Production characteristics of local Zambian goats under semi-arid conditions

A longitudinal survey was conducted to study the flock population dynamics and the pattern of some selected production parameters for goats managed under semi-arid conditions in the Luangwa valley of Zambia. A monthly questionnaire was administered to a group of 25 randomly selected farmers over a period of 12 months between August 1996 and July 1997. The parameters investigated were flock inventory, kidding rate (KR), prolificacy, mortality, slaughter and rates of sales and purchases. All the investigated parameters appeared to have been influenced by seasonal effects. The average annual flock composition was 526 animals, which consisted of 138 suckling animals, 179 rearing animals, 182 breeding females (BFs), 6 breeding males (BMs) and 21 castrates. The BM to BF ratio was 1:30. The KR was highest (31%) during the hot, dry part of the year, almost as high (30%) during the warm, rainy season, less (18%) in the cool, dry season and lowest (15%) in the hot, rainy season. The overall average KR was 94% while the prolificacy rate was 1.43. Mortality for all classes of animals was highest (43%) during the hot, rainy season and fairly high (28%) during the hot, dry season. The mortality reduced to about 20% during the cool, dry season and was lowest (9%) during the warm, rainy part of the year. The seasonal selling pattern of the animals suggests that most farmers prefer selling the heaviest animals in the flock. About 35% of the animals sold during this survey were rearing males (RMs). This was followed closely by the rearing females (RFs; 24%), BFs (16%) and BMs (14%). Similarly, the adult mature animals comprised about 84% of the goats slaughtered for home consumption by the farmers with RMs being the most affected class (39%), followed by RFs (25%) and castrated males (CMs; 19%). The factors influencing the production parameters under semi-arid conditions are discussed.