Where goats calve down to twins, triplets

A herder shepherds goats at the ADC Galana Ranch in Kilifi. The ranch breeds quality animals for sale to farmers so that they can improve their stocks. PHOTO | MATHIAS RINGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Calving down to triplets is a not all about separating buck from doe, genetics too play a crucial role.
  • According to Bor, the separation normally triggers super ovulation in does when the buck is introduced into their herd leading to twins or triplets.
  • Besides the challenge from wild animals, the Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCP) disease attacks goats and sheep causing trouble.
  • To avoid external parasites, goats must be sprayed once a week while the worms can be kept at bay through deworming.

Hundreds of white goats browse on the vast farm that is the Galana Ranch in Kilifi County.

Standing on the edges of the grazing area are several hawk-eyed herders. The farm borders the Tsavo East National Park and sometimes wild animals like lions and leopards stray to the ranch killing livestock.

The government facility breeds for beef Boran cattle, the Dorper sheep and Galla goats.

“We breed quality animals for sale to farmers so that they can improve their stocks,” says Agricultural Development Corporation senior technical officer, Coast Francis Bor.

Galla goats, according to Bor, thrive in arid and semi-arid areas as they are able to withstand hot weather due to their white colour and can feed on a variety of plants.

But the animals on the farm are not the ordinary Galla goats because they are huge. Mature Galla bucks on the farm, on average, weigh 70kg while does between 50kg and 60kg.

“We select and keep our breeding lines well and change the bloodlines to avoid inbreeding, which results to diminishing sizes,” he says.

Away from the bucks, Bor reveals that does at the ranch calve down to only twins or triplets due to synchronised breeding.

The process begins with separating the bucks from the does for about two months.

“After the period is over, we normally take the bucks to the does. One buck services 50 does. They remain together for two or three weeks,” he says.

According to Bor, the separation normally triggers super ovulation in does when the buck is introduced into their herd leading to twins or triplets.

Further, the separation helps the does feed well as there is no disturbance from the buck.

KEEP THE ANIMALS HEALTHY

“We allow the buck to continuously tup the does for two weeks for good results,” Bor says, noting that the goats are not offered any special feeds but graze daily in the fields from 9am to 5pm, in between drinking water at noon.

However, calving down to triplets is a not all about separation, genetics play a crucial role too.

“You must select your genetic lines well and avoid inbreeding at all costs.”

The ranch sells a breeding buck at Sh15,000, and an in-calf doe at Sh12,000.

However, for those who want goats for eating, a buck goes for between five and six months at Sh5,000.

The farm has a total of 1,400 goats, 1,500 sheep and 7,000 head of Boran cattle.

Besides the challenge from wild animals, the Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCP) disease attacks goats and sheep causing trouble.

However, the ranch strives to keep the animals healthy by dipping them twice a week and deworming every three months.

The livestock is also vaccinated once a year or twice in case of an outbreak of diseases.

Kilifi County Livestock Production chief assistant officer Harrison Kiti says goats face challenges from external and internal parasites.

External parasites include ticks, fleas, tsetse flies and mites while internal parasites include roundworms, tapeworms and lungworms.

To avoid external parasites, goats must be sprayed once a week while the worms can be kept at bay through deworming.

“Goats must also be fed with feeds rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals for them to grow well and have good weight. After feeding, the goats should be offered clean water.”