This paper explores whether proper management of feeding goats with forages could increase the production and reproduction of Kosta goats. Research was carried out in two phases. The first observed the growth of female Kosta goats after weaning at four months to puberty at seven months and mating at nine months. Variables assessed include ration consumption, daily weight gain and puberty age on the livestock. The second phase observed female goats from mating to birth, assessing ration consumption, daily body weight gain, length of pregnancy, litter size, kid birth weight and kid weaning weight. The research used a completely randomised design, using forages with three energy levels—53, 61 and 69 per cent—with relatively equal protein content at 12 per cent. The forages included field grass and leaves of waru, lamtoro, gamal and jackfruit. The research found that the higher the dietary energy (up to 61 per cent TDN) in the ration, the higher the production performances of Kosta female goats in terms of efficiency of ration usage, body weight gain, birth weight and weaning weight, and the higher the reproduction performances in terms of age of puberty, length of pregnancy and litter size.

All photographic images on this site were taken by the Collins Higgins Consulting teams during the EI-ADO project activities. Reproduction should note their source as Collins Higgins Consulting.