Page 216 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

94

Feeding on the whole, especially where calves are concerned, is poor. Like most Zebu
cattle local cows demand the calf at milking, and pail feeding is practically impossible unless the
calf is taken away at birth. Under the circumstances, a natural feeding system of allowing the
calf to the cow before and after milking is generally carried out. This system, although it
allows a calf to strip the cow and obtain milk with a higher fat content, also tends in a country
where the milk yield is low, to provide insufficient milk for the calf.
Good feeding is very essential during the growing period of a calf’s life and under norma
conditions where animals are properly fed sexual maturity usually occurs before physical
maturity. Due to poor feeding and care during the- growing period sexual and physical
maturity often occur simultaneously in Bahrain. Young heifers are invariably put to the
bull when they are 12 to 14 months old-and arc physically immature.
Bull management also leaves a lot to be desired and besides being underfed in most cases,
bulls arc often put to service when they are immature and in many instances are required to
perform too many services. Young bulls should not be used before they are two years old and
should not be allowed more than one service per week. When a bull normally attains maturity
at the age of three years, only 100 to 120 services per annum should be allowed. Exercise is
very essential as far as bulls are concerned and animals should be exercised daily if possible.
Hygienic dairy methods arc practically unknown to milk producers in Bahrain and milking
is normally carried out under very insanitary conditions. Although milk straight from the
udder contains bacteria, the main source of danger is from external infection. To produce
reasonably clean milk all dairy equipment should be thoroughly washed in a bactericidal
solution which should also be used for the milker’s hands. Milkers should be provided with
clean clothes and care should be taken to see that men handling milk are not addicted to
coughing or sneezing. The milking pen should be situated in such a position that the minimum
amount of dust and dirt can be blown into the milk and if possible flics should be excluded as
they are one of the main sources of contamination.
Although no control with regard to the importation of livestock is exercised by the Bahrain
Government, there is very little disease with the exception of a very mild type of “foot and
mouth’’ and occasional outbreaks of mastitis.

Donkeys
In the past the donkeys produced in Bahrain were justly famous for their size, strength and
ability to stand up to very hard work under difficult conditions. Due mainly to the fact that
mechanized transport is gradually replacing animal transport on the Island little or no interest
has been taken with regard to breeding over a considerable period. The result of this short­
sighted policy is very noticeable and the animals now being used in Bahrain are gradually
reverting to scrub donkeys with few, if any, of the attributes of the original breed.

Poultry
Although large scale poultry keeping is not practised in Bahrain the poultry population is
reasonably high. The local type of chicken cannot be said to compare with any of the table or
egg-laying breeds produced in Europe and America.
The birds are small in size, poor layers and the flesh is inferior in quality. The market for
eggs is reasonably steady and it is hoped with the introduction of good laying breeds to increase
the interest of the local population in poultry keeping.
Goats
The number of goats kept on the Island is relatively few in number and although a few
herds may be seen on the desert most animals are hand fed. On the whole very few goats are
reared for milk and there are practically no “tethered type’’ goats kept for milk production.
With the introduction of the famous Jamnapari breed it is hoped to increase the number of
“tethered” goats on the Island and produce animals with high milk yields.

Sheep
With the exception of a few enthusiasts sheep breeding for meat is at a very low ebb.
Sheep are usually imported and fattened for slaughter.
The fat-tailed type of sheep which arc imported from Persia or Saudi Arabia do reasonably
well under local conditions provided they are fed properly. Sheep are more susceptible to
disease in Bahrain than other types of livestock, and the non-rcstricted importation of animals
in very poor condition often leads to outbreaks of haemorrhagus septicaemia.

i