Animal health and production is usually a challenge in South African rural communities and particularly among Tswana goat farmers in the North West Province. For this reason, North-West University (NWU) technician and recent PhD graduate Mpho Tsheole set out to find a solution.

Mpho conducted research on the effect of supplementary dietary protein on the growth and reproductive health of Tswana goats.

According to goatworld.com, the Tswana goat – an indigenous breed – can be classified as a multi-coloured, medium-size breed with long lopping ears, a short coarse hair structure, predominantly bearded and horned.

Their adaptive features such as feeding behaviour and disease and heat tolerance enable them to effectively cope with dry natural environments.

In her previous studies Mpho found that goats, considered “the poor man’s cow”, were mainly used for meat and sold for ritual purposes.

In this study, goats were given different concentrations of protein to determine the impact of protein supplementation on goat reproductive performance, health and on blood and hormonal parameters.

Mpho says the use of high levels of dietary protein supplements boosted the levels of progesterone in the goats.

Protein supplements influences twinning
“The body weights reported in the study (in all three treatment groups) increased with advancement in pregnancy until birth ranging from 1,40 kg to 9,46 kg,” she says. “The high levels of dietary protein influenced the levels of blood progesterone, body weight and other blood metabolite parameters.”

“Despite the cost of the source of protein in the diet of animals, this research made me realise that with a minimum energy and protein supplementation, the Tswana goat could be bred more productively and enhance the lives of emerging farmers,” concludes Mpho.

Mpho Tsheole is a recent PhD graduate from the NWU. With her during her graduation is Franco Nkoana.