Assessment of Management and Breeding Practices among Indigenous Goat Farmers in a Tropical Humid Forest Zone

The study was undertaken to assess indigenous breeding practices and structure of back-yard goat farming in humid tropical forest zone. Pretested questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect information from farmers in Ekiti, South-west Nigeria. Profile assessed were purpose, management, breeding and reproductive performances, disease prevalence, healthcare and challenges. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics of SPSS, Version 20.0. Bucks run with does on free-scavenging system, mature sexually at 6–10 months, while mature does settle for bucks from about 7 months (52, 44, %). Main goals of farmers were flock multiplication, meatiness and coat color (24, 11, 6, %). Breeding was by natural random mating. Prolificacy was 1–4 kids but resistance to diseases was low. Selection practices were lowly engaged (7.5%), although based on health status and fecundity (19 and 13, %) for bucks and does respectively. Vaccination knowledge was high (77%), but mortality was also high. Drenching, castration and dehorning were performed (47, 24 and 5, %). Official intervention on breeding and improvement was nil. Challenges of farmers were stealing and accidents (46%), diseases and poisons (14%), lack of organized backyard sector, and the poor management system. Intensification of ethnoveterinary practices could promote improved healthcare in backyard goat farming.