Small Farm Goat Production in Semi-Arid Region of Uttar Pradesh

Majority of selected goat farmers were landless and marginal (69%) with an annual average income of Rs.I9200.00. However, average income of small and medium goat farmers were about Rs.25500.00.Ownership pattern of goats revealed that about 78% goats were owned by the landless and marginal farmers. Majority of the farmers had Barbari/Barbari type goats (54%) followed by non-descript (43%) and Sirohi type goats (3%). Furthermore, 69 per cent goat houses were of Kaccha type and 49 per cent of selected respondent availed private veterinary services for their goats however, 40 percent of the goat farmers used home remedies. Merely, 11 per cent of the respondents visited government veterinary hospitals Though, poor socio-economic status cannot be ignore for the goat improvement in study village, some policy support is imperative to encourage goat farmers for their overall development

The antibody loci of the domestic goat (Capra hircus)

The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is an important ruminant species both as a source of antibody-based reagents for research and biomedical applications and as an economically important animal for agriculture, particularly for developing nations that maintain most of the global goat population. Characterization of the loci encoding the goat immune repertoire would be highly beneficial for both vaccine and immune reagent development. However, in goat and other species whose reference genomes were generated using short-read sequencing technologies, the immune loci are poorly assembled as a result of their repetitive nature. Our recent construction of a long-read goat genome assembly (ARS1) has facilitated characterization of all three antibody loci with high confidence and comparative analysis to cattle. We observed broad similarity of goat and cattle antibody-encoding loci but with notable differences that likely influence formation of the functional antibody repertoire. The goat heavy-chain locus is restricted to only four functional and nearly identical IGHV genes, in contrast to the ten observed in cattle. Repertoire analysis indicates that light-chain usage is more balanced in goats, with greater representation of kappa light chains (~ 20-30%) compared to that in cattle (~ 5%). The present study represents the first characterization of the goat antibody loci and will help inform future investigations of their antibody responses to disease and vaccination

A Pilot Study of Halal Goat-Meat Consumption in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is a relatively large market for goat meat. As in most metropolitan areas around the U.S., goat-meat consumption has grown steadily in Atlanta over the past decade (Northwest Cooperative Development Center 2005; Nettles and Bukenya 2004). This growth is attributed to the influx of immigrants from goat-meat-eating countries into the U.S. over the same period (Gipson 1999). The increase in demand for goat meat has made the U.S. a net importer of competitively priced goat meat from Australia and New Zealand into major U.S cities such as Atlanta (USDA-FAS 2006). The fact that goat-meat imports from Australia have steadily increased over the years makes markets such as Atlanta of particular interest to both Georgia goat-meat suppliers and meat-goat producers. The goat-meat market, however, is highly segmented (Nelson et al. 2004; Mclean-Meyinsse 2003). Recognition of the diversity among Atlanta goat-meat consumers raises interest in identifying preferences of particular segments. One such segment is the Muslim consumer. However, very limited information is available to help assess the preferences of Muslim consumers in the Atlanta goat-meat market. This study focuses on the Muslim segment of actual goat-meat consumers in the metro Atlanta area. Contrary to earlier assertions, we hypothesize that Muslims eat goat-meat for cultural reasons and not for religious reasons. Furthermore, we assert that Muslims are not a single homogenous niche group and should not be treated as such in marketing. Thus this study examines goat-meat consumption patterns among Muslims in metropolitan Atlanta. Insights gained in this study benefit meat-goat producers and consumers in Georgia.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

Demand Potential for Goat Meat in Southern States: Empirical Evidence from a Multi-State Goat Meat Consumer Survey

A survey conducted in 11 Southeastern states elicits consumers' demand and preferences for various goat meat products. The data permit examination of goat meat demand of ethnic populations and the diversity among the states surveyed. The study uses five econometric models to examine the current demand, potential demand, and demand related to season and occasions on the goat meat market. Our analysis suggests that there exist a substantial demand for goat meat and the potential increase in the demand. The findings also identify the major factors in the determination of goat meat purchasing behavior.Demand, Logit Model, Goat Meat, Demand and Price Analysis,

MEAT-GOAT MARKET ANALYSIS: A PILOT STUDY OF THE SOMALI MARKET IN COLUMBUS, OH

This case study focuses on meat goat marketing involving one distinct immigrant group residing in one area of Columbus, Ohio: the Somalis. There are about 20,000-25,000 Somalis living in Columbus, the second largest concentration of Somalian immigrants in the U.S. after Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. It is estimated that Columbus Somalis consume the meat from about 14,000 goats each year. The objective of this pilot study is to analyze the meat goat marketing and consumption patterns of the Somali immigrant population of Columbus, Ohio. Understanding gained in the Somali meat market will assist in determining the feasibility of establishing a more structured marketing system, including the possible need for a processing plant dedicated to goat meat. The Southern Ohio Meat Goat Task Force is a group of meat-goat producers, marketers, OSU extension professionals, and Ohio Cooperative Development Center staff members that are working with the meat-goat industry to assess and develop goat production, processing, and meat marketing in Ohio. Tours of several retail shops within the Somali community were conducted to further understand the preferences of the Somali population. Interviews were conducted with a slaughter-plant manager in nearby Detroit, Michigan, the current major supplier of fresh goat meat to the Columbus market. During January and March 2003, two focus-group sessions were organized and conducted by task force members with Somali consumers, entrepreneurs, and retail grocery owners. Significant results and discussion presented in detail within this research report include: Somalia's prefer fresh over frozen goat meat, pricing is a key determinant in meat choices for Somali consumers, goat meat and lamb meat are somewhat substitutable in Somali diets, Somalis will substitute halal chicken and beef if lamb and goat meat is not available, lean grass-fed carcass is preferred to a grain-fed goat, Somalis eat goat meat 1-2 times a day year-round, most people feeding families buy a whole carcass, and only a slight preference was indicated between the halal and kosher slaughter practices.Agribusiness,

Thermic dehorning and ear tagging as atypical portals of entry of Clostridium tetani in ruminants

This paper describes two infections with Clostridium tetani (C. tetani). One outbreak occurred after dehorning of calves, the second infection happened after ear tagging of a goat. In the first case 3 young Holstein Friesian calves showed generalized stiffness, severe lock-jaw and bloat two weeks after dehorning. The thermal dehorning wounds were identified as the infection sites of C. tetani by bacterial culture and PCR. The second case was a three-year old male castrated goat, with generalized stiffness. The animal had been ear tagged one week prior to the onset of the symptoms. C. tetani could be cultured from pus on the ear tag. Treatment was attempted in two calves and the goat. Wounds were debrided and disinfected, penicillin and anti-tetanus serum were administered and polyionic perfusions provided. In addition, the goat was vaccinated against tetanus. The goat and one calf fully recovered after 36 and 8 days respectively. To the authors' knowledge a tetanus outbreak in association with thermal dehorning has not been described previously. Also ear tagging as a possible cause for C. tetani infection has not been described in goats

A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR BEEF, MUTTON/GOAT, PORK AND CHICKEN IN KENYA, 1961-1991

This study examines the demand for beef, mutton/goat, pork and chicken in Kenya for the period 1961 to 1991. A log linear function was used to estimate direct, cross and income elasticities. The analysis reveals that the demand for beef and mutton/goat is elastic while the demand for pork and chicken is inelastic. The results of further analyses indicate that mutton/goat is a substitute to beef while pork and chicken are complements to it. In the mutton/goat equation, beef is a substitute to mutton/goat while pork and chicken are complements to it. Both the beef and the mutton/goat equations indicated an income elasticity of more than one. High income elasticities for these two types of meat perhaps indicate that if improvements can be made in both production and marketing, more of these meat types would be consumed at every increase in income. In both the pork and chicken equations, beef and mutton/goat are found to be complements of these meat types. Pork and chicken are substitutes to each other.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Organic Sheep and Goat Farming

Organic sheep and goat farming is on the rise in Germany and the EU. Many consumers see organic farms as an example of the "intact world" of farming and rural living. Agrienvironmental schemes support conversion from conventional towards organic farming. Only few know how difficult organic sheep and goat farming is from animal welfare, ecological and economic perspective. Newcomers particularly overestimate the production and marketing potential of the field, and underestimate the associated husbandry (e.g., health) and labour problems. It usually takes years to learn how to operate a sheep and goat farm and make it profitable. In addition to patience, good animal handling skills, and marketing ability, qualified professional and veterinary advice is crucial for successful, sustainable development. Many veterinarians do not know enough about organic sheep and goat farming. This paper will give some key information. Organic sheep and goat farming is based on established and monitored production and processing guidelines. In 1999, EU-directive 1804/99EU on the legally binding minimum standards of organic animal husbandry was passed and has been in force since 24th August 2000. This was relevant for sheep and goats as well. It describes exactly the production processes to be adhered to, before advertising organic or eco-production. Higher standards than those demanded by the EU-organic-regulation are laid down by the agricultural associations of organic farming. Usually the standards are not very different. Guidelines alone, however, do not make an environmentally friendly, economic, organic sheep and goat keeping centring on animal welfare. A high degree of knowledge as well as practical skill are necessary to keep live stock in accordance with animal welfare and in an environmentally friendly way, and at the same time to earn sufficient income. Here, the regulations offer little help. However, the experience made by organic sheep and goat farmers having practiced for a longer duration of time, show that, in time, these difficulties can be mastered

Livestock Systems and Their Performance in Poor Endowment Regions of India

The study pertaining to the semi-arid tropic region of the country, which has maximum concentration of livestock, has identified livestock systems, investigated their performance, and determined their carrying capacity. Seven major livestock systems have been identified using cluster analysis: cattle, buffalo, cattle-buffalo-goat, cattle-goat, cattle-sheep, sheep-goat-cattle and the mixed. The cattle-livestock system has been found to be the most dominating system while sheep-goat-cattle system has been the least important system. Milk productivity and adoption of crossbred technology have been found highest in the buffalo-based livestock systems (buffalo, cattle-buffalo-goat, mixed), which are the systems prevalent in the agriculturally developed and socio-economically rich areas. Vast differences have been observed in the existing averages and exploitable potential in the milk productivity and adoption of the crossbred technology in cattle-based livestock systems (cattle, cattle-goat, cattle-sheep, sheep-goat-cattle). The research and development efforts need to be concentrated on these livestock systems in increasing the dry matter (DM) availability for which agricultural development is inevitable, and to develop a suitable crossbred technology thriving best in the marginal areas. The resultant increase in productivity will reduce the existing status of livestock units (LUs) per thousand hectares, which has been observed to be more than the carrying capacity in the cattle-based livestock systems.Agricultural and Food Policy,