FIELD ORIENTED CHALLENGES IN GOAT FARMING IN INDIA

FIELD ORIENTED CHALLENGES IN GOAT FARMING IN INDIA

Dr. Annarao¹Dr. Indrale Utpala²and Dr. Trupti Suryakant Kattimani³

1. Senior Veterinary Officer Veterinary Hospital Sedam Tq Sedam Dist Kalaburagi
2. Senior Veterinary Officer Veterinary Dispensary Mangalagi Tq Kalagi Dist Kalaburagi
3. Veterinary Officer Veterinary Dispensary Salagar Basantpur Tq Chincholi Dist Kalaburagi  DEPARTMENT of ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & VETERINARY SERVICES GOVT OF KARNATAKA

 Goat is a multifunctional animal thatplays an important role in the upliftment of rural landless farmers and is many times referred as poor man,s cow.   According to the 20^th Livestock Census Report-2019 Govt of India, India has 148.88 million goats, 5^th highest population in the world. There was an increase of 10.14 percent raise in the goat population compared tothe previous Livestock Census Report. This indicates that there is a progressive growth ingoat population and goat farming in India. Goat farming has tremendous potential in employment generation and poverty reduction. Further goat husbandry acts as insurance against crop failure in Agriculture mixed farming practices. Goat is a multipurpose animal that produces milk, meat, fiber, kid, and manure. It is also called the foster mother of man because of its milk which is highly nutritious, easily digestible, and less allergic to humans compared to other livestock species. Being small-sized friendly animals, goats can be easily reared by women and children. The droppings and urine of a goat area richer source of nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus than cow dung.  Demand for goat meat is increasing with the rise in the human population. Goatacts as a regenerator of vegetation through the dispersal of seeds in their droppings and aids in vegetative propagation through browsing. Indigenous goats were 2-5 times more economical compared to indigenous sheep farming when rearing was practiced in free-range grazing. Inspite of all advantages goat farming faces some of important technical challenges which are faced by both farmer and veterinarian in the field condition are enlisted and discussed as follows:

1. Endoparasitic infestation: Endoparasites includes round worms, tapeworms and flat worms in goats. Monsoon season will have a high prevalence of endoparasitic infestation due to favourableclimatic conditions. High temperature and increased relative humidity and salinity in the soil make a favourable environment for the parasitic stages of endoparasites. Farm location and grazing of the goats near to pond will have higher prevalence of flatworm infestation. Kids are susceptible for Tapeworms where as adults are susceptible for Roundworm infestation. Contaminated feed and water, poor farm hygiene, overcrowding, anthelminthic resistance, inappropriate dosage and period of dewormingare the causes of high endoparasitic infestation in the farm. Periodical deworming after faecal sample examination, farm hygiene, and paster management will reduce the prevalence of endoparasitic infestation.
2. Ectoparasitic infestation:Ticks, lice, fleas, and mange are  common ectoparasites of goats. Tick and fleas prevalence will be higher in summer wheras lice and mange prevalence will be higher in winter season. Muddy floor in the farm with poor hygiene, high temperature and relative humidity will predispose the ectoparasitic infestation in the farm. Heavy ectoparasitic infestation causes severe economical losses due to skin irritation, nuisance, blood loss due to sucking habit of parasites leads to anaemia, loss of production, ectoparasites also transmits the disease causing organisms resulting in transmission of diseases in the flock. Periodical dipping, farm hygiene and spraying of ectoparasiticidal agents will helps in control of ectoparasites in the goat farm.
3. Coccidiosis:Overcrowding, poor farm hygiene, and mixing of different age group of sheep and goat will predisposes the Coccidiosis Causes hemorrhagic enteritis in kids, resulting in diarrhoea, dehydration, anaemia and lethargy, infection is more severe in kids resulting in high rate of mortality, whereas adults acts as carriers for the infection with low productivity. The disease is often considered as man made disease. Periodical faecal sample examination, feeding of coccidiostat and saperate housing of adult and kids in the farm are key to control of coccidiosis in goat farm.
4. Footrot: Caused by Fusobacterium necrophorumand Bacteriodes nodosus, a common problem in extensive types of rearing systems, grazing in thorny land, grazing of sheep and goat in the mashy and wet land and poor farm hygiene predisposes the condition. Prevalence will be higher in monsoon and post-monsoon season causes severe illness and loss of production. High fever, lameness, laminitis, abortion in pregnant ewes, loss of body weight and fall in milk yield in lactating ewes are the common symptoms observed in goats. Foot bathing application to affected goats with prompt treatment, supplementation of zinc, farm hygiene, application of disinfectants to the floor and restriction of goats movement in wet and low land mashy areas will reduce the incidence of foot rot in goats.
5. Lactic acidosis: Goats are most sensitive for lactic acidosis condition. Accidental feeding of high amount of concentrates or human food will causes severe ruminal disturbances leads to the production of large amount of lactic acid in the rumen causes alteration of PH in the rumen and blood. Changes in Blood PH convulsions coma and death observed in acute cases. Feeding of probiotics, sodium bicarbonate and B-Complex vitamins supplementation will reduce the incidence of lactic acidosis in goats.
6. Enterotoxaemia: Feeding of high amount of concentrates, irregular vaccination, and deworming will predispose the disease, unlike other diseases morbidity is low and mortality is high commonly known as overeating disease. Sudden death will be seen in the flock without any symptoms of disease. Often considered as Silent Killer of goats. Feeding of probiotics and antibiotics , periodical deworming and ET Vaccination will reduce the prevalence of enterotoxaemia in goats.
7. Mixed Respiratory infection: Respiratory tract infection outbreaks: Bilateral nasal and ocular discharge, high fever, anorexia, ulcers on the dental pad and tongue, yellowish urination and sudden going down condition with cough. Mixed respiratory infection complicates to pneumonia. Respiratory infection causes high morbidity and mortality. Isolation and prompt treatment of affected goats, periodical deworming and vaccinations like HS, PPR will reduce the incidence of mixed respiratory infection in goats.
8. Thiamine deficiency: Changes in the diet, feeding of concentrates in high quantity and imbalanced feed causesthiamine deficiency, results in cerebral cortical necrosis nervous symptoms, circling and convalusions. Vitamin B-Complex and mineral supplementation  will reduce the prevalence of thiamine deficiency in goats.
9. Mastitis: Multiaetiological and complicated disease of goats often considered as costly disease maily causes by Streptococcus and E coli bacteria. Farm hygiene, consistent feeding of milk to kids, Teat dipping, early diagnosis and prompt treatment will reduce the incidence and losses caused by mastitis. Periodical screening of goats for subclinical mastitis and following of promt treatment will reduce the economical losses due to mastitis in goats
10. Dystocia:Foetal oversize,deviation of neck or change in posture of kid in the womb, improper dilation of cervix, malformation of kids, Ring womb are causes of dystocia in goats. Early diagnosis, correct decision making and prompt treatment will reduce the losses occurred due to dystocia in goats.
11. Anaemia: Due to high prevalence of Endecto parasites, changes in rearing pattern, and antiparasitic agents resistance anaemia is a common problem in goat farming, fall in production and reproduction in goat farming. Removal of aetiological agents and supplementation of oral haematinics will helps in regain the haematological status of the animal. In severe blood loss and anaemia cases blood transfusion is the ultimate treatment as a life-saving protocol with very fast recovery rates. Good management practices in the farm and regular supplementation of oral haematinics will reduces the prevalence of anaemia and boosts the production in goats.
12. Diarrhoea: Multiaetiological and multifactorial condition observed in goats causes dehydration and death in sudden cases. Contaminated feed and water, diseases, changes in diet,poor farm hygiene, endoparasitic infestation, Bacteria, Virus, Protozoa, Fungi and chemicals are acts as aetiological agents. Farm hygiene, and good management practices will reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in goats.
13. Abscess: Goats will have more skin abscess incidence compared to other domestic specie sof livestock. Poor farm hygine,species variation, subclinical infection, improper dosage of antibiotics, poor managemental practices and contaminated feed and water will predispose the abscess formation in goats. Farm hygiene, Isolation and prompt treatment of affected goats and good management practices in the farm will reduce the prevalence of abscess in the goat farm.

References

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3. LIVESTOCK CENSUS REPORT- 2019. 2021. www.dhad.gov.in
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