Abstract #689

# 689
A survey of management practices adopted by goat breeders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan.
Ghulam Bilal*1, Muhammad Moaeen-ud-Din1, Muhammad Waseem1, Naveed Ullah1, James Reecy2, Muhammad Khan3, Muhammad Yaqoob1, 1Laboratories of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 2Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 3Institute of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

A survey was carried out to gather information on current goat farming practices in 4 districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Muzafrabad, Nelum Valley, Kotly, Mirpur). Survey included farmers (n = 50) of 5 goat breeds of AJK (Jattal, Buchi, Bairli, and Lambri and Kooti). Vaccination was never practiced by 42% farmers against prevailing diseases whereas 30% did vaccination occasionally and 28% on regular basis. Diseases for which vaccination was practiced were CCP (100%), enterotoxaemia (95.55%), FMD (31.03%) and HS and goat pox (3.45%). None of the farmer vaccinated against rabies and anthrax. As far as parasitic control is concerned, 30% of farmers did not deworm their flock while 44% of farmers dewormed their herds occasionally and 26% farmers did so on a regular basis. About 42% farmers were using traditional ways of treatment while other farmers got treatment for their goats from veterinary doctors on regular basis. Prevailing goat production system in the region was agro forestry (88%) followed by rangeland base system and crop livestock. Forty-eight percent of farmers had sheds for their herds, whereas 22% of farmers had only night confinement system and 40% confined their animals during winter season. Mostly farmer were relying on natural pasture (60%). Only 20% farmers used mineral mixture for their goats. Mating season of goats was April to June (84%). All respondents adopted ram selection and mating was not planned in most cases (98%). Animals were mainly marketed either to middlemen or local market (68%). The results from the present study could be used to formulate policies related to feeding, breeding and health management for overall improvement of goat production in the region.

Key Words: goat, Pakistan, management practices