RRL in Major Practice
RRL in Major Practice
In the Philippines, two of the most popular small ruminants are goats and
sheep. Both are part of farming in the country and majority of the ruminants are in the
hands of small-hold farmers. There are few medium- to large scale commercial farms
that also contribute in the small ruminant of the country. According to the Bureau of
smallholder livestock farms are those having 20 heads or fewer animals in each
household.
Goat as a hardy domesticated small ruminant that has backward curving horns,
cloven hooves and (in the male) a beard. This animals usually raised for meat and
milk. The goat inventory in the Philippines from 2016 to 2020, goat population
increase by 1.01 percent per annum. Average annual inventory stood at 3.73 million
that there was continuous increase in the goat inventory since 2016. In 2020, total
goat population increased by 1.52%, from 3.75 million heads in 2019 to 3.81 million
heads in 2020.. Characterized by a very small population base, the Philippine goat
and only over 50,000 goats are grown commercially. As per for sheep inventory, there
Authority was able to collect data if sheep population through Livestock Population
Survey (2010). According to the survey, the total sheep population recorded was
Small Ruminant are essentially browsers which they prefer eating bushy plants
along with woody and weedy plants found on the areas, especially for goats. They can
digest a large variety of fibre and roughage which is a good source of protein which to
function well and multiply. Nutrient requirements of goat are determined by their age,
sex, breeds, production system (dairy or meat), body size, climate and physiological
stage. Feeding strategies should be able to meet energy, protein, mineral, and vitamin
needs depending on the condition of the goats. The maintenance requirement for
energy remains the same for most of the goats excepts dairy kids, since they are
required to have 21% energy higher than the average. It is important to feed high-
rumen as the largest part of the four stomach compartments with the capacity of
roughly 2-6 pounds. Some bacteria and protozoa are normal habitats of the rumen
which break down plant food into volatile fatty acids along with vitamins and amino
acids. According to Rashid (2008), the daily feed intake of goats ranges from 3-4% of
body weight as expressed in pounds (dry matter/head/day). The daily feed intake is
influenced by body weight, % of dry matter in the feeds eaten (12-35% in forages, 86-
92% in hays and concentrates), palatability, and physiological stage of the goats
(growth, pregnancy, and lactation). Fats can be also a source of energy for goats, and
excess energy produced by carbohydrates that is stored in the form of fat, especially
around the internal organ. Proteins are digested and broken down into amino acids
and are eventually absorbed in the small intestine. Those amino acids are building
Housing
Small ruminant raisers must be familiar with the management system. Having
Sheep and goats have similar housing needs, which is raised in all climatic zones
(S.Abegaz, A. Yami, 2009). Goat housing is an important part of goat raising that
demands careful design and attention. It is critical to ensure that the goats have
enough space for their comfort and safety when building a goat house. The majority
of goat housing requires the following; breeds, excluding dairy goats, are low-
yielding commodities whose income may not be sufficient to cover extensive housing.
environmental circumstances and production methods used in the given region. For
the type of housing, insulation, and ventilation, among other aspects that must be
considered for suitable animal habitation, climatic data can serve as a guide, material
goat housing. Goats require adequate airflow in their enclosure to avoid respiratory
goats to radiate heat when digesting their foods, so that they can eat and produce
to 30oC. Excessively warm and humid interior and sudden changes in temperature
may lead to a pneumonia cases. It is necessary for the shed to be high and have
openings for ventilation in the roof or walls, so that air does not blow directly to past
the animals and cause draught for them. In warm climates, where the stalls are fairly
open, low wall of about 1 meter on the side the wind comes from sufficient (C.
Jansen, K. V, den Burg, 2004). Air circulation within the house requires that the wall
not be completely solid. Effective ventilation is critical for the removal of moisture,
excess heat during humid weather, odors, and gases from animal waste, thereby
Flooring of a small ruminants must be made of durable materials that are not
slippery. The type of flooring can be wood, metal, and plastics. The floor should be
well drained and easy to clean with a low maintenance requirements. Flooring for
small ruminants could be either packed earth, concrete or slatted. Elevated slatted
false floor housing are the common type used in many tropical countries, and it is
raise about 1 to 1.5 meters above ground level to facilitate easy cleaning and
collecting of dung and urine. The gap between the slats should be 1.4 to 1.6 cm to
allow easy passage of fecal material and guarantee safe footing for the animals.
Newborn and young lambs should not be put on slatted floors. A piece of wood
temporarily placed on the slats will prevent leg injury to very young lambs and kids.
Although some materials, like bamboo, may be less expensive than wood, they may
not offer as much stability. Because it is more durable and robust, commercial wood
is preferred over bamboo for all barns except those that are small holder. Safety, cost,
and ease of installation are all factors that must be taken into account when choosing a
flooring material for a slatted floor. Leg and foot problems resulting from
unmaintained slatted floors or gaps that are too wide are additional issues associated
Fencing is the most crucial factors in raising a goats on pasture. The fencing
around the goat home should be strong enough to keep predators away from your
goats while still allowing them to travel freely throughout the grazing area. The best
fencing is a 4 foot woven wire with barbed wire along the top. ( L. Coffey et.al,
2004).Electric fencing is also generally ideal, being cheap and easy to install and very
effective barriers, just by using removable posts and 1 to 3 hot wires (A. Sturbs & G.
Abud, 2002). In regions where goats forage, leguminous trees with protein-rich
foliage can be utilized as fodder trees. Furthermore, they can be planted in rows to
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that
affects cloven-hoofed animals, including small ruminants such as sheep and goats.
The disease is characterized by fever, blisters on the tongue, lips, and hooves, and can
the most effective way to prevent FMD, and farmers should ensure that their animals
are vaccinated regularly (T. Kim, I. Cho, & J. Kim, 2015). Bio-security measures such
contact with infected animals can also help prevent the spread of the disease. Proper
management practices such as providing adequate nutrition, clean water, and shelter
and is considered one of the most important health constraints in rearing of small
ruminants (D. Bardhan, et.al, 2017). It causes fever, respiratory and digestive
symptoms, and can lead to economic losses due to decreased milk and meat
production. To prevent PPR, farmers should vaccinate their animals regularly, control
animal movement, disinfect equipment and facilities, and avoid contact with infected
animals. According Kim et. Al 2015, providing adequate nutrition, clean water, and
shelter can also help reduce the risk of PPR. Vaccination is the most effective way to
prevent PPR.
caused by a retrovirus and can lead to arthritis, encephalitis, and pneumonia. The
disease is transmitted through bodily fluids such as milk, blood, and saliva.Prevention
of CAE can be achieved through several measures. One of the most effective ways to
prevent the disease is to test all goats for CAE and remove any infected animals from
the herd. Farmers should also avoid sharing needles or other equipment between
animals, and should practice good hygiene when handling goats, (L. Gonzalez, M.
Vaccination
mortality rates.The vaccination measures for small ruminants animals may vary
depending on the specific diseases that are prevalent in a particular region. However,
some common vaccines that are administered to small ruminants include those for
pseudotuberculosis,
for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), sheep and goat pox, and clostridial diseases. It
Small ruminants such as sheep and goats have been increasingly used as
animal models due to their dimensions, physiology, and anatomy identical to those of
humans. Their low costs, ease of accommodation, great longevity, and easy handling
Although there is already a lot of scientific literature describing these species, their
The potential of small ruminants began to become evident when these animals
application of cardiac valves and vascular stents, but these species have also proved to
and embryo transfer techniques, in addition to being the starting point for the use of
engineering (RD. Alvites, et.al, 2021). Various groups have been successfully
applying these animal models in a wide variety of systems and specific studies,
although in most cases, the knowledge acquired is still not always translatable and
may require more extensive and targeted research. A wide range of future work with
these species can be foreseen, which will allow small ruminants to be used as large