System of housing and management of Kanni Adu goats of southern Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A study on Kanni Adu goats of south Tamil Nadu was carried out in 154 households of 35 villages with the objective of identifying and documenting the rearing practices followed in the home tract. The study revealed that Kanni Adu goats were reared extensively as a herded group and housed only during the nights. The housing pattern consisted of open pens, half-open sheds and closed sheds. The pens/sheds were located nearer the dwelling of the goat owners or formed part of their residence. Farmers, when available, kept breeding bucks in the herds at all times and exercised no control over mating. The main sources of fodder were lopped tree leaves, shrubs, harvested crop residues and local weeds on the banks of dry and wetlands. The mean kid and adult mortality rates were 25.8 and 1.2% respectively. Vaccinations against anthrax, peste des petits ruminants and foot-and-mouth diseases were done in the face of disease outbreaks.