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International Journal of Dairy Science

Year: 2011 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 323-329
DOI: 10.3923/ijds.2011.323.329
Dairy and Meat Potentialities of Indigenous Goat under Pastoral and Oasian Herd Management in the Tunisian Arid Zone
Sghaier Najari, Amor Gaddour and Mouldi Abdennebi

Abstract: Data carried out from 10 local goat herds’ survey was analyzed to establish the impact of the management mode upon local goat performances in the aim to identify the possibilities to improve goat milk and meat production via the flock management handling. A total of 8257 kids’ weights and 3461 dairy performances were elaborated and statistically analyzed meaning a comparison of the performances registered on pastoral breeding toward those realized in oases under intensive feeding modes. On rangelands in extensive husbandry, the local population registered low performances similar to those known for indigenous caprine breeds of marginal zones. The average kid's weight was 5.1 kg at 1 month age and the average daily milk was reduced to 0.7 kg day-1. Oasian intensive conditions improve the kids’ growth performance both on weights average and their respective variation magnitude. The kid's birth weight increased with about 21% but the oasien kids’ superiority seems progressively elapsed with the age to be only 2% at 4 months age. However, lactation performances remain low and similar even though under intensive feeding mode and indigenous goat seems genetically unable to produce more milk under favourable conditions. Thus, the genetic evolution promoted growth performances as a biological priority to produce caprine meat which remains the principal herd output. Whereas, dairy performances needing high nutritive requirements was seriously reduced by the natural selective process.

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How to cite this article
Sghaier Najari, Amor Gaddour and Mouldi Abdennebi , 2011. Dairy and Meat Potentialities of Indigenous Goat under Pastoral and Oasian Herd Management in the Tunisian Arid Zone. International Journal of Dairy Science, 6: 323-329.

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