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Increasing the productivity of smallholder owned goats through supplementation with tree fruits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

T. Smith
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, P.O. Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
E. Owen
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, P.O. Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
I. Mueller-Harvey
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, P.O. Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
J. L. N. Sikosana
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Agricultural Extension, Matopos Research Station, P. Bag K5137, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
V. Mlambo
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, PO Luyengo, Swaziland
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Extract

Production from smallholder owned goats in the semi-arid tropics is constrained by dry season feed shortages. Kid mortality is high and low growth rate of kids weaned at the onset of the dry season delays slaughtering of males and breeding in females. Supplementation with purchased feed is unaffordable so only locally available, probably non-conventional feeds can be considered. In Southern Zimbabwe, the typical natural vegetation in communal grazing areas consists of annual and perennial grasses and trees and shrubs, many of which are Acacia species. In this project tree fruits, from Acacia and other available species were evaluated as dry season protein supplements for goats.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2005

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