Online Reporter
Talking farming, Sifiso Ndlovu Agbetorwoka
ZIMBABWEAN farmers know that drought can change the fortunes of a livestock enterprise very quickly.
As we move into September and October — the driest and most difficult months of the year — grazing deteriorates, water sources begin to shrink and the cost of supplementary feed can rise sharply.
This year, the warning signs deserve particular attention. Weather forecasters are warning of a strong El Niño event, with the potential for below-average and erratic rainfall across parts of southern Africa. That does not mean that every part of Zimbabwe will experience the same conditions, but it is a good reason for livestock farmers to prepare now rather than wait for the drought to arrive.
The good news is that goats are among our more drought-resilient livestock. But there is an important difference between being drought-resilient and being drought-proof. Goats can survive difficult conditions, but a commercial goat enterprise still needs a plan if it is to remain productive and profitable.
1 Know what you have
The first step in drought-proofing your goat enterprise is to take stock — literally.
Know how many breeding does, bucks, kids and weaners you have. Look carefully at the condition and productivity of each animal.
Drought is not the time to carry unproductive animals simply because you have become attached to them. Ask yourself: Do I really need to keep every goat?
Cull or sell animals that are old, infertile, chronically sick, poor mothers or consistently underperforming. Every animal you remove is one less mouth competing for limited feed and water.
2 Protect your breeding females
Your breeding females are the factory of your goat business. They produce the kids that ultimately generate income.
During difficult conditions, give priority to pregnant and lactating does, as well as young animals that you intend to keep as future breeding stock.
If feed is becoming scarce, consider whether you are breeding more females than your farm can realistically support. It is better to maintain a smaller, well-fed productive herd than a large herd in poor condition.
3 Start building your feed bank now
One of the biggest mistakes farmers make is waiting until the veld is brown before looking for feed.
Start building your feed bank while feed is still available and affordable. Hay, crop residues, suitable fodder crops, drought-tolerant fodder plants, fodder trees and shrubs can all form part of a drought-feeding strategy.
The principle is simple: save feed when there is plenty so that you have something to fall back on when there is little.
4 Make every mouthful count
Drought management is not simply about giving goats more feed. It is about giving them the right feed and making efficient use of what is available.
Goats are browsers by nature. They can make good use of leaves, shrubs and tree foliage that other livestock may not utilise as effectively. Suitable local browse and properly managed crop by-products can therefore become valuable resources.
But farmers must be careful about what they feed. Not every plant or by-product is safe for goats.
Remember also that poor nutrition does more than reduce growth. It can weaken the animal’s ability to cope with disease and other stresses. Good nutrition is therefore both a production strategy and a health strategy.
5 Water is your most valuable asset
During drought, water can become even more important than grazing.
Inspect your borehole, pump, dams, tanks, pipes and drinking troughs now. Repair leaks and faults before they become emergencies.
If possible, have a backup water plan. Storage tanks can provide valuable security when a pump fails or a water source temporarily becomes unavailable.
Clean, accessible drinking water should always be available, particularly during hot weather.
6 Don’t forget shade
Drought is often accompanied by intense heat and heat stress can quietly reduce goat performance.
Make sure goats have access to natural shade or properly ventilated shelters. Animals that are spending the hottest part of the day trying to escape the heat are not using that energy for growth, reproduction or milk production.
Good shade and ventilation are simple investments that can make a significant difference.
7 Keep diseases under control
When animals are under nutritional and environmental stress, keeping them healthy becomes even more important.
Do not allow your vaccination programme, parasite control, dipping or general health management
to collapse simply because you are dealing with drought.
A sick goat during a difficult season can quickly become a major financial loss. Prevention is usually cheaper than treatment and a healthy goat is much better equipped to cope with difficult conditions.
8 Have a selling strategy
One of the hardest decisions for livestock farmers is knowing when to sell.
Many farmers wait until animals are already losing significant body condition. By then, everyone else may also be trying to sell, prices can weaken and the farmer has fewer options.
Destocking early can be a sensible business decision. Selling some animals while they are still in reasonable condition can reduce pressure on feed and water while generating cash to protect the productive core of the herd.
Destocking is not failure. Sometimes it is simply good livestock management.
9 Use the drought to improve your herd
A difficult season can teach you a great deal about your goats.
Which does maintain their condition better? Which ones continue to reproduce? Which mothers raise their kids successfully? Which animals require less supplementary feed? Which goats remain healthy while others struggle?
Keep these observations in mind when selecting animals for breeding.
Over time, drought can help you identify the animals that are naturally more efficient and better adapted to your particular environment. Those are valuable genetics for the future of your enterprise.
Prepare, don’t panic
Droughts are part of farming and no farmer can control the weather. What we can control is how
prepared we are.
The current El Niño outlook should be treated as a warning to prepare — not a reason to panic.
Secure your water. Build your feed reserves. Protect your breeding females. Keep your herd healthy.
Cull unproductive animals. And have a clear destocking strategy before you desperately need one.
The farmer who prepares early has more choices when conditions become difficult.
Goat farmer’s takeaway
You cannot stop a drought, but you can decide how your goat enterprise enters it. Prepare while the
grass is still available, so that your goats — and your business — can come out of the dry season stronger.
n Sifiso Ndlovu Agbetorwoka is the director of Bulembe Livestock Centre. She can be contacted on [email protected] or on WhatsApp number +263 775369910.
