During the winter season, small-stock (goat and sheep) farmers have the insurmountable task of ensuring that the lambing (sheep birth) and kidding (goat birth) season progresses well with minimal to no complications in their kraals to achieve their production targets.
Generally, animal breeding activities occur during seasons or times most favorable to their bodily functions and well-being. For example, mating commences during times of plentiful forage resources, among other factors. This is because the nutritional status of the animal has a direct influence on its breeding activities and conception (the better the nutritional status, the higher the chances of conception).
Well-maintained animals with good health and body condition will have higher reproductive performance (e.g., libido and fertility) than those with poor body conditions.
To effectively manage goat and sheep breeding, farmers need to be observant of the timing of the breeding activities. For example, animals that give birth in winter (May to June) were mated between December and January. When observing mating activities, farmers should count five months from mating to estimate when to expect ewes (female sheep) and does (female goats) to start giving birth.
This timeline will help them prepare for the conditions that will be prevalent during that time or season. These conditions include parasite infestation, forage and water scarcity, extreme temperatures, viral and bacterial diseases, among others.
The lambing or kidding stage is the most demanding and laborious phase in animal reproduction. To this end, farmers should prepare for this stage and provide timely support to the pregnant animals before and during the birthing process to ensure the survival of the lambs and kids.
An important practice is to ensure that the ewes or does are provided with sufficient feed supplements during pregnancy, enabling them to produce adequate milk during the lactation period. Moreover, it is crucial to ensure that the animals are not exposed to risky conditions that could compromise their health and that they receive adequate nutrition throughout the season.
Most lamb and kid mortalities during winter are caused by cold stress, starvation, and parasite infestation. Some of the health conditions in smallstock are predisposed by unhygienic or contaminated kraal environments with excessive manure, dust, and harmful objects such as wires, thorns, broken bottles, etc.
Lambs and kids are often kept in the kraals for extended periods, directly exposing them to these conditions. Dust inhalation and cold stress can lead to lung infection (Pasteurellosis/Pneumonia), as well as eye infections caused by dust entering their eyes.
Pasteurellosis is a respiratory disease caused by several species of bacteria, such as P. multocida and P. haemolytica, which inhabit the respiratory system (lungs) of animals. The disease is predisposed by stress factors such as cold and dusty con- ditions, as well as during transportation, among others.
The symptoms include fast breathing, coughing, running nose, loss of appetite, and during post-mortem examination, the lungs may be found attached to the rib cage. Pasteurellosis can be treated with common antibiotics such as Swamycin, Disulfox, and Reverin135.
Farmers can, however, implement preventative measures by vaccinating both young and adult animals and properly managing stress factors, such as keeping the kraal environment clean.
Another major problem is internal and external parasite infestation. The most problematic external parasites that attack lambs/kids during winter are mites, lice and fleas. The common signs of infestation by these parasites are irritation (restlessness, head shaking, scratching, or itch- ing), hair loss, and anemia (loss of blood), among others.
These parasites can be con- trolled or eradicated by dipping, spraying, using pour-on or injectable antiparasitic remedies. Internal parasites should also be controlled either with oral or inject- able solutions, of which a wide range of products are available in veterinary shops.
During winter, extra care against the cold is needed. A shelter or a housing structure can be constructed especially for the most vulnerable animals to protect or keep them warm. For example, one of the common and simplest practices used by most small-scale farmers is to dig a trench in the ground to keep the lambs/ kids overnight, however, this can pose a health risk because the trench can be dusty, causing lung infections and suffocation if not well-made.
Generally, animals gen- erate or increase their body heat through metabolism, therefore, it is advisable to ensure that your goats and sheep have enough or extra roughage feed, such as Lucerne or grass hay, all the time during winter, especially in the evening, to keep them warmer through metabolic heat.
In addition, farmers need to ensure that the lambs and kids suckle the colostrum, which is the first milk after birth, at least in the first twelve hours of their life.
- Erastus Ngaruka is the Technical Advisor: Livestock & Rangeland at Agribank Namibia.
