Characteristics of local goat farming and rearing in Gorontalo, Indonesia

Abstract

A survey of 32 breeders was conducted to determine the characteristics of breeders and the management of local goat rearing in Gorontalo. Information from breeders was obtained by observation and interviews based on a list of questions in the questionnaire. The research on characteristics of local goat breeders in Gorontalo shows that the majority of main occupations are farmers (40.63%), with at least elementary school education (53.13%) and years of farming >6 years (71.88%). The total of goats kept by the majority of farmers is 1-5 goats (50%), kept in pens (53.13%) with a colony model (75%). Most feed given was grass and leaves (37.50%), with the primary source being grass/leaves growing around gardens, moorland, and fallow rice fields (40.62%). The group of food leaves provided consists of lead tree leaves (Leucaena leucocephala), goat wood (Garuga floribunda), java wood leaves (Lannea coromandelica), kelumpang leaves (Sterculia foetida), jackfruit leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus), water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), kapok leaves (Ceiba pentandra), banana leaves and peels (Musa paradisiaca), moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera). The grass groups given for goats are field grass, odot (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott), wild kale, corn (Zea mays), and concentrate in the form of tofu dregs, rice/corn bran. Some farmer respondents sometimes provide vegetables waste from the kitchen.