PRODUCTION RESULTS OF ALPINA GOATS FARM IN THE ZLETOVO REGION, NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

The role of goats in world livestock is significant and there is not a country in which they are not bred. The goat production in the Republic of North Macedonia is characterized by spontaneous and continuous development, and with each day there is greater interest of farmers for breeding goats as a business that provides secure existence and profit. The aim of the research within this study was to assess productive characteristics of conventional goat farm operating in the Zletovo region. The researches lasted 3 years (2008, 2009 and 2010) at the farm where around 100–120 heads of goats of all categories of the Alpine race are bred. Almost the whole milk produced at the farm is processed into dairy products such as: white brined cheese and cashkawall. The kids born there are used as kids for market of livestock products, kids sold as breeding goats and part of them are retained for own reproduction in the herd. The percentage of fertility was the highest in 2010 (125.32%), in 2009 was 122.99% and in 2008 was 118.99%. The percentage of conception was the higest in 2009 (90.63%), in 2008 was 87.78% and in 2010 was 82.29%.The average lactation length in 2008 was 258.3 days, in 2009 was 265.4 days, and in 2010 was 261.7 days. The average daily amount of milk production in 2008 was 0.93 liters, in 2009 was 0.96 liters, and in 2010 was 1.01 liters per head. The average milk yield in 2008 was 241.23 liters, in 2009 was 251.47 liters, and in 2010 was 263.57 liters. The farm worked with profit in all three years of research.