分子育种技术的发展,对于奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的研究越来越多。对奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的研究进展进行综述,以期为奶山羊优秀基因资源的研究、保护和利用提供理论依据。     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic goats in Satun Province, Thailand

Goats are important domestic animals in the south of Thailand due to the minimal cost of rearing and maintaining them, and their production of both meat and milk. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most threatening parasitic zoonoses and the causative agent Toxoplasma gondii uses a wide range of warm-blooded intermediate hosts including the goat. The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in goats of Satun Province in Thailand. A total of 631 goat sera were examined for antibodies against toxoplasmosis with commercial latex agglutination test kits (Toxocheck-MT 'Eiken'). Of these, 176 (27.9%) were found to be positive to T. gondii; antibody titers ranged from 1:64 to 1:4096 (1:64 cut-off). Female goats were 1.73 times more likely than male to be seropositive (odds ratio [OR]=1.73; 95% confidential interval [CI]=1.11, 2.73). Dairy goats were more likely to be seropositive than meat goats (OR=1.36; 95% CI=0.84, 2.20). Goats were infected with T. gondii with acquisition of age because older goats were more likely to be seropositive than young goats under 1-year-old (for 1-2 years, OR=19.6; 95% CI=0.92, 4.15, for >2 years, OR=2.70; 95% CI=1.26, 5.80). The high seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies found in the present study suggested widespread exposure of goats in Satun Province to T. gondii.     

奶山羊乳房温度与体内外温度、泌乳性能的相关性研究

[目的] 随着奶山羊养殖行业的发展,规模化、集约化程度不断提高,如何能更便捷地对奶山羊的健康状况和生产性能进行有效评判,是提高奶山羊养殖效率的重要措施。[方法] 本试验通过测定奶山羊体内外温度、产奶量以及乳成分,分析乳房温度与体内外温度以及与泌乳性能之间的相关性。[结果] 发现乳房温度与舍温、额温有明显的相关性（P<0.01）,但与眼温和肛温之间没有显著相关性;此外,乳脂、非乳脂固形物与乳房温度之间也存在显著的相关性（P<0.01）。[结论] 乳房温度是一个很好的评价指标,可适宜地用于监测奶山羊健康状况和生产性能。     

Physiological adaptation to the humid tropics with special reference to the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat

West African Dwarf (WAD) goats are widely distributed in the subhumid and humid zones of Africa but are particularly associated with less favourable environments. Adaptive features such as feeding behaviour, efficiency of feed use and disease tolerance enable WAD goats to thrive on natural resources left untouched by other domestic ruminants. In marginal environments this goat remains the only domestic species that is able to survive. Among its physiological features small body size and low metabolic requirements are important traits that enable the animal to minimize its requirements in area or season where food sources are limited in quality and quantity. Specialized feeding behaviour and an efficient digestive system enable the animal to maximize food intake. Coat colour plays an important role in the evolved adaptation of this goat type. Reproductive fitness as manifested by prolific breeding is a major factor of adaptation. Defence mechanisms against infectious agents enable this type to thrive well in the hot humid tropics. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of these physiological functions of WAD goat are discussed. An understanding of these mechanisms could result in the development of improved techniques for enhancing goat productivity in humid environments.     

The response of Acacia karroo plants to defoliation by hand compared to defoliation by goats

Abstract

The leaf and shoot growth of Acacia karroo plants defoliated by goats was compared to that of plants in which leaf only or leaf plus shoot‐tips were removed by hand, to simulate goat browsing.

There were no differences in leaf or shoot production between plants whose leaf only was removed compared to those that had both leaf and shoot‐tips removed. Leaf growth on the plants defoliated by goats at moderate levels was approximately three‐fold that on plants defoliated moderately by hand. The plants defoliated by hand produced approximately twice the amount of leaf that the undefoliated plants produced. Heavy defoliation by both hand and goat, produced approximately half the leaf growth that moderately defoliated plants produced, following equivalent defoliation. Shoot production of all plants defoliated by hand was no different to that of the undefoliated control plants and was considerably less than that of the plants defoliated by goats.     

关中地区规模化奶山羊养殖场机器挤奶现状及建议

对陕西省关中地区31个不同规模的奶山羊养殖场使用机器挤奶的相关数据及资料进行分析。结果表明,不同奶山羊养殖场规模、挤奶设备、挤奶时间、质检方式和羊奶售价等方面均存在差异;机器挤奶流程、挤奶次数和环境卫生等影响到奶山羊乳房健康和羊奶品质。应加强对养殖场挤奶机器的管理,规范机器挤奶技术流程,提高奶山羊养殖场生产效益。     

世界及我国奶山羊产业发展现状及趋势分析

近年来,世界山羊养殖数量持续增长,据联合国粮农组织(FAO)统计显示,2018年全球山羊养殖数量已超10.4亿只,其中奶山羊养殖数量超2.16亿只,约有90%以上的奶山羊和山羊奶产自亚洲和非洲。欧洲的奶山羊存栏和产奶量均在亚洲和非洲之后,但其单产水平远高于其他各大洲,在世界奶山羊每只平均年产奶量100 kg以上的国家中,前十位均为欧洲国家。我国奶山羊产业发展迅速,2018年我国奶山羊实际存栏约518万只,年产羊奶量约100万t,约占全国鲜奶产量的3.3%。本文对全球及我国奶山羊产业进行了纵向和横向比较,客观分析我国奶山羊产业的地位、发展现状以及未来发展趋势,旨在为我国奶山羊产业的发展提供参考。     

Description of a Coxiella burnetii abortion outbreak in a dairy goat herd, and associated serology, PCR and genotyping results

Using PCR on aborted foetal material, Coxiella burnetii infection was confirmed as the cause of abortions in a dairy goat herd with over 1000 adults. Ninety-five (22%) abortions and 355 normal births were recorded from 440 goats over 2months. The herd was sampled three times in 6months to look at the within-herd seroprevalence, with the 1st visit done 24days after the last recorded abortion. The true seroprevalence in the herd was 79.2%, 66.5% and 45.7% on each of these visits, but introduction of a group of young goats prior to the 3d visit influenced these results. Using PCR, widespread environmental contamination was demonstrated in surface dust, bedding, muck heaps, milk, bird droppings and drinking water in the goat shed. MST and MLVA analysis showed the C. burnetii from this outbreak to be of a genotype previously observed in the UK and different from those recorded in the Netherlands outbreak of 2007-2011.