Existing goat production systems in Khammouane province, Laos
 

Bounthavone Kounnavongsa, Vanthong Phengvichith* and T R Preston**
 

Livestock Research Center, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

kounnavongsa@gmail.com, kounnavongsa@yahoo.com

*National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, P.O. Box 811, Vientiane Laos

**Finca Ecológica,UTA-Colombia, AA#48, Socorro, Santander, Colombia

Abstract

Interviews on goat production systems in Sebanfai and Nong Bok Districts, Khammuane Province, were conducted in four villages with 60 farmers to obtain information on livestock production in general and specifically on goat production, including growth performance, feed resources and availability, health care and possible solutions to overcome identified limitations within the present system .

The survey showed that goats, cattle, buffalo, pigs and poultry are the main livestock species kept by farmers using traditional production systems and management. Very few farmers vaccinated their animals. Feed shortage especially in the dry season was the main constraint for ruminants.  In general the minimum input system resulted in high mortality rates and low growth performance. Goats were the species considered to best tolerate really low inputs as they survived the long dry season better than other ruminants. More than 60% of small-holder farmers raise goats often because of lack of funds to buy large ruminants. Free range and semi-free range systems were found in the studied areas. Raising goats was considered to have a good future because of high market demand. The reproductive performance showed that the first kidding was at the age of 1.0 to 1.1 years, with 1.3 to 1.6 kids per litter and 1.6 to 1.9 litters per year. The average weight of mature males was from 32 to 33 kg while for the females it was 26 to 28 kg. The average number of goats per family was 12 heads with the maximum number of 32 heads for the free range system and 16 heads with the maximum of 40 heads for the semi-free range system.

The constraints in raising goats were high mortality rate for the young kids, lack of feeds both in quantity and quality and management difficulties inherent in free grazing systems.  If these technical concerns could be improved, goat production in these areas could be a good source of income for smallholder farmers in the future.

Key words: farmer practice, growth performance, local goats,
 

Introduction

Livestock are important elements of the pathway out of poverty for millions of the rural poor in Asia and the Pacific. Livestock have a special role to play in the conversion of feed that is unsuitable for humans into food and other useful products. Small livestock, especially goats, sheep, pigs and poultry are especially important for the poorest livestock keepers and for the landless who could start to raise livestock. In Laos, livestock play a key role in the lives of poor, rural people, providing a major proportion of their cash income, capital assets, draught power, fuel and fertilizer. The sale of livestock accounts for more than 50% of the family cash income for stallholders farmers. Over 95% of all livestock is produced by smallholders and there are only a small number of commercial pig and poultry enterprises near major cities. The livestock population has been increasing in the last decade. In 2007 there were approximately 1.3 million cattle, 1.1 million buffalo, 2.1 million pigs, 268,000 sheep and goats and 20.4 million poultry (DLF, 2007). The average annual growth rate for the last decade is 4% for cattle, 2% for buffalo, 8% for goats, and 3% for pigs and most of them are indigenous breeds. These indigenous animals contribute more than 90% of national meat consumption. Based on the strong demand for meat both in domestic markets and neighboring countries, there are considerable opportunities to increase the production of cattle, buffalo and goats. Relatively extensive land areas throughout the country are well suited to pasture and fodder production with an estimated 7 to 8 million hectares of grazing land and associated water resources being underutilized. Livestock in Laos offer today one of the most promising opportunities for Lao farmers and foreign investors to commercialize with high value products. According to the economic growth in the region, domestic and regional demand for livestock products is expected to be increased.

Goat production plays an important role in rural and remote areas, supplying cash income, meat and organic fertilizer. The shortage of feed in both quantity and quality, poor management and high incidence of diseases results in low productivity and poor reproduction (Phengsavanh 2003). Local breeds which have a small body size are well adapted to the local environment. Detail information about goat breed, performance and other characteristics is needed in order to improve production and productivity. Average body weights when mature are between 25 to 35 kg. Litter size is normally two kids per litter after the first kidding. Most goats are kept in the free range systems where they graze freely all year round in small groups in forest, fallow land, flatland, roadsides and on communal land (Xaypha 2005). Goat production systems in smallholder farms in Laos are classified into four systems (Phimpachanhvongsod, 2001) according to management practices such as free range systems, semi-rotational grazing system, semi-free range system and permanent grazing system. According to DLF (2007), 47% of the total goat population is found in the north or mountainous region, 42% in the central region and 11% in the southern region of the country.

The demand for goat meat is increasing. There is usually is a good local market demand for goat meat, which is one of the reasons for the relatively high rate of increase in the goat population, about 8% per annum over the last 20 years (Photo 2).
 

The aim of this survey was to study the existing goat production systems, their productivity, constraints and possibilities to expand in the future. The survey was conducted in Xe Banfai and Nongbok districts, Khammuane province.
 

Materials and methods

Site selection descriptions

The country is divided into three regions: northern, central and southern.  Khammuane province is located in the central part of Laos, approximately 350 km south of the capital Vientiane (Figure 1), sharing borders with Bolikhamxay and Savannakhet provinces, Vietnam in the East and Thailand in the West, and covering about 16,135 square kilometers of which about 39% belongs to three interconnected National Protected Areas. One of these is considered to be one of the most biologically important areas in the world.

The province has a total population of 336,935 people (Population census, 2005) comprising nine districts: Hinboun, Nakay, Ngommalat, Thakhek, Mahaxai, Boualapha, Nongbok, Xe Bangfai and Saibouathong. Nongbok and Xe Bangfai districts were selected and four villages (two in each district) were visited to obtain data, namely Ban Nong Bok, Ban Dong houang, Ban Houay Xe, and Ban Ban Tung, respectively.

Khammuane province in the central region of Laos is subjected to a monsoonal climate comprised of distinct wet and dry seasons. The elevation ranges from 500 to 2.200 m. The rainy season starts from May to September, and provides for 87% of total annual rainfall. Highest rainfall occurs during July and August (240 to 330 mm/month) and lowest between November and January (<10 mm/month). The dry season lasts seven month from October to April; especially, there is almost no rain in November to January. Khammuane is one of the central parts which mostly suffering nearly every year from heavy flooding. The average annual temperature is 25.6ºC and pan evaporation is 1390 mm. (PAFO, 2010).

Farmer selection

Sixty goat farmers in four villages were selected. Information about agriculture and livestock production was obtained from the village organizations. Individual farmers were interviewed separately about their general livestock production, type of farming system and socio-economic characteristics. Specific and detailed information about the role of goats, production system, management problems and potentials and how to overcome these problems were the main topics of the interviews.

Data collection

The formal survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Information concerning problems and potential for goat production in each village were collected using participatory diagnosis. Data obtained included broad agricultural production systems, the importance of goats to the villagers, number of goats per family, advantages and disadvantages of goat production, reproductive performances and farmers’ experience to overcome the problems associated with keeping of goats.
 

Results

Household situation

Khammuane province is considered as the main source of staple food production area in the central region of Laos due to its flat land. Each household has, on average, 2.2 ha of rice land. Cultivated land encompasses more than 45% of total area and includes irrigated paddy (7%), rain fed paddy (34%) and other land such as upland crops. The number of family members per household varied from 4 to 12 persons with an average household size of 5.4 persons.  Sex distribution was as 49% for male and 51% for female. All selected farmers were Lao Loum which is the major ethnic group in the country (accounting for 68% of total population) and living along the Mekong River plain. Most of them are engaged in agriculture, especially rice production, livestock and crops mainly for home consumption.

Livestock production

Data obtained showed that livestock plays an important role and is a major source of income for farmers. Goats, cattle, buffaloes, pigs and chicken act as living ‘banks’ for most families; animals are raised and can be sold for cash during times of particular need, for family consumption and to utilize the wastes for rice fields and home gardens. All mentioned species were found on the selected farms, with an average number of 12 goats, 7 cattle, 4 buffaloes, 2 pigs and some 15 chicken per household. Extensive systems were commonly found for ruminants, and were based on traditional management methods in these areas. Animals were grazed freely on communal grazing areas for the whole day in the dry season, but kept confined or tethered during the production season in the flatlands, forest land, on the roadside or scavenge around the village. The feed resources were native grasses, tree leaves, shrubs, legumes, crop residues which are available according to the seasons. Rice bran, broken rice, maize, cassava root and kitchen waste were the main feed sources for pigs and poultry.

The lack of feeds was found as a major constraint for livestock production. Rice straw was stored without any treatment and fed to large ruminants mainly during the wet season when it was the only source of feed at the critical time of flooding. Animals were kept in pens at nighttime. Simple housing was found and always close to the house due to security reasons and easy access.

The outbreak of diseases was the other serious constraint. Foot and mouth disease and haemorrhagic septicaemia were the main problems which caused high mortality rate.  For large ruminants, Toxocara (round worm infestation) was a major cause of the death of young calves. As the territory is flat, when flooding occurs the incidence of disease is highest. High mortality rate of pigs and poultry was also found: fowl cholera in poultry and swine fever in pigs. Contagious Echthyma (“Orf”) was common in goats and occurred when the season changed. Internal parasites were the main constraint for goats, especially for the young kids.

Goat production system

Farmers use local breeds which are well adapted to the local environment. Litter size was almost always a single kid at first kidding and twin kids per litter for the next and subsequent kiddings. Average number of goats per family varied, depending on the production system, management and family conditions. According to the interview, most of the farmers said that keeping goats had many advantages such as they need less labour, less space and less investment when buying the animals compared to other ruminants.

The main purpose was to produce meat and all the systems practiced were very extensive. Farmers let their goats scavenge freely in the morning in the forest land, on the roadsides or on grassland all year round. The goats themselves come home in the evening and were kept in the shelter at night time. Tree leaves and some grasses were provided depending on how and when the farmers could find them (Photo 1). Salt was always provided in the shelter as almost all farmers believed that providing salt was the way to encourage the goats to return home by themselves.

There was no vaccination or de-worming programs for goats in the studied areas. Contagious echthyma was the main problem on goat production and farmers used traditional medicine to cure it. It was not an immediately serious problem, but affected animals took time to recover. The disease occurred every year, especially when the season changed, with almost all animals being affected.

The goats can breed all year round and some farmers keep their bucks for a long time -- up to 5 to 6 years.  As the free range system was practiced, inbreeding was also found to be a problem, with the farmers reporting it as a cause of weakness in the goats and susceptibility to diseases. Thefts and predators such as dogs were other problems for the farmers.

The grazing systems were free range and semi-free range.  The free range system was found in all four villages selected. Goats were allowed to graze freely in the forest, on the roadsides, on grassland all year round and to come back in the evening. No vaccination program against any disease as well as de-worming was found. Salt, in the surveyed areas was provided and goats were penned at night time. Farmers sometimes provided some tree leaves or legumes that they could find. The semi-free range system was found in Ban Dong Houang, Ban Houay Xe and Ban Tung. In these areas, goats were allowed to graze freely in the dry season from October to April. Because of the difficulty to avoid damage to crops in the rainy season, goats were herded by the owners, kept in confinement or tethered during the day and brought home in the evening. The problem was that in the rainy season, although feed was abundant with the young green leaves, the animals had no opportunity to eat. In contrast, in the dry season the animals had to walk further to find feed so this also caused the loss of animals.

The main purposes of keeping goats are not for home consumption or for traditional ceremonies. Goat keepers rarely slaughter their own goats compared to other livestock species so most are selling them (Table 3).

In the semi-free range system, the average number of goats per family is higher than free range system (Table 4). This is dependent on the production system and family conditions, but not on the availability of feed resources.

The average weight of mature goats was similar for both systems (Table 5).

The goats are classified according to their sex and age (Table 6).

The reproductive performance of goats shows that the first kidding is around one year (Table 7).

There are several problems relating to the goat production, but the main ones are diseases and lack of feed (Table 8).

Discussion

The four systems found in Laos (Phimphachamhvongsod, 2001) were free-range, semi-rotational grazing, semi free range system, and permanent grazing and tethering. In the surveyed areas, free-range and semi-free range systems were commonly practiced. Goat production and management practices have been changing, and vary from site to site due to the availability of land, labour and community rules and regulations. Goat population density is higher in the north region than in the central and the southern regions: 46, 43 and 11%, respectively. The main reason for keeping goats is for selling rather than other purposes. Goats are a good source of income compared to other livestock species. Farmers keep the number of goats depending on the availability of labour, land. The number varied from 2 to 40 goats per household, slightly higher compared to the findings of Phimphachanhvongsod (2001) who found that the number of goats per household ranged from 2 to 30 heads. The weight of mature animals reaches up to 46 kg and the first kidding was approximately 1 year of age. This is similar to the findings of Stur et al (2002) that the mature goat weight was about 40 kg, that they are used for meat only and that they have their first kids at age 12-18 months. The latter number is slightly higher compared to the data from surveyed areas.  

The main constraints for goat production are diseases and parasites, lack of feed. Because the goats are selective species so farmers tend to restrict the number of goats they raise to avoid excessive damage to crops for which the owner of the goats is held responsible. The high market demand, both local and external, was one of the reasons for high rate of increase in the goat population over the last 20 years compared to other livestock species.

Conclusions

·         Goat production in the selected villages at the present time is depending on traditional extensive systems with very low inputs.

·         High incidence of diseases all year round and feed shortage are the main constraints.

·         There is a high potential to increase the productivity of goats, if the technical and managerial constraints can be solved such as reducing mortality rate of young kids by using de-worming techniques and providing better quality feed.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for the financial supports of my survey, all farmers, the District Agriculture and Forestry Office of Xe Bangfai and Nongbok Districts, Khammuane Province, Laos for giving valuable information. We are also grateful the University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala), and to all staff members of Livestock Research Centre for valuable help during the field operation.

References

DLF 2007 Department of Livestock and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Vientiane Laos  http://www.nsc.gov.la/Statistics/Selected%20Statistics/Agriculture/Lifestock.htm

Phengsavanh P 2003 Goat production in smallholder farming systems in Lao PDR and the possibility of improving the diet quality by using Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184 and Andropogon gayanus cv Kent. MSc. Thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

PAFO 2010 Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office of Khammune Province.

Phimphachanhvongsod V 2001 The potential of Glircidia sepium as a feed for goats in smallholder farming systems in Laos. MSc. Thesis in Tropical Livestock Systems. SLU. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Uppsala, Sweden.

Stür W, Gray D and Bastin G 2002 Review of the Livestock Sector in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. http://webapp.ciat.cgiar.org/asia/pdf/adb_livestock_review.pdf

Xaypha S 2005 Goat production in smallholder farming systems in lowlands Lao PDR and an Evaluation of different forages for growing goats MSc. Thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

http:/www.mekarn.org/msc2003-05/theses05/sophacont.htm

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