Assessment of Reproductive Performance and Abortion Occurrence of Boer Goats as Influenced by Farm Systems and Feeding Practices

• Main Authors: Norhazirah, A.H., Nulit, R., Shohaimi, S., Shikh Maidin, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Society of Animal Production 2016-12-01
• Series: Malaysian Journal of Animal Science
• Subjects: Boer Goat; Survey-purposive; Kidding rate; Abortion; Pregnancy
• Online Access: http://mjas.my/mjas-v2/rf/pages/journal/v19i2-11-Nurhazirah%20Mashitah(Assessment)_r4.pdf

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of farm systems (intensive and semi-intensive) and feeding practices on reproductive performance (kidding rate and abortion occurrence) of female Boer goats in Peninsular Malaysia. By using a survey-purposive sampling approach, a total of 212 goat farms were surveyed and 123 farms rearing Boer goats either in intensive or semi-intensive farm system with at least of a year of operation were included in the analysis. Data on feeding practices were also gathered. In both farm systems, majority of the goat producers fed their goats twice a day and about half of them (48.6%) provided feed supplement to the pregnant goat. This feeding practice was mentioned as a method to improve the kidding rate. However, no significant different was found between the two farm systems in kidding rate (P>0.05: intensive 1.19 ? 0.09; semi-intensive 1.10 ? 0.07). In addition, the abortion incidence was rare, particularly in early and late pregnancy in intensive and semi-intensive farm systems (p>0.05; X2 = 7.57 and 2.21, respectively). In conclusion, the rearing Boer female goats either in intensive or semi-intensive farm systems does not affect their kidding rate and abortion frequency.