Factors associated with morbidity and mortality of goat in extensive and semi intensive farming systems in the eastern province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The present study was conducted to identify the associated factors with morbidity and mortality of goats in extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. A sample of 266 goat farmers of three districts i.e., Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the eastern province were randomly selected with the assistance of veterinary offices. A pre-tested questionnaire with face-to-face interviews, farm visits and observations were used to collect the data. The study found that goat farming is a male-dominant (>90%) activity regardless of the farming system. Young and middle-aged farmers with better educations adopted semi-intensive farming systems while the older and poorly educated farmers adopted extensive farming system while being self-employed. The factors i.e., ectoparasites, lack of feed, lack of water, age of the goats, rainy season, and the lack of veterinary services significantly associated (p<0.05) with morbidity and mortality of goats in both extensive and semiintensive farming systems. The factors i.e., disease, poor housing, dry season and predator attack were not associated with morbidity and mortality of goats in semi-intensive farming system whereas the association was significant (p< 0.05) in the extensive farming system. Hence, it is concluded that the semi-intensive farming system is effective in protecting goats from morbidity and mortality caused by disease, dry season, predator attack and poor housing compared to the extensive farming system. The factors associated with morbidity and mortality in extensive farming are inherent to the system except for the lack of veterinary services.