Yarasool Goat Farm Developer & Consultant

Goat Housing

yarasool Goat Farm

Email.yarasoolgoatfarm.gmailcom

Booklet No. 209

Animal Husbandry - Goat: GTS - 3

Contents

Preface

I.          Introduction

II.          Housing and Controlling Metllods of Goat 

III.         Buildings for Goat Farm

IV.        Equipments and Facilities in Goat House

V.         Selection of Site for Farm Buildings

VI.        Constructional Details of Housing Requirements

VII.       Future Strategy

VIII.       Conclusion

 

Preface

Goat is a multipurpose small and viable domestic animal, which can be reared even by landless and women to obtain milk, meat and wool. However, certain basic understanding is required to make a healthy and suitable housing for goat without which goat rearing can cause environmental and sanitary problems. This booklet is an attempt to provide the scientific aspects of goat housing.

 

Dr. K. T.  Chandy,  Agricultural & Environmental Education

 

I. Introduction

Goat which is also popularly known as "poor man’s cow" is domesticated for milk, flesh and hair. Goats can be kept without much expense. Goat rearing fits well with smal1 and marginal farmers in their mixed farming. Being the source of additional income, they are thus called the 'mortegage lifters' of the rural poor. This is especially true in the case of landless rural folk, weaker sections and women. Traditionally, nomadic shepherds maintain flocks as their sole mewls of sustenance. Goat keeping is recommended for rural women not only for additional income but also as a regular source of milk for their children. For efficient production in dairy goats, good health and comfort to the animals is a must. To achieve this, proper housing of goats is important.

The main objectives of shelter for goats is to protect the animals from heavy rain, high humidity and parasitic infestation. An optimum environment is absolutely essential for the actualization of optimum genetic potential. The only solution under such climatic conditions seems to be flexible housing providing protection from min, strong winds and cold during winter and cutting down the radiant heat load during summer seasons with minimum hindrance to the proper ventilation. The research work on the optimum housing requirement for goats in India is meager.

 

II. Housing and Controlling Methods of Goat

Housing is also an important way of controlling the goat. The other methods of control commonly used are herding, tethering and fencing. Control methods also help to prevent the loss of goats by theft, by attacks from wild animals or by the goats wandering off. General needs of goats for shelter, design of actua1ly goat house, tethering, and fencing are the points to be considered when planning to house and control goats.

 

A. General need of goats for shelter

The following are the important aspects which need to be considered when planning a goat house.

1. The house must provide shade whole day and also protection from heavy rains. This can be achieved by having a large roof overhanging the side of the building.

2. The house must be free from droughts. In colder climate, the side facing cold winds should have preventive structure.

3. At high altitudes where the climate is cold, bedding materials such as straws or dry grasses should be provided and the house should have durable walls on every side.

4. The building should have good ventilation and lighting. This will help to prevent disease.

5. The floors of the goat house should be dry and well drained. Goats do not like cold or wet floors which may cause illness. For this the floors are raised above the ground to keep them dry. In some places floors are kept sloping to provide drainage or are covered with bedding which is regularly replaced.

6. Bamboo. thatch and rammed earth are often used as local constructing material for goat houses.

7. There must be enough space for all the goats in the building to move about and lie down in comfort. The space needed will depend on the size of the goats, adult does usually need 2.0-2.5 square metres. Moreover bucks will need more and young kids will need less space.

8. The house must be built in such a way that goats do not injure themselves on sharp points or edges. Goats will often try to escape from their buildings and does may suffer drainage to the udder in the process. For this reason, barbed wire should never be used and care must be taken that there are no nails or broken pieces of wood sticking out.

9. All doorways must be spacious enough for a pregnant doe to easily go through.

10. The design of the building should make feeding and cleaning easy. If does are kept in individual pens, the fanner should be able to give feed Without entering each pen.

 

B. Design of goat houses

There are two designs of goat houses: (1) ground level house and (2) raised level house.

1. Ground level house

This kind of house is suitable for cold areas. The house is built with a rammed earth floor and brick wall is 1.5 m high. The roof which is raised in the centre, is made up of thatched straw. Ventilation is by a gap of about 20 cm between the top of the walls and the roof. It has a central passage.

On both sides of the central passage does are kept in individual pens. Each pen is about one metre by three metres size. The front of the pen is made of wood and has also a hinged gate for entrance. The gate also has a rack in which hay or green feed is placed and also a hook which holds water bucket.

To keep the does in individual pens are not essential but they make sure that each doe gets the correct amount of feed.

2. Raised level house

This kind of house is best for humid climate and is suited for less than 5 or 6 goats. The house is made of bamboo rails and has no solid sides. The floor is also made of bamboo and is raised about one metre off the ground by wooden stills. Dung and urine falls through gaps in the floor. A ramp allows the goats to enter the house. The roof is made up of any thatching material and should extend to the side of the house up to one metre height. The goats need not have individual pens and they share a rack of food and water container.

 

C. Tethering

Tethering is a very common method of controlling, used by farmers keeping a small number of goats. Each goat wears a collar and this is attached to a rope or chain. At the other end of the rope or chain is a part fixed into the ground. Several times a day when the goat has eaten all the food up to its reach the post is moved to new area for fresh browsing.

Tethering require little effort by the farmer but it needs to be done carefully to prevent injury. The following points should be considered while tethering.

1. The tether should be at least three metres in length. If it is shorter the goat will not have much feed available and the post will have to be moved frequently. If the tether is longer it may get entangled in something.

2. If possible the tether should be joined to both the goats collar and the post by swivel rings. Because these ring will move when the goat moves, they will prevent the tether becoming wrapped around the post.

3. The post to which the tether is attached should not be higher than about 0.5 metres. This and the swivel ring will prevent the goat from being strangled by the tether.

4. If possible use a light weight chain or goats will chew rope or leather teather.

5. Do not tether young kids. Because these animals are very active, they may be injured by tethering.

6. Farmers should check tethered goats several times during the day to see if the tether is caught, if the post needs shifting to provide fresh feed and if there are other problems such as the goat being worried by dogs or by wild animals.

7. In the hot weather the tethered goats should reach a shady place and, if possible, container of water should also be in reach.

8. An improved method of tethering is to provide a 'running line'. This is a line stretched between two posts a few metres apart. The goat is put on a short tether which is attached to the line by a ring. The running line allows the goat to reach more food than a normal tether and as result, goat does not need shifting frequently.

 

D. Fencing

It is not generally a suitable method to control goats. Because goats can jump great heights, fences will have lo be at least 1.5 metre high. They will also have to be made of strongly wood or a fine wire mesh because goats will try hard to get through any  small space. This makes fencing very expensive.

In Europe and some other parts of the world, electric fencing is used. This is also expensive but it is usually successful.

 

III. Buildings for Goat Farm

Buildings are necessary for goal keeping. Goats are reared for milk, meat or both. To get maximum production proper accommodation is necessary. Following are the common types of sheds for goats.

1. General flock shed

Adult breeding ewes or nannies are housed in this shed. Each shed should accommodate about 60 ewes or nannies. The shed should be 3 metre high and should have moorum or brick on edge floor. In low lying and moist areas the floors should preferably be elevated and in colder regions they may be made of wood.

2. Shed for ram or buck

Rams or bucks are housed individually in these sheds. Wooden partitions can be raised in a bigger shed to partition it into stalls.

3. Lambing or kidding shed

These are the maternity pens, pregnant ewes or nannies are housed individually in these sheds. These sheds shall be made drought free. In northern parts of the country some warming device like a room heater should be installed in maternity pens, so that new born kids or lambs are protected from cold during winter.

4. Sick animal shed

These sheds are mainly for sick animals which are made away from other sheds. The average size of the shed is about 3x2x3 metres.

5. Shearing room

This is the place where goats are shorn. This room should be well lit by having large glass windows all around. The floors should be cement paved smooth.

6. Accessory buildings

Next to the shearing room there shall be a wool store for storing wool and shearing equipments. This room should have clean smooth floors and walls lined with glazed tiles up to a height of 1.5 metres.

The room should be dust and damp proof. There should be three windows on three sides of the room. There should also be space for weighing machine, stores for concentrates mixture, medicines, farm equipment etc. and sheds for hay straw storage.

7. Building for milch goats

Larger milch goat farms are rarely seen in this country, though all over the country people do keep one or two milch goats for family requirements. When a few goats are kept, all that is required for them is a simple shelter under which are provided a water trough and feed manger, the sizes the latter depending on the number of animals housed.

The milch goats should be housed in one shed divided in to a number of stalls, one stall for each doe. This facilitates milking and stall feeding of goats individually. The stalls may be arranged in two rows with a passage in between them. The dimensions of each stall should be 0.8 m wide and 1.2 m long. The length of the shed depends on the number of milch goats kept. There should be partitions between stalls made of brick work or stone slabs or iron tubing. Sometimes a small milk room is constructed at one end of the milch goat shed. This is analogous to milk houses on dairy farms.

8. ‘Lean-to' type shed

The cheapest form of building is the 'lean to type. shed located against the side of an existing building. Such a shed for two goats should be 1.5 m wide and 3.0 m long. This length provides 0.3 m for the manger and 1.2 m for the goats; the remaining 1.5 m space is sufficient for two milking does with a stub wall between them.

The height of the nearest wall should be 2.3 m and on the lower side 1.7 m giving a slope of 0.6 m to the roof, which may be tiled or thatched. An open framed window and door of proper size should be provided on the lower side.  Arrangements for storing hay or dried feed can be made over head.

A goat, when reared singly can be housed in any building provided it is dry, free from draught and well ventilated. The space allowed should be 1.8 x 1.8 m. A plain board, 28 cm wide and 2.5 cm thick with two circular holes sufficiently large for receiving two small galvanized iron pails, may be used in place of the manger or a trough for food. It should be raised 50 to 60 cm height from the floor, supported on wooden or iron brackets fixed to the wall. These pails, one for water and the other for food are preferred by the manager, as the residue of feed can be easily removed.

Stilted housing is common in Assam, Kerala and Orissa which are areas of heavy rainfall under the humid climate or in temperate cold climate. The floor of the pen is raised to about 1.5 m above the ground level. This facilitates easy cleaning and collecting of the dung and urine. The buildings are often constructed from bamboo and the roofs are thatched.

In tropics because of high temperature, heavy rainfall and infestation of diseases, the goat houses are build above ground level. This done for good ventilation and heavy rain splashes.

9. Space for goats in stanchions and confinement

The size of the stanchion where the goat is kept should be 0.75 m wide and 1.2 m long. Goats kept longer in a pen should have a floor  space of two square metre.

The buck should be housed separately. A single stall measuring 2.5x2.0 m with the usual fittings for food and water would be  suitable for the bucks. Two bucks should not be kept together, particularly during the breeding season because they might fight and injure each other. Kids should be provided with separate loose stalls away from adult females. The walls and doors of these stalls should be about 1.3 m high. A box barrel or a log is provided for exercise. One stall measuring 1.8 sq. m can accommodate up to 10 kids. Such loose Stalls are also suitable for goats at the time of kidding. All stalls should be provided with an enclosure in which the animals can be let loose during the day. This 1oose housing system reduce the housing reduce the housing cost and labour.

An enclosure measuring 12x18 m is adequate for 100 to 120 goats. Such an enclosure or exercise paddock should be properly fenced with strong woven wire which should not enough space at the bottom. The exercise paddlocks should be made bigger than the enclosures and should have some shade trees, if the stock is to be maintained constantly in confinement. Barbed wire should not be used so as to avoid injury to the udder, teats and body. It will be good if a box of I x I m and 60 cm high and a stationary steel drum or a log of 30 cm x 2.4 cm size is provided for their exercise.

10. Segregation shed

When the herd is large, provision for a small segregation shed about 3.6 x 5 m is very desirable. It should be built in the farthest corner of the farm and provided with a well fenced yard it should be divided into two or three sections. Each yard should have a separate watering arrangement.

11. Hay racks

Goats are very wasteful and refuse to eat what has dropped on the ground. Hay racks are very helpful for feeding. The bars of hay racks should not be more than 5 cm apart and there should be a wooden board fixed about 15 cm below the rack to collect the feed from the rack while the goat is feeding.

12. Urine collection tank

Usually people who rear goat do not bother to collect and use goat urine and allow them to get soaked into the around the housing. This creates insanitary condition. Hence arrangements such as small non-permeable collection tank made of any convenient material should be made along with housing. Urine can be used as an excellent manure.

13. Composting

The waste from goat house like dropping, trampled grass, straw etc. are precious organic materiasls which, if composted properly can be used as a manure for one's own use or for sale. There are a number of methods of composting. The details of the same may be obtained from booklet Nos.64 and 146. Such practice will prevent breeding of flies and mosquitoes.

 

IV. Equipments and Facilities in Goat House

For efficient working in the goat house, the aim should be to save time, labour and money.

1. Feeders

The design of the feeder should reduce the wastage of feed as well as avoid contamination of fodder. The height of the feeder for kids and for adults should be different. There are different kinds of feeders like slotted and key hole feeder. If feeder is not available then hay should be tied to branch of tree for feeding, this is done to avoid contamination.

2. Waterer

Waterer are made either from cutting the drums into two halves or plastic materers are used. It should be kept clean and should be placed in such a way that even younger ones can use it. For adults the  bucket should hang above the ground level. this will avoid fodder being soiled.

3. Cut grass racks

This should be constructed as to avoid spilling of grasses on the floor or ground. Goat seldom eat spilled cut grasses.

4. Milking stand

A standard milking stand is of at least four feet height. Its floor should be 2x4 feet and one foot elevated from the ground.

5. Run

Run should be provided adjoining the building and supplied with some sort of objects upon which the animals may climb or jump. Shade is also essential for these runs.

6. Milk room

In milk room, following facilities are required (a) sink for washing and rinsing utensils, b) clean water source, c) covered place to keep utensils weighing balance for milk recording, e) strainers and stainless buckets and f) milk production records.

7. Knife

Sharp knife is needed for trimming goat hooves.

8. Disbudding rod

This helps for burning the kids horn buttons.

9. Kidding pens

Separate spacious pens are essential to house goats in advanced  pregnancy. Movable hurdles can also be used for preparing kidding pens. Individual kidding pens are contaminated very quickly, and need frequent cleaning and disinfection. Otherwise they may constitute an important source of pa1hogenic germs that invade the kids through the navel.

Rearing of young kids needs special attention while planning goat housing. Kids should be fed with adequate colostrum soon after birth. The pens for kids should be in the warmest part of the goat house if kidding is in cool weather. The protection of kids from low ambient temperature is very important to reduce the kid mortality.

V. Selection of Site for Farm Buildings

While planning an entirely new goat farm  the choice of location for the buildings is the first consideration. Then comes the mode of arrangement of different buildings on the farm site which should have proper light and fresh air.

 

A. Selection of farm site

The following factors should be considered in deciding about the location of farm shed.

1. Market

Farms should be located near to the market so that whatever is produced should reach at the earliest for consumption. Hence, there will be lesser transportation charges and spoilage.

2. Water

There should be assured water supply in the farm.

3. Drainage

There should be proper sanitation and drainage facility in the farm. This will keep goats healthy.

4. Size and slope of area.

            The area for the farm should be of adequate size usually from one to two hectares and nearly square in shape. One should avoid having farmshed on both sides of a road or rail track.

5. Sun exposure and wind protection

The farmstead should be located t0 get maximum sun exposure in the north-side and the minimum in the south. A site with many trees around is ideal as it will stop strong prevailing winds while  acting as wind breaks and also will provide natural shade.

6. Miscellaneous points

The farmstead should be located preferably nearer to an all weather road. There should be round the clock supply of electricity to the farm. Other facilities like availability of telephone. School for children pf farm workers, post office, shopping center and entertainment have also to be considered.

 

B. Arrangement of farmstead buildings

In planning a new farm or altering an old one, building, fences, lots. gates, trees, etc. should be added according to well laid master plan. In general the animal sheds and other common used buildings should be located around a central court and should be so arranged that most of them can be seen from the house of the fanner or farm manager. Farm buildings should have proper space in between them so that fire will not spread easily from one building to another. Large buildings should be about 25 metres apart.

Anima1s confined in a closed environment tend to alter the composition of  the air, by reducing the oxygen content and increasing the carbon-dioxide and moisture content. They are also altered by adding ruminant gases, ammonia from faeces and urine and micro-scopic particles of dust from feed. For maximum comfort and productivity and for the optimum environment there should be proper ventilation in animal sheds. Thus. animal houses should be so designed that they are cheaper and can protect from extreme weather conditions.

 

C. Location of farmer's house

The farmers or farm managers dwelling as well as office is often called as homestead and its location should be considered first. The homestead should be located on a high area which is well drained and commands view of other buildings where it is easily accessible.

Though the homestead should be oriented facing road, other buildings may be turned at an angle to road or reversed to take, advantage of the prevailing winds and sunlight. The homestead should be located on the windward side of farm buildings considering the direction of summer and winter winds. Buildings should preferably be constructed towards one side of hills. wherever possible so that the hills acts as wind break. When this is not possible it is desirable to arrange suitable tree plantings for the purpose. Usually wind break is located 25 to 45 metres from the buildings to be protected with 3- 7 rows of trees, 6-10 m wide, eucalyptus, casuarinas, acasia and other similar quick and tall growing trees are suitable for this purpose.

 

VI. Constructional Details of Housing Requirements

The construction of buildings starts from the foundation and gradually rises to walls and roof. Then different structures are raised inside the buildings. The materials used for construction of different structures depend on their cost, local availability, type of farm buildings and other reasons.

Systematic studies on minimum housing requirements of Indian have been recently pursued at the central Institute for Research on Goats. Mathura which is located in the hot semi-ard zone of India.

 

A. Construction of floors

The floors shall be hard impervious to water and easy to clean. The floor may be of I) cement concrete or pared with cement concrete, 2) stone slab flooring, 3) brick on-edge flooring and 4) morum or kankar flooring.

The best but costliest floors are of cement concrete which may be made only in milking barns, stores, etc. where strength, cleanliness and imperviousness of floors are important.

           

Generally floors may be made of stone slabs or brick on edge linings. Moorum or kanker floors are cheapest but are messy and require construction maintenance. Moorum floors are suitable for goat. Wooden floors are also warm and can be tried in temperate Himalayan regions.

The floors shall have a gradient of one in 40 to one in 60 towards the drains so that water can drain easily. Special care should be taken to make he surface of floors rough and non-slippery in milking barns, passages leading to milking barns-pens etc. The surface of cement floors can be roughened by imprinting the impression of a piece of expanded metal or suitable wire mesh on the surface while the concrete is still moist.

 

Bedding for goat

Deep, clean dry straw can provide an ideal bed for weaners and growers during cool period, but a thin layer of straw is likely to be more suitatble during warm or hot weather conditions. Perforated or slolted floors are almost certain to be drier and more hygienic than solid floors with minimum bedding to make it more suitable for humid and high rainfall weather housing. The type of floor which provides both comfort and cleanliness with minimal risk of injury should be given preference.

The optimum floor space requirement to provide healthy and clean micro environment have been recommended in table I on the basis of scattered information.

Table 1: Optimum floor space requirement per goat

Sl.No	Category of goat	Floor space requirement (sq.m)
1	Adult goats	1.25 to 1.5
2	Bucks	2
3	Lactating & pregnant goats	2
4	Kids 7 to 90 days	0.5 to 0.6
5	3 to 6 months	0.7 to 0.9
6	6 to 12 months	1

B. Rooting materials

There are two types of roofs -sloping and flat. Flat roofs are preferred in low rainfall aeas while sloping roofs are desirable in medium to heavy rainfall areas. There are several materials available for roofing the farm building including tiles, slates, asbestos and alluminium sheets, wood, thatch, bamboo etc. Asbestos and aluminium sheets have many advantages. The chief being fire resistance, easy fixing, reasonably long life, hygiene and cheapness in the long run. These being light materials do not acquire heavy roof supporting structures.

Wood makes the most comfortable roof, being a good insulator but liable to fire risks and is quite costly. Tiles and slates are cumbersome to fix and require heavy supporting structures.

Thatch and bamboo are most readily available and cheap materials. These are good insulators and can be put over rough and cheap trusses. Though initial investment on thatch roofs is small they are costly in the long run due to high cost of maintenance and frequent replacements. However, these are unhygienic especially during monsoon and harbour insects, flies, cobwebs and vermin and are highly prone to fire hazard.

The slope of a roof is expressed as its pitch angle of slope with the horizontal level. The pitch should be 35^ofor thatched roof, 25^o to 30^o for a tile roof and 12^o to 18^o for a sheet roof. The pitch angle should not exceed 45^o at any rate.

In loose house the roof are mostly supported on pillars. Pillars may be built either of stones, columns of bricks 1aid in cement mortar, cast iron pipes or hard wooden posts. Each of them shall be placed at an interval of two to three metres depending on the span and type of roof. The approximate width or diameter of pillars made are as given below.

1. Brick 45x35 cm or (2 lengths and 3 widths of 9"x4.5" bricks).

2. Timber 10xlO cm (rectangular pillars) 15 cm diameter (round poles)

3. Stone 10xl0 cm or 8x15 cm

4. Iron pipes 10 cm diameter.

In hot regions a ceiling of wooden planks, stout country cloth, old gunny bags, tarpaulin, compressed or loose straw or wooden planks should be fixed to the underside of the roof for heat insulation. For similar reason, the upper surface of roof may be painted white (which reflects back radiation) while the under surface is painted with dark colours.

It is preferable to fit all the roofs at their eves with a 15 cm half galvanised sheet gutter to convey and discharge rain water at a suitable spot for easy drainage. In dry regions, the water can be diverted and stored in tanks for future use.

C. Height and shape of roof

The height of the roof at centre in 'A shaped roof should vary between 3-3.5 metres. A height of less than three metre interferes with proper ventilation resulting in reduced heat loss from animals.

In temperate and hot humid climate, where more height does not prove any additional benefit, a height of three metre will be appropriate.

A shaped roof is definitely better for hot climatic regions. In the hot weather one side of 'A shaad' roof saves the other half from, direct solar radiation by casting its shadow. This helps in cutting down heat gain from the roof of the shelter. Double roof with both roofs of same or different materials are effective in reducing the heating of shed in hot weather conditions.

D. Ventilation

Ventilation in animal houses serves to remove heal, moisture, carbon di-oxide, dust, noxious gases and microbes and replace them with a supply of fresh air.

Hot humid weather conditions during certain part of the year are considered to be more critical for goat housing. In both north-south and east-west oriented sheds ten per cent ventilation space provided more protection from cold by keeping the minimum temperature higher than that with 25% ventilation space.

E. Walls

The walls may be constructed of Stone, bricks, mud or bamboo or any other material suitable for the locality and climate. Stone or brick walls are costly but durable and hygienic. Bamboo and mud walls are economical and useful but are temporary and are difficult to keep hygienic. Concrete walls are 10-12 cm thick and reinforced with steel bars along with their length and height are strongest and best but are very expensive. Walls supporting the roof and wall portions with which farm animals come in direct contact must be robust. Materials such as brick, stone, or cement concrete may be best at least for the lower parts of the walls.

For ordinary walls, should not exceed 35 cm thickness. Partition walls and walls lining the open area should be 22.5 cm thick. Height of walls shall be two to 2.5 m for houses with sloping roofs. Walls and partition can also be made of galvanised corrugated iron or asbestos sheets by fixing to posts. 2.5 to 3 m apart, usually the innerface of walls is plastered and the outer one is painted.

F. Foot bath and spray race

These are important in protecting animals from contagious diseases and pests. A foot bath is a lank measuring 6x3 m at the bottom, 12 mx4m on top and 0.3 m deep and is constructed near the entrance. This tank is filled with a germicidal solution. Animals and carts entering and leaving the farm walk through this solution and in the process, the animals feet or the wheels of vehicles get disinfected.

Thus, no disease producing vehicles get disinfected. Thus, no disease producing germs will be brought into the farm  through in coming vehicles and animals.

Spray races are for spraying insecticide solutions on animals for controlling insect pests. A spray race is a 2.5x1.8 m passage with a slope of one in 40 towards one end. Showers or sprayer nozzles are fixed overhead at a height of two metres above tI1e platform and along the sides. The surface of the platform is kept rough to prevent the animals from slipping. Animals are taken on to the platform one by one along an enclosed passage and sprayed with insecticides or bactericides to protect them from flies, insect and bacteria. The excess liquid spray straining out of the platform can be collected in a tank and can be reused.

 

G. Farm fences

A farm fence locates the boundry and protects the animals. It serves a shelter and improves the attractiveness and value of the farm. The fence must be light, strong and durable.

On farm fences are required for enclosing the farm premises, fields and pastures. Also, fences can be used instead of walls to enclose the open lots of animal sheds. Barbed wire fences are necessary for enclosing farm area. For enclosing open lots of animal sheds, fences can be made of iron or wooden rails, wooden poles, metal tubing. Wooden boards or plain woven wire strands. Live thorny hedges can also be used as farm fences in dry areas.

A wooden fence can be put up in areas where timber is cheap. It occupies less space and can easily be created and removed. Wooden fences are good for enclosing open lots of animal sheds. When iron is used the fence posts which should be 2-3 m and fixed in a firm bed of concrete. Wire fences, however, are more practical and longer lasting if installed properly.

Electric fences can be dangerous to men and animals. Fence controllers, wires, switches etc. should be purchased from standard firms and got installed by experts. Men working on farms and people around should be educated about the wire fence and necessary safety precautions against accidents to both  men and animals should be taken.

 

VII. Future Strategy

Existing goat rearing in the country under extensive and semi-intensive arrangement systems may undergo a change like poultry farming. Latest technological development will be incorporated using optimization technique. Operation research and econometrics techniques will be of great help both for proper planning and management of farms. The increasing pressure on land resources is likely to enforce the modifications in the adoption of intensive management systems.

With the intensification in goat production a large numbers of animals will have to be kept confined in an enclosed space. This would undoubtedly increase the risk of infections diseases as the injection is transmitted by contagious or by the airborne route. Spread by contagious can usually be controlled reasonably effectively by minimizing build up of excreta and disinfection of all surface.

Animals themselves are, however, the major source for most of the bacteria and viruses in housed conditions. Mechanized ventilation in goat houses will be absolutely essential to provide optimum thermal environment and restrict the moisture within permissible limits. The threshold levels of limiting factors like ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and methane expected in such goat houses will have to be worked out through experimentation. With the advancement in intensification aerosolb both dust and microbial will be taken into account to adopt ventilation strategies.

The extensive and semi-intensive system of goat rearing in villages by the marginal and landless farmers however, is likely to continue to substantiate their income. The housing policy for rural sector thus should include provision for shelters for the animals as an integral part.

 

VIII. Conclusion

A well planned goat housing will make goat rearing easy. Operations like feeding. cleaning, breeding and disease control can be carried out easily. It will also help the owner to recycle the waste economically.