Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
family owned, another key factor conducive to excellent
goat production. California's abundance of rangeland
caters to the browsing ability of goats and mixed grazing.
The mostly dry, mild Mediterranean climate in California
helps reduce gastrointestinal parasitism of goats.
California has the highest product value per acre in
the U.S., and a wide variety of agricultural products are
grown on its fertile land. Energy-rich cereal grains such as
wheat, barley, and sorghum are grown locally, and protein
feeds such as cottonseed, sunfl ower meal, and other by-
products are readily available. Roughage such as good
quality hays and silages, and by-products such as rice bran,
wheat bran, and sugar beet pulp are common. Garden
produce, often sold in farmers' markets, provides residues
that can be used as compost or as feed for goats. California's
diverse topography—valleys, foothills, coastal areas, and
deserts—make this diverse Western state suitable for
production of a variety of agricultural products including
goats.
C
ENTRAL
C
OAST
OF
C
ALIFORNIA
With the highest value farmland in the nation, the Central
Coast is home to the country's premium agricultural prod-
ucts including grapes, strawberries, orchard crops, and
vegetables. By-products of the fruit and vegetable indus-
tries can be used for goat feed. The Salinas Valley is the
salad bowl of the nation, creating an abundance of leftover
greens for goats.
S
OUTHERN
C
ALIFORNIA
The South Coast region tends to have farms of smaller size
and is a major producer of avocados, citrus, vegetables,
and hays. Alfalfa, cotton, citrus, dates, small grains, and
winter vegetables are produced in abundance in the hotter
interior valley where farms are generally larger.
GLOBAL LIVESTOCK
PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
According to the FAO, livestock production systems are
classifi ed as (1) livestock production systems, where less
than 10% of the total value of production comes from non-
livestock farming practices, and (2) mixed farming
systems, where more than 10% of the total value of pro-
duction is from non-livestock farming activities (Seré and
Steinfeld, 1995). A landless livestock production system
is where less than 10% of animal feed is produced on-farm,
and animal density is more than 10 livestock units per
hectare. This system is mainly concentrated in the devel-
oped countries and is capital and feed intensive, and labor
extensive. A grassland-based livestock production system
is where more than 10% of the animal feed is produced
on-farm, and animal density is less than 10 livestock units
per hectare. This system is used in Central and South
America and in developed countries. Rain-fed, mixed
farming systems in developed countries and Asia produce
more than 70% of the meat produced in the mixed farming
system, and the remaining 30% is produced by irrigated
mixed farming systems. Grazing and mixed farming
systems are represented in temperate and tropical highland
zones; the humid and subhumid tropical and subtropical
zones; and arid, semiarid tropical and subtropical zones of
the world.
Globally, mixed farming systems provide more than
54% of total meat and 92% of total milk production fol-
lowed by landless systems; grazing systems contribute less
than 10% of total production for meat and milk. It is
expected that mixed system farming will continue to grow
(Table 10.13 ).
N
ORTH
C
OAST
AND
M
OUNTAINS
OF
C
ALIFORNIA
This area has fewer farms of middle and large size than
other areas of the U.S. and is well suited for timber and
production of cattle, sheep, and some goats that can graze
hills and rough terrain over wide expanses. Goats raised in
this region often form part of herds used in a mixed grazing
system with other livestock. Hay produced on irrigated
pastures and rangeland covering private and leased public
lands provides high quality forage for goat production in
this region. With more than 32% of California's terrain
covered by forestland, and with proper management, goats
as browsers can be successfully raised for meat production
in silvopasture systems using undercover brush and
browse.
C
ENTRAL
V
ALLEY
OF
C
ALIFORNIA
The Sacramento Valley, with its cooler winters and high
rainfall, produces small grain crops and seasonal grazing
on nonirrigated land. Rice is produced on irrigated lands.
Row crops including tomatoes, beans, corn, milo, and sun-
fl owers also are produced in this region.
The foothills of the Sacramento Valley support seasonal
grazing. The southern portion of the great Central Valley,
the San Joaquin Valley, is the most extensive and produc-
tive agricultural region in California and the nation. In this
region, several favorite feeds for goats are grown including
alfalfa, cotton by-products, vegetables, and fi eld crops.
Sheep, cattle, and sometimes goats, can graze on the irri-
gated pastures in the foothills of this region.
