The duck industry in China

A study on local goats in Burundi, specially the growth rate of the kid during the first weeks after birth, has been undertaken. Milk yield has been monitored to establish milking and suckling abilities of local goats. The results of daily controls have given a milk yield average of 511 g/day up to day 56 post partum. Lactation yield has been significantly affected by the doe's weight. During the first month, heavy goats have produced the equivalent of a glass of milk per day (about 200 ml) for human consumption in addition to the quantity taken up by the kids. The daily weight gain of 54.05 g recorded from birth to 28 days of age in youngs is low, probably due to the limited quantity of milk available to them. Nevertheless local kids show an excellent conversion ratio of suckled milk, with a value of 3.93 kg of milk to produce 1 kg liveweight during the first 28 days, representing a very high food conversion.