**7. Current and prospects for goat breeding in Jordan**

The breeding program for goats in Jordan has not been set up, yet considering breeding objec‐ tives, selection criteria, genetic parameter evaluation, etc. Many goat breeds are kept by goat owners throughout the country and few of them use progestagen sponges for estrus synchroni‐ zation and artificial insemination is no longer undertaken at the farm level. A high proportion of farmers owned crossbred goats as a result of either indiscriminate uncontrolled breeding or controlled upgrading of their does with Damascus bucks. At farm level, goat farmers mainly used subjective more than objective selection criteria to attain their breeding objectives. Farmers' decisions on selection criteria for replacement does of each breed are shown in **Table 7** [10].

In Jordan, goat breeding efforts initiated through the governmental organizations (Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension). There are two stations that breed major goat breeds; one located in northern part of Jordan (Al‐Kanasry) and the major goat breed raising is Mountain Black breed. The other station located in west‐south of Jordan (Al‐Waleh) and the major goat breed keeping is Damascus goat. The non‐governmen‐ tal organizations are also involved in goat breeding. For instance, few faculties of agriculture conducting researches on goat breeding aim to increase performance of goats by keeping dif‐ ferent goat breeds mainly Bedouin, crossbred, and Damascus.

In Jordan, a national breeding program should be set up aiming to improve the performance, the genetic resources, and productivity of the country's goat population. To achieve this, sci‐ entists at research organizations and centers should involve farmers in breeding program and use modern methods that can be used to improve the breeds. Therefore, determining the capacity of certain indigenous goat breeds to cope with climatic change impact may prove a


comparative advantage compared to non‐adapted breeds and eventually sustain goat pro‐ duction and conservation of indigenous genotypes.

**Table 7.** Overall proportion of goat farmers of different breeds considering doe selection criteria.

## **8. Goat diseases and health management**

**7. Current and prospects for goat breeding in Jordan**

**Events and Husbandry Months**

**Table 6.** Management and husbandry calendar of goats in Jordan.

**Flush feeding Mating Kidding**

376 Goat Science

**Weaning**

**Hair cut**

**Dipping Dry seasons Wet seasons**

**Lactation/Suckling**

**Concentrate feeding Grazing on rangeland Grazing on stubbles**

**Lactation/ Commercial milk**

Source: compiled by author

ferent goat breeds mainly Bedouin, crossbred, and Damascus.

The breeding program for goats in Jordan has not been set up, yet considering breeding objec‐ tives, selection criteria, genetic parameter evaluation, etc. Many goat breeds are kept by goat owners throughout the country and few of them use progestagen sponges for estrus synchroni‐ zation and artificial insemination is no longer undertaken at the farm level. A high proportion of farmers owned crossbred goats as a result of either indiscriminate uncontrolled breeding or controlled upgrading of their does with Damascus bucks. At farm level, goat farmers mainly used subjective more than objective selection criteria to attain their breeding objectives. Farmers' decisions on selection criteria for replacement does of each breed are shown in **Table 7** [10].

**D J F M A M J J A S O N**

In Jordan, goat breeding efforts initiated through the governmental organizations (Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension). There are two stations that breed major goat breeds; one located in northern part of Jordan (Al‐Kanasry) and the major goat breed raising is Mountain Black breed. The other station located in west‐south of Jordan (Al‐Waleh) and the major goat breed keeping is Damascus goat. The non‐governmen‐ tal organizations are also involved in goat breeding. For instance, few faculties of agriculture conducting researches on goat breeding aim to increase performance of goats by keeping dif‐

In Jordan, a national breeding program should be set up aiming to improve the performance, the genetic resources, and productivity of the country's goat population. To achieve this, sci‐ entists at research organizations and centers should involve farmers in breeding program and use modern methods that can be used to improve the breeds. Therefore, determining the capacity of certain indigenous goat breeds to cope with climatic change impact may prove a Diseases of goats in Jordan are mainly caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. As previously mentioned, diseases were the major constraints affecting goat production. Consequently, eco‐ nomic losses are resulted due to decreased production, reproductive inefficiency, and death of animals. In Jordan, there are many infectious, noninfectious diseases and disorders for goat that mainly include subcutaneous and skin diseases, mastitis, emaciation, digestive disorders, reproductive diseases, and respiratory diseases. The last three diseases cause the major prob‐ lems and economic losses among goat in Jordan.

The major symptom associated with digestive disease is diarrhea. Diarrhea in neonates is most commonly caused by specific bacteria called *E. coli* that secrete an enterotoxin. A pre‐ vious study by [20] reported that the perinatal and postnatal mortality (abortion, neonatal) accounted for 98.9% of the total losses of goats in the southern Jordan (**Table 4**). Other study by [24] showed that the top ranked diseases affecting small ruminants in the northern area of Jordan were diarrhea, enterotoxaemia, and pneumonia. The high mortalities in young ani‐ mals can severely affect the farmers' economic returns. Goats also get sick due to diseases of the respiratory system; pneumonia is the common disease in goats.

To protect the goat herd from disease, the health program (e.g., treatment, vaccination, and dipping) should be interconnected with other activities on the farm such as feeding, milking, and breeding programs. Moreover, the surrounding environmental conditions are important considerations in assuring that health program will be effective for flock. Furthermore, there is a need for good veterinarian services to reduce economic losses. And most of all, the pre‐ vention is the useful tool for health management.
