Conservation of Goat Genetic Resources - Goat Science and Production - page 43

Table 3.1 Continued

Speciality Breed Country of origin Climate Environment

Nubian Sudan Tropical Dry

Surti India Tropical Dry

Zaraiby Egypt Tropical Dry

Prolifi c a c y

Barbari India Tropical Dry

Boer South Africa Subtropical Dry

Black Bengal India Tropical Dry

Criollo South America Tropical and subtropical Dry

Malabar India Tropical Humid

Ma ' tou China Subtropical Humid

Sudan Desert Sudan Tropical Very dry

West African Dwarf West Africa Tropical Humid

Pashmina (Cashmere)

Kashmiri Central Asia High mountains Cold

Chyangra Nepal High mountains Cold

Singhal Nepal High mountains Cold

Skins

Black Bengal India Tropical Dry

Maradi (Red Sokoto) Niger and Nigeria Tropical Humid

Mubende Uganda Tropical Humid

Source: Shrestha and Fahmy (2005) .

the diversity in production performance based on available
reports has been summarized by region of the world in
Table 3.2. This represents differences among breeds within
environment as well as production performance. Europe
has the heaviest breeds with the largest litter size and the
highest milk yield. Africa has the largest variation, possi-
bly attributable to diversity among regions and irregulari-
ties in recording (Galal, 2005).
Irrespective of its superior genetics and ability to adapt
to varying environments, no single breed can meet the
requirements of the discriminating consumers worldwide.
Indeed, the vast array of food and fi ber products available
within and among nations testifi es to the diversity of needs
both among producers and among their respective markets.
Goat milk and milk products are well liked in Europe and
the Middle East regions, whereas goat meat is considered
a delicacy in Asia and the Pacifi c region. Cashmere pro-
duction is popular in remote areas adjoining the high-
mountain and the Himalayan ranges. Furthermore, the
discriminating tastes and preferences of the consumer as
well as the changing cultural mosaic of the populations in
developed countries have created a demand for meat,
cheese, and cashmere from goats. In the future, climatic

change, emergence of exotic diseases, development of
export markets, and the changing economic status of a
country as well as individuals within the country are likely
to further alter product availability and preferences. Altered
desires and preferences of consumers can be expected to
have a profound infl uence on the choice of goat popula-
tions to be kept in specifi c environments in accordance
with fi scal constraints.

EROSION OF GENETIC RESOURCES
The colossal amount of genetic variability within and
among goat breeds provides the raw material necessary to
achieve genetic improvement and to meet current and
future market requirements. However, genetic variability
in goats has steadily decreased at an alarming rate due to
natural causes, man-made disasters, loss of habitat, neglect
and abandonment of the well-adapted indigenous landra-
ces, breeds, and populations. Also active utilization of few
improved breeds to propagate genes necessary for increased
production effi ciency through skillful human activity has
been recurring. According to FAO (2000), nearly 800 farm
animal breed populations in the world already have become
extinct. Among those remaining, 30% could be considered