Goat farming is an attractive business for professional livestock farmers. One reason is the rapid reproduction of goats, with a gestation period of only five months and an average litter size of 1.5-2 kids.
In the livestock industry, successful production performance is determined by 30% genetics and 70% environmental factors (management, nutrition, disease, housing, marketing, and so on). Genetics is crucial, as this 30% plays a dominant role. Good genetics, supported by a favorable environment, will produce optimal performance. Conversely, no matter how good the management (environment), without good genetics, maximum production will not be achieved.
Previously, goat farming relied solely on existing genetics: meat ( Kacang and Jawarandu goats) and dairy ( Etawa or Etawa crossbred goats). Currently, there are efforts to improve the genetic quality of goats by crossbreeding with good genetics, as well as importing goats that have meat genetics (Boer goats) and dairy genetics (Saanen, Togenburgh, Alpine, Anglo Nubian).
Nevertheless, the threat of disease is a major factor affecting goat farm production performance. Knowledge of disease types, prevention, control, and eradication is essential for goat farmers. Goat diseases caused by viruses include ORF (ecthyma contagiosa, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), pox, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE). Bacterial diseases include anthrax, brucellosis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), mastitis, foot rot, dermatophillosis, and listeriosis.
Diseases caused by fungi include candidiasis, cryptococcosis, ringworm, and aspergillosis. Parasitic infestations include endoparasites (various worms in the digestive tract), ectoparasites (scabies, ticks, mites, lice), and blood parasites. In addition, protozoal (rickettsial) diseases include babesiosis, coccidiosis, theileriosis, cryptosporidiasis, anaplasmosis, and heartwater disease. Metabolic diseases and nutritional disorders include milk fever, ketosis, enterotoxemia, calcium deficiency, copper deficiency, and vitamin B1 deficiency.
