Abstract
The main objective of the present study was to identify the prospects and constraints to improve the economic productivity of goat herds in Bulathkohupitiya veterinary range. A survey was conducted using 82 farmers from two different management systems, namely intensive and extensive management systems. Data on religion of farmers, education level of farmers, herd size, herd composition, birth weight, slaughter weight, slaughter age, breeds, feeding, and cost and returns of raising goats were collected over a period of 3 months. Data were analyzed using the statistical software SAS ® . The results of the survey indicated that almost all farmers in the area considered goat farming as a part time business. Women played a major role in goat farming in the area, including feeding and management of goats. Goat farming is a traditional activity in Hindu and Muslim communities, where 92.8% of Hindus contributed to mutton industry. Between the two management systems, the average herd size of extensive management systems (13.1 AU/farm) was significantly greater (p Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 26 (3): 441 – 447 (2015)
Highlights
Livestock is an important component in small holder agricultural pursuits in all agro ecological zones in Sri Lanka
Goat farming is an important source of income for the small scale goat farmers in Bulathkohupitiya veterinary range
Most of the farmers belong to the small scale category based on land availability, herd size, and mutton production
Summary
Livestock is an important component in small holder agricultural pursuits in all agro ecological zones in Sri Lanka. In rural mixed farm enterprises, most small holder farmers are engaged in crop production as the primary agricultural activity and rear few goats with minimal cost. The goats are fed on fodder resources on communal lands, scrub land reservations and paddy lands. The goat industry has a vast potential to develop the economy of Sri Lanka yet it is still growing at a slow rate. The total annual domestic production of mutton was 1.69 MT in year 2011 (Department of Census and Statistics, 2011). The value contributed to rural households is quite significant because livestock is still one of the most affordable and sustainable ways of enhancing rural
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