Effects of implementing a semi-stall-feeding system on goat kid survival and farmer adoption in western Odisha

Abstract

A study was conducted over an eight-month period in 2016 with the objective of implementing and evaluating a semi-stall-feeding system in comparison to the traditional grazing system on goat farms in Kandhamal district, Odisha. Sixteen households across two villages were randomly selected from a sampling frame of farmers that owned at least four adult female goats. Four households from each of the two villages were randomly assigned to the control group (C) that engaged in traditional grazing of goats and four households to the supplemented group (S) which applied semi-stall-feeding (concentrate feeding at 2% of the herd's total body weight of goats). The potential outcomes of a transition to intensive goat production system were assessed by monitoring growth, survival, and milk quality on goat farms. Farmers' input concerning technology adoption was documented. Survivability was 4.26 times greater for kids in the supplemented than control group. Adult and kid weights did not differ among the groups. Sixty-three per cent of participating farmers were interested in supplementing their goats after the project and willing to pay between 1.5 to 15.0 USD/ household per month on goat feed. Results from this study will help policymakers about the potential impact of reducing goat dependence on grazing land and tribal farmer receptivity to goat system intensification.