Desert Conditions and Goat Milk Production
1980; Elsevier BV; Volume: 63; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(80)83134-1
ISSN1529-9066
AutoresA. Shkolnik, E. Maltz, S. Gordin,
Tópico(s)Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
ResumoAdaptation of the small Black Bedouin goat breed to arid desert conditions is discussed.They are watered only once in 2 to 4 days which increases their foraging range greatly.During water deprivation for 4 days, they lose 25 to 30% of body weight from reduction of total body water and blood plasma volume.Nevertheless, these goats are relatively high milk producers.Daily yields of over 2 kg have been recorded for animals weighing only 15 to 25 kg.Milk composition is similar to that of other goat breeds.Yearlings have usually only single kids, but twinning occurs about 50% of the time in older does.Birth weights of single kids are about 2 kg with twins slightly lighter.Growth rates of kids have exceeded those of other goat breeds.Milk production efficiencies have exceeded 33% of energy consumed. WATER ECONOMY AND METABOLISM OF BLACK BEDOUIN GOATSA breed of small black goats (15 to 25 kg bodyweight) is herded by Bedouins inhabiting the Negev desert of Israel and the Eastern Sinai.This breed occupies a unique ecological niche and was first described 34 yr ago by Epstein (9) in the area of Hejaz, where, he believed, they had thrived since the dawn of history.They are of considerable interest to the development of dairy farming in arid regions.Their food resources are meager and water holes widely spaced (20).Under such conditions the ability of a ruminant to withstand water deprivation becomes a major factor in deter-
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