PRODUCTIVE PROGRESS IN A GOAT PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, "CAPRINOCULTORES UNIDOS DE GUANAJUATO AC", THROUGH A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SYSTEM GGAVATT (LIVESTOCK VALIDATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GROUP) (2001-2007)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of technology adoption on milk goat producers in central México. The association has 13 producers, with an average age 41.5 years old, the average schooling reaches junior high school (3rd year), and  a mean of 6 dependants per family. This association has an average number of 246 female goats per herd, a total of 3447 females, and 2190 females in production control. The income in relation to investment is 36%. Technological practices implemented to date and the percentage of use are: Weighing milk (100%), Animal Nutrition consulting (71%), Estrus synchronization and reproductive management techniques (40%), Gestation Diagnosis (93%), Brucellosis control herd program (100%), Artificial kids raising in slat (46%), Disease diagnosis and management (61%), Certification of good milking practice (53%), Linear and genetics evaluation (87%) Evaluation of genetic records ( 61%), Forage  conservation by silage (93%), Milk components analysis (100%), dispersion of genetic material (71%), Analysis and data processing for replacement selection and animal sale (Sire and females)(100%), Bacteriological analysis of milk (93%), Cryoscopic point of milk (100%), and Diagnosis of subclinical mastitis (cytometryc flow) (100%). An 80% of the producers have adopted different practices, and the association has promoted and implemented different programs such as: control milk production, milk quality, genealogical records, disease control, marketing in group, sales of fluid milk and dehydration of milk for conservation and sale. Accordingly to such practices, results are as follows: 11,180 kids born, from which 52% were females and 48% males, with 56.9%, 24.3%, 15.7% and 2.9% of double, triple, simple and quadruple births, respectively. The mean birth weight was 3.32 kg and 15.7 kg weaning at 60 days, with a daily gain weight (DGW) of 206.33 g. For milk production, 3534 lactations were analyzed from 1999 to 2007 in a 90.4% of animals ranging from 1 to 4 lactations, a 9.58% from 5 to 11 lactations, and 35% of animals in the 1st lactation. An ANOVA was performed under a randomized design considering the effects of lactation number. The lactation number influenced (P <0.05) the number of open days with an average of 221.6 ± 6.5 d, being greater from the 5th lactation; the number of days in milk was 301.2 ± 6.8d and were different (P <0.05) without a tendency. Milk production per lactation was 987.2 ± 33.9 kg, with higher values (P <0.05) at the 2nd lactation (1105 ± 11.4), 3th lactation (1101.8 ± 13.5) and 4th lactation (1089 ± 18.53), resulting in an daily production average of 3.27 ± 0.93 kg/day, which was higher (P <0.05) at the 2nd (3.50 ± 0.8), 3rd (3.63 ± 0.9) and 4th (3.63 ± 0.97) lactation. In conclusion, the implementation of various technological tools such as: production controls, management consulting and food conservation, disease control, and genetic evaluations, have yielded higher productions and could be appropriate tools for decisions making on goat production systems.