Litter size in the matebele goat and its effects on productivity

Extract

The Matebele goat is indigenous to the Gwanda-Thuli area of Matebeleland. It is relatively large in size compared to most goats of the tropics, males being around 65 cm at the withers and weighing more than 35 kg, and is similar to many of the goat breeds found in southern Africa.

Goats are usually kept by poor small-holder farmers and are frequently found in regions with few resources where other livestock have difficulties in surviving. Goats are important to the subsistence and economic development of peasant farmers because goats are cheaper to procure than cattle and provide a constant supply of essential food (both meat and milk) and cash income throughout the year. However, goats have a low priority in most households and little attention is given to their husbandry and welfare. This hampers attempts to improve the productivity of the goats. The results reported here demonstrate the effects of multiple births in Matebele goats upon the overall productivity of the animals.