In Botswana milk production generally come from dairy cattle breeds, but there are some goat breeds that
have the genetic potential for producing large quantities of milk. This dissertation was a record of two studies
on Performances of dairy goats in selected regions of Botswana and the effect of improved management
practices on milk yield and composition. The first study was a survey that identified the current situation of
smallholder dairy goat production in Central, Kgatleng, and Kweneng districts of Botswana. Data were
collected through a survey using structured questionnaires that were administered face to face to the
identified dairy goat farm owners in Central, Kgatleng, and Kweneng districts of Botswana. Data were
analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Dairy goat production was dominated
by male farmers of which the majority 75% (9/12) had less than five years experience keeping dairy goats.
The common dairy goat breeds kept by farmers were the Saanen, Crosses, Toggenburg and British Alpine.
All the flocks (100%) were managed in a semi-intensive production system and were estimated to produce
on average of 3 kg per day milk per goat at peak of lactation. Milk yield was estimated only at peak of
lactation because farmers were not regularly measuring milk yield throughout the whole lactation period,
they were only using the highest milk production estimates of each goat. The major challenges that dairy
goat farmers faced included lack of available breeding stock, insufficient feeds and failure of the exotic
breeds to acclimatize effectively to local climatic conditions. However, farmers believed that there was
potential for growth of the dairy goat industry through dairy goat stud breeding, and fodder production
particularly lucerne and lablab forages. In an attempt to motivate farmers to venture into dairy goat
production, the second study was on-station experiment that determined the effects of feeding lucerne and
lablab total mixed rations (TMR) and milking frequency on milk production and milk composition of midlactation
Saanen dairy goats managed under an intensive system. Twenty eight lactating Saanen goats were
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allocated to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in Randomized Complete Block Design for a period of seventy
(70) days. Data were analysed by General Linear Model procedures in Statistical Analysis System. Goats
fed the lucerne ration produced significantly higher average milk yields (2.51±0.067 vs 2.21±0.067 kg/d;
P=0.0016), had higher DMI (2.49±0.067 vs 2.19±0.067 kg/d; P=0.0016) and 4% FCM (2.15±0.049 vs
1.84±0.049 kg/d; P<0.0001) than goats that were fed the lablab ration respectively. Milk yield (2.65±0.108
vs 2.10±0.108 kg/d; P<0.0001), DMI (2.60±0.107vs 2.07±0.107 kg/d; P<0.0001), 4% FCM (2.18±0.089 vs
1.81± 0.089 kg/d; P<0.0001) were significantly higher in goats that were milked twice a day than goats that
were milked three times a day, respectively. Most of the farmers kept dairy goats for household milk
consumption with a few selling the surplus milk. Regular milking and feeding high quality total mixed rations
to dairy goats increased daily flock milk yield. Therefore, local dairy goat farmers should be encouraged to
utilize affordable quality forages to feed their animals for increased milk production and improve their
management.