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Goat Rearing for a Resilient Future: Enhancing Climate Adaptation among Smallholder Farmers in Umguza District, Zimbabwe
The agriculture sector is pivotal for the income and livelihoods of rural populations in the Global South, particularly in arid regions where small-scale livestock farming has emerged as a viable source of sustenance and economic stability. This study explores the potential of subsistence goat farming to enhance climate resilience among smallholder farmers in Umguza District, Zimbabwe. Data were gathered through 15 face-to-face interviews, eight key informant discussions, and two focus group sessions, with participants selected with the assistance of local leadership. The findings reveal that climate change vulnerability stems from erratic rainfall patterns, the failure of rain-fed agriculture, pervasive poverty, social inequality, limited access to extension services, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Consequently, smallholder farmers face acute challenges including food insecurity, water scarcity, and livestock loss. Goat farming has been identified as a crucial strategy for building resilience, particularly because goats demonstrate higher survival rates than cattle during drought conditions. However, farmers face significant barriers, including lack of start-up capital, access to high-quality breeds, and insufficient information regarding disease management. The study emphasizes the need for further investigation into the effectiveness of subsistence goat farming as a climate adaptation strategy, advocating for community-led initiatives that integrate traditional knowledge, local resources, and social structures. By prioritizing community-based resilience efforts, smallholder farmers can develop tailored strategies to effectively combat the challenges posed by climate change in Zimbabwe.
Journal Article
Raising goats naturally : the complete guide to milk, meat, and more
\"Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can be key to greater self-sufficiency. Responding to questions and concerns from readers from all over North America and beyond, this fully revised and expanded edition will help readers raise goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, and more, without relying on drugs or the factory farm model.\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Seasonal Variations of Milk Composition of Sarda and Saanen Dairy Goats
Traditionally, in Mediterranean areas the goat population was composed of autochthonous breeds with strong milk production seasonality. In the last decades, high productive alpine breeds were introduced together with more widespread out-of-season milk production practices. This study is a large-scale survey on the seasonal variations of the main compositional characteristics of goat milk obtained from Sarda and Saanen breeds reared on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia (Italy). Analysis of data indicated that milk from the Sarda breed was significantly richer, at p < 0.001, in protein, fat, and lactose, and had a lower urea mean content than Saanen. Throughout the year, fluctuations of mean contents of the milk parameters were similar for the two groups of goats, indicating that, besides genetic intrinsic differences, climate and herbage growth influenced the Sarda as well as the Saanen goats. During the summer, milk from Saanen showed a marked drop in fat and protein contents, with 21% of samples showing a fat-to-protein ratio <1. No significant differences were found for the somatic cell count; however, the Sarda breed showed a higher bacterial count, suggesting improper milk handling and/or storage equipment more frequently encountered in extensive and semi-extensive farm systems.
Journal Article
Raising animals for fiber : producing wool from sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits in your backyard
Get a feel for fiber farming! Welcome to a \"wool\" new world! The perfect starting point, this book focuses on four different fiber animal species to tackle all of your questions and curiosities. Understand the basics of keeping livestock for fiber, then progress into detailed information on raising sheep, Angora goats, alpacas, and Angora rabbits to discover which could be the best fit for you. Learn tips for grooming, housing, feeding, shearing, breeding, and more for each animal, plus get ideas on how to use the fiber you harvest. Author and Californian fiber farmer Chris McLaughlin began from a simple curiosity that converged with her existing hobby of raising and showing rabbits. The same can go for you, too! An essential introduction to raising livestock for fiber ; Focuses on four main wool-producing animals: sheep, Angora goats, alpacas, and Angora rabbits ; Provides insight on each animal's fiber, as well as health, grooming, housing, breeding, shearing, and other special considerations ; Shares ideas on how to use and market the fiber you harvest ; Bonus fiber farming resources guide you to further research, such as national clubs, books, magazines, websites, and more. -- back cover.
Book
Sustainable Goat Farming in Southeastern Tunisia: Challenges and Opportunities for Profitability
Goat farming represents a critical component of rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural heritage in southeastern Tunisia. This study adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to analyze the goat value chain in Tataouine, incorporating focus groups, semi-structured questionnaires, and direct observations with 80 farmers, 3 veterinarians, 13 butchers, and 100 consumers. The findings reveal strong local demand, with 72% of consumers purchasing goat meat and 66% consuming milk. However, significant inefficiencies exist, particularly a misalignment between production and market requirements: while 92% of butchers prefer fattened animals, only 16% of farmers engage in fattening practices. Women constitute 49% of dairy processors, yet face persistent resource constraints. Climate pressures exacerbate these challenges, with 80% of farmers reporting water scarcity and 93.8% observing pasture degradation. Three strategic interventions emerge as pivotal for sustainable development: targeted support for feed-efficient fattening techniques, establishment of women-led dairy processing collectives, and implementation of climate-resilient water management systems. These measures address core constraints while leveraging existing strengths of the production system. The study presents a transferable framework for livestock value chain analysis in arid regions, demonstrating how integrated approaches can enhance both economic viability and adaptive capacity while preserving traditional pastoral systems.
Journal Article
Trèfle
\"Trèfle et sa famille habitent dans une ferme . À la chèvrerie, il y a toujours un tas de choses à faire, comme cueillir des bleuets ou ramasser des moules. Trèfle a envie de faire toutes ces choses, mais en choisir une seule est très difficile pour elle. Le jour où la petite chèvre Pivoine s'aventure loin de la ferme, Trèfle comprend que, pour la sauver, elle devra agir rapidement, sans hésiter. En plaçant Trèfle dans une situation difficile, l'autrice Nadine Robert et l'illustratrice Qin Leng montrent l'importance d'apprendre tôt à prendre des décisions. L'histoire de Trèfle sera une source d'inspiration pour les jeunes lecteurs qui apprennent à développer leur confiance et leur autonomie.\"--leslibraires.ca.
Book
A MULTIVARIATE LOGISTIC ANALYSIS ON FACTORS AFFECTING THE MARKET PARTICIPATION OF SMALLHOLDER INDIGENOUS GOAT FARMERS IN MAKUYA VILLAGE OF THE HAMAKUYA COMMUNITY, MUTALE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Livestock farming, particularly indigenous goat farming, is essential for rural economies, providing food and income. The demand for goat products is growing, encompassing meat, milk, fibres, and skins. Nevertheless, there's limited participation by farmers in formal markets, with most transactions happening privately. The study examined 45 smallholder indigenous goat farmers in Makuya Village, located in the Mutale Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and a multivariate logistic model to explore factors influencing market participation. The findings highlighted the diverse community, with a notable presence of male smallholder goat farmers. Several factors affecting market participation were identified, including the age of the farmer, the number of goats owned, distance to the market, and the source of agricultural information. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, supporting sustainable goat farming and enhanced market engagement in rural areas.
Journal Article
Effects of Farming System on the Rheological Behavior of Rennet-Induced Coagulation in Milk from Skopelos Breed Goats
This study examined the impact of extensive and intensive farming systems on the rheological behavior of rennet-induced goat milk coagulation in the indigenous Greek Skopelos goat breed. Milk samples were obtained from Skopelos dairy goats reared under extensive and intensive farming systems at two farms in Greece. Rennet-induced coagulation kinetics (at 35 °C) and curd rheological properties were assessed using dynamic rheometry. Milk from the extensive system exhibited longer rennet coagulation time (RCT) but resulted in curds with higher storage modulus (G′) and complex viscosity (η*), indicating formation of stronger coagulated structures compared to curds from the intensive system. The differences can be attributed to variations in milk composition and the structural characteristics of protein components, e.g., casein fractions, between the two systems. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the farming systems could be differentiated based on the rheological properties of the curds, specifically on structure-related parameters (loss tangent, tanδ, apparent yield stress, τy). Strong correlations (p < 0.01) were noted between G′max and caseins/total proteins (positive), as well as with pH (negative), in both farming systems. These findings offer valuable insights into animal farming practices and cheese production, providing evidence of the relationships between goat-rearing systems and rheological properties of rennet-coagulated milk products.
Journal Article
