The utilisation of domestic goats in rural and peri-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Goats are a common ruminant in livestock husbandry systems in communal areas of southern Africa, but less so in peri-urban areas. While dynamics of goat farming in the former are relatively well-understood, little is known about it in peri-urban environments. We investigated the contribution of small-scale farming of goats to household livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. We used a semi-structured questionnaire survey to elicit views of 115 respondents on the contribution of goats to household income at two rural (Kokstad, Msinga) and two peri-urban (Howick, Pietermaritzburg) locations. Goats contributed to household income as a source of cash and meat in various sociocultural contexts such as at weddings, funerals and festive period gatherings (e.g. Easter and Christmas), including payment for household needs and expenses including food, school fees and medico-cultural consultations. These findings were more pronounced in rural areas, where more goats were kept than in peri-urban areas, which also had smaller herds per household. Goats were a source of cash in numerous ways including sales of their skins after slaughter and use of skins through value addition to make household craft items such as stools that could be sold for cash. None of the farmers milked their goats. Goat famers also kept cattle (52%), sheep (23%) and chickens (67%). Goat ownership appeared to be more profitable in rural areas and contributed to a lesser extent as a source of income in peri-urban areas where goats were largely kept for sale. There is potential for increased value addition of goat products to increase returns from small-scale goat farming in rural and peri-urban settings. Artefacts and cultural symbols derived from goat products are pervasive amongst Zulu people, and represent an additional avenue of research into ‘hidden’ valuation of goats.

Reproductive Efficiencies and Productive Potentials of Female Nigerian Indigenous Goat Breeds

“…However, this perception has changed in recent decades, spanning the last 30 to 40 years, as noted by Tovar-Luna (2009). Goats have since become a vital component of rural economies, providing meat, milk, household income, manure, and skin (Khowa et al, 2023). Among small ruminant animals, goats are a highly popular choice due to the wide range of acceptability of their meat by people, as well as their greater economic potential, thanks to their high fertility and early maturity, larger litter size, shorter post-partum period and minimum kidding interval (Anoh et al, 2021).…”

“…Goats are a major source of animals in Nigeria, with their widespread distribution in most rural communities and ease of management by both children and women who provide the bulk of labour in smallholder family farms, making them easily adaptable, as pointed out by Khowa et al (2023).…”