Nutritional Challenges Affecting Goat Performance: A Case Study, Terekeka County, South Sudan

This paper describes the traditional method of keeping goats and shows initial steps for future development. The data necessary for this paper have been gained through extensively questioning. questionnaire was used to collect data from 240 farmer-owning goats based on several-visit-interviews. To enrich the primary data, field observations smallholders in Terekeka county, Central equatorial State, South Sudan. Goats are traditionally kept in small herds, there being a high loss of young animals. In addition to natural pastures, the main sources of fodder are the waste products of the traditional way. The range of fodder is particularly poor during the dry period and the farmers depending on Valley water which represent 86%. animal walk longer distance to valleys which may cause risk of dehydration, weight loss and concentration of animals which may lead to diseases and parasites at water points. The animals' health situation and the quality of fodder during the dry season have been identified as the most important restricting factors in improving the keeping of goats. the major contributing factors to low production under traditional farming systems with low input is feeding especially during dry season.