1.0 INTRODUCTION Flashcards
How many goats are there in Zimbabwe?
There are more than 3.5 million goats in Zimbabwe.
What percentage of goats in Zimbabwe are indigenous breeds?
98 per cent of the goats in Zimbabwe are indigenous breeds.
What are some of the factors leading to low productivity in goats?
Low productivity in goats is due to various factors such as high kid mortality and lack of good animal husbandry practices.
For what purposes are goats primarily reared in Zimbabwe?
Goats in Zimbabwe are primarily reared for meat (chevon) and, to a lesser extent, for milk.
In which agro-ecological zones are most goats found in Zimbabwe?
Most goats are kept in the drier agro-ecological zones in Natural Ecological Regions IV and V and in Tse-tse infested areas.
Besides meat and milk, what other products do goats provide?
Besides meat and milk, goats provide skins of commercial importance and manure for gardens and crop fields. In other parts of the world, goats are also kept for their wool (mohair).
When was the goat likely first domesticated, and what does this indicate about its relationship with humans?
The goat was probably first domesticated around 9000-7000 B.C., indicating a long association and variety of functions the goat can provide for humans.
What role can goats play in meeting the growing demand for animal protein?
Goats can play an important role in meeting the growing demand for animal protein by transitioning from subsistence to commercial production.
