“ Raise Organic Small

Ruminants
”

Trainer: Reydean C. Demayo

(4) Four Units of Competencies in
Organic Agriculture Production NC II
 RAISE ORGANIC CHICKEN
 PRODUCE ORGANIC VEGETABLE
 PRODUCE ORGANIC FERTILIZER
 PRODUCE ORGANIC CONCOCTIONS AND EXTRACTS
(2) Two Elective Competencies in
Organic Agriculture Production NC II
 RAISE ORGANIC HOG
 RAISE ORGANIC SMALL RUMINANTS
LARGE RUMINANTS ANIMALS
 Cattle
 Buffalo

SMALL RUMINATS ANIMALS

 Sheep
 Goat
Ruminants
 Ruminants are mainly herbivores like cows, sheep, and goats,
whose entire diet consists of eating large amounts
of roughage or fiber. They have evolved digestive systems
that help them digest vast amounts of cellulose. An interesting
feature of the ruminants’ mouth is that they do not have upper
incisor teeth. They use their lower teeth, tongue and lips to
tear and chew their food. From the mouth, the food travels to
the esophagus and on to the stomach.
 Ruminant animals,
such as goats and cows,
have four stomachs. The first
two stomachs, the rumen and
the reticulum, contain
prokaryotes and protists that
are able to digest cellulose
fiber. The ruminant
regurgitates cud from the
reticulum, chews it, and
swallows it into a third
stomach, the omasum, which
removes water. The cud then
passes onto the fourth
stomach, the abomasum,
where it is digested by
enzymes produced by the
ruminant.
The different Goat Breeds.

“Meat Production”
Philippines Native Goat
 Small but hardy, this goat weighs about 25 kilogram at maturity. Its average
daily milk production is only about 350 grams, with a butterfat content of
about 4.6%. Its coat color either red, white or black or combination of these
colors. This type of goat is found throughout Asia.
Boer Goat
 Originated from Hottentot, the semi acid country of Cape Peninsula
 Short to medium hair
 Horns are prominent
 Coat color patterns of brown head and neck, with white body and legs
 Broad ears and drooping
 Markedly convex noses
 Mature body weight for female ranges from 60-75 kg.
Spanish Goat
 The Spanish goat has the ability to breed out
of season, and is an excellent range animal
because of its small udder and teats. In
addition, Spanish goats are very hardy, able
to survive and thrive under adverse
agroclimatic conditions, with only limited
management inputs. Within the general group
of what are called "Spanish goats," there are
those that are purely of Spanish origins, but
the term has been used to represent an
amalgam of all genotypes introduced to the
area. There have been obvious infusions of
dairy and Angora blood in many "Spanish"
herds, but no organized attempt has ever
been made to use them for milk or mohair
production.
Tennesse Fainting Goat or Myotonic goats
• The myotonic goat or Tennessee fainting
goat is an American breed of meat goat. It is
characterised by myotonia congenita, a
hereditary condition that may cause it to
stiffen or fall over when startled
• Hair - Short to medium length hair and although black and
white is the predominant color, multi-colors also exist.
• Face/Ear Type - Straight or slightly dished face, and ears
that are medium length and point forwards.
• Important Traits - Meat yield, good milk yield, good
mothers, and are myotonic (they lock up or faint when
frightened or excited).
 Kiko Goat
 The Kiko is an aggressive forager,
capable of thriving under conditions
of feed deprivation. This breed is
generally solid white or cream in
color although there are some of
darker colors including black. Kiko
goats have erect ears.
Pygmy Goat
 The pygmy is small, cobby and compact and is not
fine-boned like the dairy breeds or Nigerian Dwarfs
Pygmies are bred to be “cobby” and heavy boned.
Breed characteristics of the Pygmy include a full
coat of straight, medium-long hair which varies in
density with seasons and climates.
Dairy Goat
Alpine Goat
 are a medium to large sized breed. Males are over 81 cm
(32 in) tall at the withers and females are over 76 cm (30
in) tall at the withers. Their hair is short to medium in
length, and they come in all colours and combinations of
colours.
Lamancha Goat
 Lamancha goats are well behaved,
good tempered and calm in nature.
They are also very suitable for raising
as pets. They are quite dependable
dairy goat breeds for their moderate
temperament and easy adaptability.
Anglo-Nubian Goat
Anglo Nubian goats are the cross breed of British and Indian goats.
• They are very famous for their beautiful look, milk and meat production.
• They are of white, black, brown or mixed with various colored.
• They are mainly raised for milk production. But they also produce meat highly.
• Long sized pendulous ears hanged close to the head.
• They are generally short haired and carries a decidedly Roman nose.
• Long sized legs.
• Udder is comparatively big sized.
• They love grazing. But suitable for raising at home with other animals.
• They can adopt themselves with the environment easily.
• A doe (female goat) can produce about 2-3 litter milk daily.
• The milk of Anglo Nubian goat contains about 4% fat and enrich with butter.
• Adult male goats weights about 175 pounds.
• Adult female goats weights about 135 pounds or more.
OBERHASLI GOAT
 is a medium sized animal, which is alert and vigorous in appearance. Primary
the color of the Oberhasli goats is chamois. Chamois is described as: Bey –
ranging from light to deep red bay, with the later most desirable.
 The color of the does may also be solid black, but not the bucks. There may be
a few white hairs through the coat and about the ears of the Oberhasli goat.
There are many black markings on their entire body.
 There are two black stripes down the face from above each eye to a black
muzzle. Their forehead is nearly all black, black stripes from the base of each
ear coming to a point just back of the poll and continuing along the neck and
back as a dorsal stripe to the tail.
 Their hocks are black and legs are black below the knees. They have black
belly and udder. And the ears of the Oberhasli goat are black inside and bay
outside. Usually the bucks have more black on their head than the head of
does.
 And there are some white hair in the body of both bucks and does. But the
bucks usually have more white hairs on their coat than the does.
Toggenburg Goat
 It is characterized by a comparatively small, solid-
coloured body of any shade of brown, white ears with a
dark central spot, two white stripes down the face, and
predominantly white legs. As is that of other goats, milk
of the Toggenburg is whiter and more easily digestible
than cow's milk.
Selecting healthy breeders
Selection of the breeding Buck

A healthy and good quality buck (he goat). The buck must be healthy, strong and should have
a well developed body frame. It must be of productive breed. It must have normal sexual
organs and well developed testicles. The buck must be selected from does that produce a high
volume of milk and are prolific.

Control mating i.e. Limit the number of does per male (the recommended ratio is 1 male for
35 does)

The Buck must be free of any physical defects e.g. undershot jaws, overshot jaws

It should have a strong masculine head and neck and noisy and should seek out females on
heat and mate them. If it’s shy and timid it should be culled.

Badly worn teeth indicate old age. Males with split, missing or worn teeth should not be
selected for breeding as they are physically unable to browse or graze properly.

Legs should be checked for deformities and hooves trimmed.

 Selection of the breeding doe

• Select does with high milk production and high fertility rate.
• The doe must be well built and healthy.
• Legs should be checked for deformities and hooves trimmed.
• It should produce kids every 8-10 months
• It should produce twins frequently
• It should produce enough milk to rear the twins and for the household
consumption
• The udder should be soft to touch with two functional teats
Housing Installation
 Site Selection

• The location shall conform with the land use plan of the area.
• The site shall be accessible to service roads, water supply and electric
lines.
• The site shall be well-drained and allows for free air circulation
• The building shall be contructed in an east –west orientation and the
structure for marketable animals shall be located near the service road
• The site shall be located where the prevailing winds will not carry odors to
the farmhouse
Types of Housing: Shed-type housing

 Animals can move freely nin or out of the housing area and into the paddock or feeding area.
Feeding and watering trough, mineral feeders and grain bunks are located on concrete pads
at the center or along the side of the shed.
 Space Requirements
Animal Weight (kg) Floor Space (m2/animal)
Solid Floor Slatted Floor Open Yard
Doe/Ewe 35 0.8 0.7 2
Doe/Ewe 50 1.1 0.9 2.5
Doe/Ewe 70 1.4 1.1 3
Kid/Lamb 0.4-0.5 0.3-0.4 -
Buck/Ram 3.0 2.5 -

• Pregnant small doe or ewe with weight of 50-70 kg has a floor space
requirements of 1.3 sq.m. Animal while the lactating is 2.0 sq.m./animal.
• Pregnant large doe or ewe which weight is over 70 kg has a floor space
requirements of 1.6 sq.m./animal while the lactating is 2.3 sq.m./animal.
• A fenced loafing area of 150 sq.m. Per 50 heads shall be provided adjacent
to the animal housing.
Housing Facilities
• Feeding through and forage racks
• Watering facility
• Lambing pen
• Buck housing
• Milking area
• Lighting facilities
• Field fencing
FORAGE CROPS for SMALL RUMINANTS
What is Forage?
• Forage is composed of plant leaves and stems mostly eaten by grazing animals. It can be
herbaceous legumes, grasses, shrubs or tree legumes.

What are the Types of Forage?

Grasses:
 Serves as main feed for ruminants
 Produces more biomass than legumes

Legumes:
 Provides better quality feeds
 Provides protein, vitamins and minerals for more improved performance of animals
 Leguminous crop are cheap source of feeds
 It has lesser chance of ingesting infective larvae as compared to grazing lower growing vegetation

Multi – Purpose Tree Species

Comparative Features
 Selection of Forage Species to Plant
 Adaptability to the environment
 Species that do not meet soil & climatic conditions but would
need additional inputs & adjustments in management
 Growth habit determines adaptability to ways of integrating &
using a specific forage
 Nutritive Value
 Availability of planting materials
Multi – Purpose Tree Species for Pasture
White ball acacia
(Acaciella angustissima)
• Drought tolerant
• Can be used as a green manure and ground covering.
• Leaves can be used in composting
• Used as livestock feed
• High in protein
• It should only be used as an additive to the feed and not the
main source, since it also toxic in high doses
Mulberry
(Morus sp.)
• Leaves and stalks are fed to ruminants
• It has 70.8% for digestible CP, 48.4 % for total digestible nutrients and 35.6 % for
starch equivalent on a dry basis
• The digestibility of mulberry leaf: in vivo (goats) 78.4-80.8% and in vitro are very
high (89.2%)
Hairy indigo
(Indigofera hirsuta L. )
• Warm season legume and is used as a green manure and cover crop
• Contains 23.8 percent crude protein, 2.0 percent ether extract, 15.2
percent crude fibre, 46.8 percent nitrogen-free extract, 1.88 percent
calcium and 0.37 percent phosphorus
Kakawate
(Gliricidia sepium)
• Used as cut and carry forage for cattle, sheep, and goats
• High in protein
Madre de Agua
(Trichanthera gigantea)
• Contains high concentrations of watersoluble carbohydrates and starch, and low NDF
• CP content ranges from 12- 22%, IVDMD ranges from 45-60% and DMD ranges from 50-70%
• Contains comparatively high ash and calcium concentrations at 16-20% and 2.4-3.8% of
DM, respectively.
• The high ash and Ca concentrations may be related to the presence of cystoliths, small
mineral concretions on the leaves and stems
Flamengia; malabalatong
(Flemingia macrophylla )
• Contains 22.7 % crude protein (CP) and 8%tannin
• Low digestibility because of high tannin and fibre content.
• Low palatability to cattle, particularly in the wet season.
Pigeon Pea
(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)
• Used as a protein source or supplement, due to its high concentration in CP in both
seeds and leaves
• The leaves are high in fiber, particularly ADF and lignin
Ipil-ipil
(Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit )
• Provides an excellent source of high-protein cattle fodder
• Contains mimosine, a toxic amino acid which is metabolized to goitrogenic
DHP
Desmanthus
(Desmanthus virgatus)
• It makes a good food plant for cattle, it is not as promising a feed for
pigs
• It is very tolerant of grazing
Agati
(Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.)
• Crude protein content is greater than 20% and often above 25-30% DM  It contains
less fiber
• The NDF content was estimated to be 29 and 37% of DM, and the ADF content to be
15.6 and 25.8% of DM
• The acid detergent insoluble N content was 2.1% of total N, whereas lignin content
was estimated to be 4-8% of DM
• The digestibility and degradability of dry matter and nutrients are generally high
Katuray
(Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.)
• A source of cut and carry forage
• Used as a grazed forage
• Leaves are a good source of protein for cattle and sheep
 Legume Plants for Pasture
Calopo
(Calopogoniummucunoides Desv. )
• Used as cover crop
• It provides soil protection against erosion, reduces soil temperature,
improves soil fertility and controls weeds
• can be grazed or cut and fed fresh
• Has a low nutritive value
Peanut
(Arachis hypogaea L)
• Highly palatable source of nutrition in animal feed
• Contain 6 to 8% moisture, 22 to 26% crude protein (CP) and 36 to 44% oil
Manimanian, perennial peanut, rhizoma peanut
(rachis glabrata)
• Grown for hay, silage and pasture, and as ornamental ground cover
• Very palatable and it has greater digestibility of dry matter, fiber, and protein,
• A suitable protein and energy supplement feed
• It is best used as a supplemental feed to other feeds such as grass
Star grass
(Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilger)
• Can be cut in order to be fed fresh or to make hay
• Contains about 10% protein in the DM while the CP of young grass can exceed 15%
of the DM, and more than 18% when N fertilizer is applied
• It can produce high levels of hydrogen cyanide when overstressed by defoliation,
drought and heavy grazing/trampling
• Does not have a high nutritive value, particularly during the dry season
Alabang X
(Dichanthium aristatum)
• Suitable for grazing and cut-and-carry, and for hay before flowering
• CP values are often low, but can be increased by N fertilization up to
12.5% CP in young foliage.
• Well eaten by all classes of stock when leafy
• Low in oxalate
Guinea grass
(Megathyrsus maximus)
• For pasture, cut-and-carry, silage and hay
• Suited to grazing and cutting
• Palatable to livestock with a good nutritional value
• The crude protein ranges from 6-25% depending on age
Napier grass, Elephant grass
(Pennisetum purpureum)
• A very important forage in the tropics due to its high productivity
• Used in cut-and-carry systems ("zero grazing") and fed in stalls, or made into silage
or hay
• 25.7% DM, 9.2% CP, 60.5% of DOM
Stylo
Stylosanthes guianensis
• Used for hay, cut-and-carry systems and pasture
• Palatable to livestock when mature and can grow on
relatively infertile soils
• 12-20% CP, 2-60 % IVDMD , 0.2-0.6% P, 0.6-1.6% Ca.
Breeding Management
Inbreeding

• This is mating of closely related individuals without the introduction of new animals from
outside. If the process continues animals with undesirable characteristics are likely to
appear e.g. physical deformities, sterility and reduced body sizes.

Line breeding

• This is a mild form of inbreeding designed to concentrate the genes of a specific ancestor

Crossbreeding

• This is system where two different parent breeds are mated. The first generation crosses
are intermediate to the parent breeds. The offspring are superior to the parental breed in
some cases (hybrid vigour). The offspring’s displays increase in size better live-weight
gains fertility and viability
Backcrossing

• This involves crossbred offspring’s being bred to one of

the parents

Upgrading

• Foundation refers to an F1 (first generation) at 50%, Intermediate (second

generation) is at 75%, an appendix (third generation) is at 87.5% and pedigree
(Fourth generation) is at 92.5%. The percentage represent the proportion of the
exotic blood in the resultant cross (breed)

Prevention of Inbreeding
Practice recordkeeping strictly including proper identification
of animals.
 Signs of a doe on heat
For a doe to come on heat it should be nutritively fed under proper alongside
appropriate supplementary feeding of concentrates and mineral licks.

A doe on heat will show the following signs

The vulva appears swollen and reddened
loosing of appetite and restlessness
Frequent urination
Bleating and nervousness
Wagging of the tail
Slight mucus discharge from the vulva

The presence of a buck has been shown to induce heat in a doe that could have
been problematic in detection of heat.
Heat can also be induced by rubbing a piece of clothe around the base of the bucks
horn and then taking the clothe to the doe.
Improving breeding efficiency

Proper care and management of breeders (selection of breeders,

providing appropriate nutrients for breeders, providing correct housing
requirements and implementation of effective herd health program).

Alternative breeding system

If the breeder animals are limited, the alternative breeding system a

farmer could adopt is the use of artificial insemination upgrading to
produce offspring with superior quality and traits.
 Managing Does and Progenies
Care of Pregnant Doe (She-goat)

•Protein supplements are important during the dry period (non lactating period). This is because the kids
are growing faster at this time.

•If you have been feeding legumes which are high in calcium its best to replace these with high energy
feeds (e.g. hay) at least three weeks before kidding to prevent milk fever. This forces the doe to mobilize
its own body stores and prepare for milking.

•Deworm the doe two weeks prior to kidding

•A goat requires 3% (of its body weight in dry matter approximately 1.5 kg) per day or 5 kg of fresh
materials should be availed to the doe per day. The complete meal should comprise of both the protein
and energy feed.

•Provide the does with salt lick and at least either half a kilo of dairy meal per day or a mixture of pollard
and bran

•Provide adequate clean water all the time.

Care of lactating doe
At the end of the 5th month, check for the following signs of approaching
birth;

•Reduced feed intake

•Rapid breathing
•Doe will constantly look back unto her sides as if expecting to see young
ones.
•Enlarged udder that may or may not discharging colostrums.
•Swollen vulva
•And thick mucus discharge from the vulva.
•The hair around the tail and the rear should be clipped and fresh
beddings (straw or grass) provided.
•The kid is born after short labour but incase of difficult kidding expert
(Vet doctor) should be consulted.
Care of the kids

To prevent naval infection the stump of the umbilical cord should be cleaned and
disinfected with iodine, strong salt solution or traditional herbal remedy.

The new born kid should be placed in a warm area to protect it from strong winds
(draft) and cold that may expose it to pneumonia.

Kids are allowed suckle the colostrums in the first three days after birth, the
colostrums is very important to the health and growth of the kid. The colostrums
contain antibodies that protect the new kid against diseases until they are able to
protect themselves.
The kid should be allowed to suckle the mother enough milk so as to have the kid as
future basis for breeding stock.

Fostering is advisable if the mother dies or incase of infection of the udder (mastitis).

Bottle feeding is also an alternative in the absence of the mother.

Introduce green chop and water after 1 week.

Kids can be withdrawn from the mother at night so that the doe can be milked in the
morning.

Kids should be weaned at 4 months. Weaning before this time should be

compensated with high protein supplements.
 Other Management Practices
1. Hoof Trimming – Goats’ hooves under confinement are usually overgrown.
Trimming is then required. A rose pruner and a small curved knife are adequate
tools. Cut excess hoof until level with the frog (white-centerpart). Untrimmed
hooves will cause lameness and make it prone to foot rot. Bucks refuse to mount
when having sore feet.
2. Dehorning – Especially in milking herds, dehorning is essential. A dehorned
animal is more docile than a horned one. It will also eliminate unnecessary
wounds due to fighting. Dehorn when horn buds appear (2 to 4 mos.) using hot
iron cautery. A Y2 inch GI pipe is an effective and cheap material for cauterizing.
Chemical cautery is not preferred because kids tend to lick one another and may
therefore lead to cauterized or burned tongues.
3. Castration – Castration of unwanted male goats is preferable within
the first month of age. The testicles at this age are still not developed;
thus there is lesser bleeding and stress. Castrated males grow faster
than uncastrated males and are free of the goaty male odor.
4. Tattooing, Ear Notching and Other Forms of Identification – In order
to keep track of individual animals, a positive identification are needed.
No recording is possible without this. Ear notching is done more
commonly because of permanence and easy identification. Refrain
from using plastic tags. Tattooing causes no deformities but requires
special tools that may be costly.
5. Recording – For a good breeding herd program, a proper and
well-kept recording system is necessary. The record reflects all
the essential data of individual animals.
THANK YOU 