ASPECTS OF SMALLHOLDER GOAT FARMING SYSTEMS IN RIVERS STATE (1): AVAILABILITY AND PREFERENCE FOR DOMESTIC WASTES

Abstract

A diagnostic survey was conducted to elicit information on aspects of smallholder West African Dwarf (WAD) goat farming systems and domestic food crop wastes availability and preference in Rivers State. Structured questionnaires were administered to 21 smallholder goat farmers in seven communities selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAS) with 20, successfully, retrieved and data analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicate that, majority (55%) of the farmers were females, 70% above the youthful age of 40, 70% had primary or secondary education, and 35% take farming as a main occupation. Also, 85% had less than 12 heads of goats with only 10% managing their flock intensively while, 84% successfully integrated food crops and vegetables. Their major challenges were inadequate space (29%), theft (23%), feeding and nuisance (18%), and disease (12%). Cassava, yam and plantain peels were the most available and preferred domestic wastes while, cassava peel was the most preferred (56%) followed by plantain peel (17%). Cassava and plantain peels are recommended for further nutritional evaluation studies as supplemental feed resources for goats, especially, under smallholdings during the dry season.