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RRL in Major Practice

Small ruminants like goats and sheep are an important part of farming in the Philippines, with most animals owned by small-scale farmers. Goat populations have increased slightly in recent years to around 3.8 million heads currently, while sheep numbers are much smaller. Proper housing, nutrition, health management and disease prevention are important for the small ruminant industry. Common diseases include foot and mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants, which can be prevented through vaccination, biosecurity and good husbandry practices.

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Karla Carbonel
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
223 views7 pages

RRL in Major Practice

Small ruminants like goats and sheep are an important part of farming in the Philippines, with most animals owned by small-scale farmers. Goat populations have increased slightly in recent years to around 3.8 million heads currently, while sheep numbers are much smaller. Proper housing, nutrition, health management and disease prevention are important for the small ruminant industry. Common diseases include foot and mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants, which can be prevented through vaccination, biosecurity and good husbandry practices.

Uploaded by

Karla Carbonel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Small Ruminant Industry

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

Agriculture Statistics (BAS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) defined

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

heads. As reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), it can be observed

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

industry is dominated by backyard raisers which compromised 98.8% of the industry,

and only over 50,000 goats are grown commercially. As per for sheep inventory, there

is no much information available only in 2010 when the Philippine Statistics

Authority was able to collect data if sheep population through Livestock Population

Survey (2010). According to the survey, the total sheep population recorded was

49,747 heads as of April, 2010.


Small Ruminant Nutrition

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-

energy rations at the time of breeding, late gestation, and lactation.

Nutrient management of small ruminants especially goats, which is have a

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

blocks for body proteins (muscles).

Housing
Small ruminant raisers must be familiar with the management system. Having

this information enables them to be more productive, resulting in a higher revenue.

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.

Nevertheless, housing design needs to take into consideration the current

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

availability and the land used (S.G. Solaiman, 2010).

In warm climates ventilation is an important factor to consider while creating a

goat housing. Goats require adequate airflow in their enclosure to avoid respiratory

problems caused by insufficient air circulation. Good ventilation is necessary for

goats to radiate heat when digesting their foods, so that they can eat and produce

more. Ventilation is the most important to maintain with a desirable temperature of 28

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

ensuring that the animals remain cool, dry, and hygienic.

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

considered as the effective management system practiced. Slatted floor should be

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

with slatted floors.

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

create live fences (C. Jansen et al. 2004).

Common Diseases in Small Ruminant

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

lead to significant economic losses due to decreased milk and meat

production.Prevention of FMD in small ruminants can be achieved through

vaccination, bio-security measures, and proper management practices. Vaccination is

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

as controlling animal movement, disinfecting equipment and facilities, and avoiding

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

can also help reduce the risk of FMD.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), commonly known as goat plague, is a

highly contagious trans-boundary animal disease of small ruminants caused by a

Morbillivirus, under the family Paramyxoviridae. The disease is proving to be costly

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.

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) is a viral disease that affects goats. It is

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.

Carrozza & et. Al, 2010).

Vaccination

Vaccination in small ruminants refers to the process of administering vaccines

to protect them from various diseases. Vaccination is an important aspect of small

ruminant management as it helps to prevent the spread of diseases and reduce

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

diseases such as Pasteurella, Clostridium perfringens, and Corynebacterium

pseudotuberculosis,

In the Philippines, common vaccines for small ruminants include those

for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), sheep and goat pox, and clostridial diseases. It

is recommended to consult with a veterinarian to determine the appropriate

vaccination schedule and measures for small ruminants in a specific area.


Recent Advances

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

make them advantageous animals to be used in a wide range of research work.

Although there is already a lot of scientific literature describing these species, their

use still lacks some standardization.

The potential of small ruminants began to become evident when these animals

were used as preclinical models in works of cardiac transplantation and in the

application of cardiac valves and vascular stents, but these species have also proved to

be useful in studies of reproductive cycles and improvement of artificial insemination

and embryo transfer techniques, in addition to being the starting point for the use of

revolutionary techniques such as cloning, gene transfer, and general genetic

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

and transitional animal models in regenerative medicine, thus advancing research

from animals to human medicine.

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