This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
As a veterinarian, I've encountered numerous farmers who rely on unverified information when it comes to livestock breeding. This can lead to disappointing results and even harm to the animals.
One such myth is the use of weights to aid placenta delivery in cows. Proponents of this theory believe that the weight provides a pulling force, but in reality, the placenta has finger-like attachments to the uterus that must biologically disengage through a process. Disengagement can take up to 72 hours, and adding weights can cause strain on the placenta-uterus junctions, leading to swelling and infection.
Another area where farmers rely on erroneous information is in animal breeds. Many farmers keep livestock for food and to generate income from sales. However, choosing the right breed is crucial, and farmers should consider the purpose of their livestock operation when selecting breeds.
I recently visited a goat and sheep farmer who had been advised to buy dairy breeds for meat production. However, the goats she had were dairy breeds, which are not suitable for meat production. They were also being fed a ration of grasses, maize bran, and fish meal, but the quantities were small, leading to poor body condition and a lack of libido in the females.
Goats and sheep have different nutritional requirements and feeding habits. Goats are browsers and do well on soft, nutritious parts of plants, while sheep are grazers that harvest grass close to the ground. To improve the feeding of her goats, the farmer should consider purchasing highly nutritious cultivated feed and replacing the dairy goat mixes with specific meat goats like Boer, Kalahari Red, and Gala.
As for the sheep, she should replace her current stock of Dorpa-Red Maasai-Merino mixes with the Dorper breed, which is a good breeder, fast-growing, and packs lots of meat.
