Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
lions, 5% to bobcats, and the rest were to bears, foxes,
and eagles (USDA, 2005). These losses were more
devastating in Angora goat herd populations in west
Texas and New Mexico where they are kept extensively.
Common methods used around the world for controlling
animals or predators are simply housing, herding, tether-
ing, or fencing. Guardian animals such as dogs, donkeys,
or llamas have been used with different degrees of protec-
tion. Future research should focus on designing the most
proper methods of animal protection with an integrated
approach that is humane, sustainable, and economically
feasible.
U.S. is geared toward this group of farmers. The lack of
technical ability and capital hinders progress on these
farms.
For successful outreach activity, there is a need for
research output in the areas of need; research must be
applicable for the given environment; it must be in harmony
with available resources; and research must be sustainable.
Developing regions of the world house the majority of
goats; however, lack of infrastructure, supplies, and most
importantly, expertise in these regions limit goat research
and its application in the fi eld. Developed countries that
have less than 5% of the goat population in the world
produce the majority of scientifi c information used by the
majority of goat producers residing in a completely differ-
ent physical and natural environment. However, in most
cases, simply lack of extension infrastructure in these
countries creates broken communication lines or connec-
tions between research and extension so that successful
research output may result in failed outcomes. There is a
need for more effi cient dissemination of information, and
the fact that the majority of work conducted on goats in
the form of educational papers, minutes of extension meet-
ings, etc., that are unpublished, makes the results diffi cult
to distribute (Morand-Fehr and Boyazoglu, 1999).
EXTENSION PROGRAMS AND
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
The “ extension ” by web defi nition is an “act of expanding
in scope; making more widely available; the spreading of
something (a belief or practice) into new regions.” The
web defi nition of “outreach” is “an effort by individuals in
an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices
to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specifi c audi-
ences, or the general public.” Both of these explain con-
nectivity and reaching out to others. Agricultural research
publications in isolation are only static information, but
when put to work, the outcome is dynamic. The process in
which research fi ndings are transferred and applied to real
situations on a farm or in an agricultural system is the
process of extension. However, system feedback on the
components of the system for further research is called
participatory action research that has emerged in recent
years as a signifi cant methodology for intervention, devel-
opment, and change within communities and groups
(Wikipedia).
Benefi ciaries of extension and outreach programs are
producers and farmers. Typically, there are three types of
producers or farmers in the U.S. The progressive farmers
take charge of their situation and impose change in their
environment. The hobby farmers enjoy farming as a way
of life. They take the opportunity of farming and seek
success; however, they are economically independent of
farm income. The limited resource farmers or producers
are a group of farmers who have limited resources with
technical and economic needs. In the U.S., progressive
goat farmers have formed different “goat production
groups” or “breed associations,” and provide expertise to
other producers through fi rsthand, on-farm research trial
and error. Hobby farmers benefi t from these groups and
sometimes support their activities. Limited resource
farmers represent farming situations often found in devel-
oping countries. Most of the goat extension work in the
SUMMARY
This chapter attempted to demonstrate the relative amounts
of teaching, research, and extension activities reported for
goats compared to sheep and cattle using computer-based
search engines. However, the needs for information related
to teaching, research, and outreach were identifi ed through
reviewing published literature. Educational information
for formal academics and classroom settings for goats is
limited. Although the goat is the fi rst domesticated live-
stock, in all aspects of science and production, it has been
less researched compared to sheep and cattle. The majority
of the information for goats is extrapolated from that for
sheep and cattle. Therefore, extension and outreach without
solid research fi ndings for goats may have limited applica-
tion. Many progressive goat producers and breeders in the
U.S. and abroad have joined forces in driving this industry.
However, they need more information. More than 40
million online hits can be obtained on goats using the key
word “goat” alone using Google (the most popular current
[2009] search engine). This compares favorably to 52.6
million hits for cattle, indicating the popularity of this
species in the world and confi rming the need for more
information. Also there is a need for involving and encour-
aging interaction of this enthusiastic audience and stake-
holders with researchers and educators. There is a need for
