The emerging role of goats in world food production

Most of the national goat herd is located on small farms of less than five ha in the less industrialized countries. There are nearly double the number of goats per 100 economically active agricultural persons in less industrialized (56.4) than in industrialized (33.5) countries. Although total production of meat and milk is much higher in less industrialized than in industrialized countries, the average offtake of meat and milk per goat and per year is higher in industrialized (6.5 kg, 82.0 kg) than in less industrialized (4.1 kg, 12.5 kg). Improvements in goat production within pastoral and farming systems will require interventions which will protect and improve the natural resource base, be acceptable to producers, efficiently utilize available feedstuffs and labor in the production of food and fiber, and increase productivity and profitability of the total pastoral unit or farm of which goats are a part. Available data suggest metabolic requirements are similar to those of cattle. However, requirements for protein and energy are likey higher than for cattle because of a smaller digestive tract relative to requirements that results in a higher rate of passage and lower digestibility of ingested nutrients. Another distinct advantage for goats is their selective feeding habit that enables them to satisfy their elevated nutrient requirements under environmental conditions unsatisfactory for other domestic ruminants. Goats can be expected to continue as an important source milk and of meat for local consumption and as a food and cash reserve in less industrialized countries