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Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary and Livestock Division. GAPS in Small Ruminants Presented by: Cheryl Edwards- Kanyuira. GAPS in Ruminants. Breeding & Selection Meat or Diary Look for the best sire in the litter or herd; similarly look for the best dams.
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Ministry of AgricultureVeterinary and Livestock Division GAPS in Small Ruminants Presented by: Cheryl Edwards-Kanyuira
GAPS in Ruminants Breeding & Selection • Meat or Diary • Look for the best sire in the litter or herd; similarly look for the best dams. • Have an idea of performance for parent stock. • Breed at proper sexual maturity. • Observe estrus cycles (heat) and their characteristics: • Tail wagging • Mounting • Mucus discharge from vulva • Sires should not be overworked or underage. • 7-8mths buck (serve no more than 10-12 does) • 12 mths (serve 20 does) • Mature (serve 40 does)
GAPS in Ruminants Housing • Ideal ventilation and sunshine. • Housing should be built on a north to south axis with excellent drainage. • Handlers must be able to walk in without injury. • Feed troughs should be off the floor. • Maternity quarters should be provided wherever possible. • Adequate water facilities.
GAPS in Ruminants Feeding and Pastures • Ruminants must be fenced in; if there are no fencing facilities then they should be tethered. • If animals are tethered then proper water and shade must be provided. • No overstocking. • Depending on the quality of pasture, consider 4-8 small ruminants per acre and in the case of cattle, 1 animal per acre. • Rest pasture i.e. practice rotational grazing.
GAPS in Ruminants Parasites • Recognize external and internal parasites and have a programme to control them. • Will cause serious financial setbacks if let unchecked. External Parasites • Fleas • Ticks • Lice Internal Parasites • Hook worm • Tapeworm • Coccidia • Check for symptoms such as: • Pale mucus membrane • Diarrhea • Fever
GAPS in Ruminants Record Keeping • Necessary for obtaining credit/loans. • They provide bankers with financial information needed for making credit decisions. • They demonstrate your manageability. • They help you to make critical decisions. • Some records to be kept are: • ID • Date of birth • Weights • Age at first breeding • Sales