Analysis of Goat Farming Practices in Southern Agro-climatic Region of Tamil Nadu
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Date
2013
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Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Abstract
A study was conducted to analyse the goat farming practices adopted by farmers under
field conditions in southern agro-climatic region of Tamil Nadu. A total of 180 goat farmers
were utilised for this study in 20 villages each in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar
districts. Based on the agricultural land holding the goat farmers were categorised as landless,
marginal, small and large land holders and they were 48.89, 33.89, 10.56 and 6.66 per cent,
respectively with the mean land holding size of 1.50 ± 0.17 acres. Goat farmers preferred to live
in nuclear family (78.33 per cent) than joint family (21.67 per cent). Majority of goat farmers in
the study area were Hindus (91.11 per cent) and Christians (8.89 per cent) and they belonged to
the backward class, scheduled class and most backward communities comprising 37.23, 34.44
and 28.33 per cent, respectively. The average annual income generated by the goat farmers in the
study area was Rs. 53,160.16.
The overall mean flock size maintained by the goat farmers in the study area was
35.58 ± 0.74 goats. Majority of the goat farmers maintaining nondescript
goats (71.67 per cent) in their herds and in Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts,
Kodi adu goats (15per cent) and Kanni adu (13.33 per cent) were predominantly
reared by the goat farmers. Farmers had an average of 10.41 ± 0.46 years of experience in
goat farming. Semi-intensive system (63.33 per cent) of rearing was mostly practiced by the
goat farmers followed by extensive (33.33 per cent) and intensive system (3.34 per cent).
Majority of the goat sheds were mainly as open type (41.11 per cent) followed by closed
(31.11 per cent) and half-open (27.78 per cent) types. Distance of grazing allowed for goats
was around 5 km with duration of grazing of 7 h daily. Common property resources (51.67
per cent), harvested fields (20.56 per cent), forest or road sides (24.44 per cent) were the
major grazing areas for goats.
Among the tree fodders, Moringa oleifera, Leucaena leucocephala and Phyllanthus
reticulates are identified as superior in terms of better crude protein content. Locally
available foliages contain more nutrient content as DM (27.99 per cent) and DCP (14.07
per cent) and among the foliages Digeria agvensis, Corchorus olitorius and Merremia
emerginata were identified better for their crude protein content. The average nutrient
content of various supplements (dry fodders and homemade concentrate) in terms of dry
matter and crude protein were 90.36 and 15.20 per cent, respectively.
Highly significant difference (P< 0.01) was observed in 3, 9, 12 months body weight (kg)
of goats in three districts. Highly significant difference (P< 0.01) was observed between the
breeds (Kanni adu, Kodi adu and non-descript goats) in their body weight (kg) at birth, 3 months
and 6 months. Non - descript breeds of goats at 4 teeth, 6 teeth and full mouth stage had
significant difference in body weight (P< 0.01). Sex wise differences (P< 0.01) for goats in body
weights at birth and 3 months were observed under extensive system of management, whereas
under semi-intensive system a significant difference (P< 0.01) was observed in body weight at 3,
6, 9 and 12 months. Under intensive system of management, there were no significant
differences found in between sexes in body weight at birth, 3 and 6 months. Body weight in
between sexes at 6 and 12 months age groups had significant (P<0.05) difference.
The male : female ratios observed were 1:20 (37.22 per cent), 1: 25-30 (42.78 per cent), 1:
above 30 (20 per cent) in the study area. The age at first mating in Kanni adu, Kodi adu and nondescript
breeds of goats were 10.00 ± 0.23, 10.07 ± 0.16 and 10.18 ± 0.09 months, respectively and
kidding interval for the above three breeds were 7.50 ± 0.16, 7.35 ± 0.16 and 7.44 ± 0.06 months,
respectively.
The mortality observed in young age group from birth to one month (19.10 per cent)
was high in all the districts of the study area. The specific clinical manifestations which caused
mortality in goats were peste-des-petits ruminants, enterotoxaemia, contagious exanthyma, foot
and mouth disease, goat pox and anthrax. The gross returns from goat farming in study area were
maximum from the sale of surplus animals (83.53 per cent) followed by culled animals
(11.31 per cent) and manure (5.16 per cent). The annual net profit calculated per doe was
Rs.802.54, Rs.1073.02 and Rs. 1066.08 in small, medium and large flocks, respectively.
Organised marketing of goats was lacking in the study area.
Non-availability of adequate grazing (41.67 per cent), inadequate water availability
(35.00 per cent) and non-availability of breeding stock (23.33 per cent) were observed as
managemental constraints in the study area. Semi-intensive system of rearing is found better in
terms of optimum nutrient intake, optimum body weight gain, early age at first mating, early
age at first kidding, less service period, optimum kidding interval and optimum kidding
percentage. The reason might be due to the availability of nutrients in terms of DCP (79.78 per
cent) and TDN (24.50 per cent) both in grazing and supplement feeding. Semi-intensive system
of rearing is commonly followed and found better rather than extensive and intensive systems
in the agrarian community not only in the southern agro-climatic region but also in other parts
of state.