Goat In Ethiopia

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Ethiopia is a home for approximately 24 million goats (CSA 2013). Though the population density of goats in mid- and low-altitude areas is high, they are produced across the country from the arid lowlands to the coolest highland areas. Goats are amongst the commonest farm animal species, which sustain the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro pastoralists alike. They fulfil various functions such as generating cash income, serving as household security, accumulating capital, and fulfilling cultural obligations (Workneh and Peacock 1993; Workneh 2000; Dehaba et al. 2012).

Compared to other ruminants, goats possess unique abilities to adapt to harsh tropical environments and are closely associated with resource-poor …show more content…

2000). Given the large population size with diverse breeds and their wide distribution across various agro-ecological zones and production systems, there is a huge potential to utilize goats to raise the socio-economic status of producers by improving goat productivity. First however, some key limiting constraints need to be tackle through various research and development …show more content…

Across the whole country, goats provide meat, milk, cash, skins, manure and security (insurance), as well as banking and gifts (Adane and Girma 2008). The total goat population of Ethiopia has increased by 30% in the last 12 years. Goats comprise 5.32% of the total tropical livestock units of Ethiopia; contribute an estimated 12 to 14% of meat products, 10.5% of milk production and 6% of all animals exported. While the socio-economic importance of goats is widely recognized, their full potential contribution to poverty reduction and food security is constrained by inefficiencies at all levels of the production process. The input side is constrained by poor feeds, animal health and inferior genotypes, while the lack of standardized marketing systems and infrastructure to access markets impede the output side. Priority areas of research attention include improving product quality for export and domestic markets, supporting commercialization of production, improving our understanding of goat genetic resources, improving the efficiency of procurement and utilization of feeds, reducing kid mortality rates, and developing standardized marketing

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