Can indigenous plants be harnessed to control internal worms for small stock in Botswana?

Abstract

Small stock offers an opportunity to contribute to poverty reduction and to empower youth and women. Rearing of sheep and goats also opens opportunities for wealth creation, job creation and to diversify animal agriculture. Statistics Botswana (2013) shows that 98% and 92% of goat & sheep are in the traditional sector. Therefore invigorating small stock industry in Botswana will benefit rural economies and increase rural trade. Tswana goats have high frequency of twinning (1.7 kids/doe; Madibela et al., 2002) (Picture 1). Combined with high fertility (90%) & a short gestation period (5 months) means that more meat can be realised in a relatively short period of time.