DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION IN ZAMBIA WHICH WAYFORWARD?

Msimuko E 1, Chibanga J. F2 and Simuyala M3

1Senior Livestock Production officer, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka2 Scientific Officer – National Institute of Scientific and industrial Research, Lusaka

3 A/Farm Manager- Natural Resources Development College LusakaIntroduction

Globally, consumption of meat and milk has been increasing over the past thirty years. Current population demographic data indicates that demand for livestock and livestock products is likely to continue increasing into the near future. This faster human population growth, rising in the standard of living of most people and changes in human dietary preferences, will substantially increase the demand of livestock products.

Figure 1 Saanen

Figure 2 and Toggenburgs

Livestock like Cattle and Goats and other similar ruminants’ animals are kept to provide various dietary livestock products and generate incomes from those natural pastures. In addition, Production of livestock comprises a very important component of the agricultural economy of many developing countries. In Sub-Sahara Africa, livestock ownership is multifaceted. This complex character of African livestock ownership was developed at very early stage in the history of Africa, as described by Herkovists (1926) ‘The Bantu livestock Complex myth’. Significantly, this presents a strong form of social security for unemployed rural and elderly

people who may have a limited source of income and strength to perform physical duties. Livestock play multiple-complex functions such:

generating employment and as means of capital investment and savings,

a source of energy and appropriate marginal lands utilization.

Dairy Goat Production in Zambia

The Zambian agro-climatic and environmental conditions are suitable for optimum and profitable productivity of most livestock. The dairy production systems in Zambia rely mostly on extensive grasslands and using exotic breeds (breeds originated from Europe and America). Communal grazing is largely practiced in these environments with high incidences of disease outbreaks and low quality grass. Therefore, to improve dairy productivity in the traditional sector, several organisations and government agencies are involved in acquisition and distributions of improved dairy breeds to local communities. Communities that have benefited include Kanakatapa in Chongwe, Tukatishe and Go Women GO in Kalulushi. The main common objective of this stocking exercise is to extreme poverty and hunger in the majority of Zambians who depend on livestock for their livelihood.

The use of introduced breeds to local environments is failing because the introduced breeds are not adaptable to local environments. The most common dairy goat breeds introduced in Zambia are Saanens and Toggenburgs. Local goat breeds even though producing low amount of milk, are highly fertile and are well adapted to environments with high prevalence of tick borne diseases and droughts. Thus, farmers may still prefer traditional breeds and their crosses compared to the introduced breeds. Therefore, there is a need to design specific breeding plans for farmers. it is important to involve local small-scale farmers or as groups of individual farm units with a considerable number of animals in designing and implementation of Dairy goat breeding programs from inception and this will more likely to be successful in managing environment for growth in Zambia. It will be important to learn lessons from the experience of successful breeding schemes in Africa.

WHY DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION?

Dairy goats have several advantages in Zambia because:

have very few demands of infrastructure and management, are efficient converters of low quality pasture to produce high quality milk that has

unknown allergies and easily digested by infants an old people, Milk is cheaper, wholesome, easily digestible and nutritious because goats milk’s fats

and proteins are present in a finer state and are more easily digestible, especially by children and invalids,

Milk is also used as medicine for personas ailing with asthma, has higher buffering qualities and this enhances its value for patients suffering from

ulcers, liver difficulties and other digestive problems, Goat milk has fewer allergenic problems and makes a better substitute for the cow’s

milk, has low cholesterol levels and contains less lactose than cow milk which makes it

suitable for consumers that are “lactose intolerant. By products

Marketing and policy

Unlike the meat goat types for which market has become diverse, goat milk still some myth within local communities. Women groups involved in dairy goat have been finding it difficult to sale. Goat milk has proven to have less bacterial count and even when left on open space, it does not turn sour quickly. Milk can be marked as cheese, tablet form, and even extract B complex and processed into body lotion.

The government through its extension service should engage these farmers and link these farmers to other collaborating organization to market their milk. Market of cattle milk is well defined. It is against the global plan of action for the World Animal Genetic Resources of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 2007) that aim to ensure the utilization and conservation of animal genetic diversity worldwide is well established. Unique livestock genetic characteristics found in developing countries are a valuable resource that needs to be well managed and marked and preserved for future use.

Further knowledge on Dairy goat and milk processing can be sourced from livestock extension workers in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, private consultants, trainers (e.g. UNZA, NRDC, ZCA – Mpika or Monze, Zambia Institute of Animal Health and Palabana Dairy Training Institute) and researchers (e.g. National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research).