A review of phenotypic characteristics, production traits and water utilisation of indigenous Tswana goats in Botswana

Indigenous Tswana goats are a valuable genetic resource, which has' to be conserved and utilised in a sustainable way to ensure accrued benefits to fanners in Botswana. A pre-requisite to this is that the breed has to be well studied and traits, which make it unique, should be used in value adding marketing. The aim of this paper was to review current knowledge on phenotypic characteristics, production traits and water utilisation of indigenous Tswana goats in Botswana. A countrywide study has characterised incidences of various categorical traits in Tswana goats. A few studies have also indicated that the indigenous Tswana goat is a medium sized breed, highly resistant and/or tolerant to diseases and parasites. Despite lack of selection for higher productivity, the Tswana goat has been shown to have higher productivity if given good management than the Boer goat due to its higher survival rate at all ages of comparison in Botswana. The breed can withstand water deprivation up to 72 hours without severe dehydration and still show medium growth rate (65.6 vs. 85.5 g/day; least significant difference 1.41g/day) with moderate feed conversion efficiency (12.1 vs. 9.3 g feed/g gain; least significant difference 3.43 g feed/g gain) compared to control Tswana goats given ad libitum water. Castration has been shown to significantly improve the meat quantity and quality of Tswana goats. Put together findings from the few studies carried out on Tswana goats indicate that more extensive research should be carried out on the breed to popularise unique traits, which can be used for value adding marketing hence the breed being utilised sustainably to ensure its conservation Keywords: Botswana, goats, phenotypic characteristics, production traits, water utilisation efficiently utilise limited feed resources (Nsoso et al., 2004a). Tswana goats can be watered once in 72 hours without severe dehydration and still show moderate feed conversion efficiency and growth rate (Adogla-Bessa and Aganga, 2000). These traits of economic importance make the indigenous Tswana goat an important breed for semi-arid countries where feed and diseases limit production. The aim of this paper was to review current knowledge on phenotypic characteristics, production traits and water utilisation of indigenous Tswana goats in Botswana.