Anastasios Neofitidis, Ezzat S. Tawfik:
Goat Husbandry for Extensive Use

ANASTASIOS NEOFITIDIS, EZZAT S. TAWFIK
University of Kassel, Department of International Animal Husbandry, Germany

Most goats are mainly kept in the Tropics and Subtropics by a poorer population for subsistence reasons.

Marginal locations for goat husbandry are often determined by geographical and climatic location. Arid and semi-arid areas, low feed quality and small supply, areas with increased risk of illness, topographically difficult locations, little know-how and an extensive production orientation characterize these locations.

For successful husbandry choosing suitable stock is important. According to their genetics, the breeds and their capacity should be adapted to the climate and marginal supply of feed.

The aim of this goat breeding programme is to achieve a breed by crossing for extensive production with:

Three breeds were chosen: German Alpine (good milk capacity), Boer (good meat capacity) and Cashmere goat (robustness and good fibre capacity).

The crossing programme is now in its final phase. One aspect is the surveying of the breeding capacity and robustness of the final breeding group (third generation) to record the current breeding level.

Productivity and robustness are basically the most important quality characteristics.

Endoparasites are one of the most prevalent causes of small ruminant losses. The costs caused by this are immense. Infestation with various Trichostrongylidae cause the main losses.

Parasite resistence and/or other illnesses are important for economic and ecological reasons. Due to reduced or non-use of anthelmintika grazing areas are less burdened or not burdened at all by faecal residual substances.

Keywords: Extensive husbandry, goat, landscape management

Footnotes

...P

Contact Address: Anastasios Neofitidis, University of Kassel, Department of International Animal Husbandry, Steinstraße 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany, e-mail: neofitidwiz.uni-kassel.de