Characterization of the goat feeding system among rural small holder farmers in the semi-arid regions of Uganda
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springerplus
Abstract
Goats (Capra hircus) are widely distributed in Africa and Asia, and are important to the subsistence and economic
livelihoods of many people in these areas. The goat feeding system among rural small holder farmers in Buyende
district (Uganda) was characterised by determining the goat rearing practices, feed resources fed on by goats and
availability of browse species mentioned by small holder farmers. Data was gathered using ethnobotanical and
ecological approaches. Results from the ethnobotanical survey revealed that farmers were rearing indigenous goat
breeds that are managed by tethering in natural pastures during the rainy season but free ranging during the dry
season (i.e. when no crops are susceptible of damage). Major challenges facing goat production in the study area
were diseases, shortage of land and inadequate pastures. The reduction of grazing land due to crop farming, has
led to tethering of animals which in turn leads to restricted feeding. Goats were known to feed on 48 plant species
distributed in 18 families and 39 genera dominated by trees and shrubs. Browse species were known to stay longer
in the dry season when the grass and herbaceous species were no longer available. The most frequently
mentioned browse species were Ficus natalensis, Harrisonia abyssinica, Acalypha psilostachya, Artocarpus
heterophyllus and Lantana camara while Panicum maximum and Impeata cylindrica were the most mentioned
herbaceous species. 31 browse species were encountered in the ecological survey. These were dominated by
Combretum molle, L. camara, A. zygia, M. indica, and Albizia coriaria. In conclusion, the rearing practices of goats in
Buyende district are comprised of indigenous goats tethered in natural pastures especially browses which stay
longer through the dry season. However, most of the preferred browses are rare according to the computed IVI (i.e.
less than 30%).
Description
Keywords
Tethering, Goat feed resources, Feeding calendar, Important value index
Citation
Nampanzira, D. K., Kabasa, J. D., Nalule, S. A., Nakalembe, I., & Tabuti, J. R. S. (2015). Characterization of the goat feeding system among rural small holder farmers in the semi-arid regions of Uganda. Springerplus, 4(1), 1-8. DOI 10.1186/s40064-015-0961-3