**9. Conclusion**

In Jordan, goat production is an integral part of farming systems and plays a significant role for the food security, socioeconomic, and cultural needs of rural households. In the country, goats are valued mainly for meat, and less for milk, skins, and hair. Favoring goat keeping in these regions is attributed to the ease of rearing and efficiency of low‐quality roughage utiliza‐ tion. Due to their unique biological and physiological abilities, they can be raised successfully in zones with poor grass vegetation.

[7] Jaber L, Chedid M, Hamadeh S. Water Stress in Small Ruminants. In: Sener A, editor. Responses of Organisms to Water Stress. Croatia: InTech Open Science; 2013. pp. 115‐150

Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69015 379

[8] Zaitoun IS, Tabbaa MJ, Bdour S. Differentiation of native goats breeds of Jordan on the basis of morphostructural characteristics. Small Ruminant Research. 2005;**56**:173‐182 [9] Abu‐Zanat MM, Migdady HA, Tabbaa MJ. Production systems of small ruminants in

[10] Tabbaa JM, Al‐Atiyat R. Breeding objectives, selection criteria and factors influencing

[11] Sawalha R. Some genetic and non‐genetic factors affecting body dimensions of damas‐ cus kids in Jordan. [thesis]. Amma, Jordan: University of Jordan; 1998. p. 110

[12] Department of Statistics. Statistics by Sector, Agriculture, Surveys, Agriculture Surveys. Number and Characteristics of Livestock. [Internet]. 2015. Available from:http://web. dos.gov.jo/sectors/economic/agriculture/agriculture‐surveys/ [Accessed: March 2, 2017]

[13] Al‐Khaza'leh J, Reiber C, Ogutu JO, Valle Zárate A. Goat breeds performance under dif‐ ferent farming systems and conditions of water availability in the Karak Governorate,

[14] Zaitoun IS, Tabbaa MJ, Bdour S. Body weight, milk production and lifetime twinning rate of the different goat breeds of Jordan. Dirasat: Agricultural Sciences. 2004;**31**:143‐149

[15] Abu‐Zanat MM, Tabbaa MJ. Effect of drought on feed resources and performance of small ruminants in the northern Badia of Jordan. Dirasat: Agricultural Sciences.

[16] Degen AA. Sheep and goat milk in pastoral societies. Small Ruminant Research. 2007;**68**:

[17] Talafha AQ, Ababneh MM. Awassi sheep reproduction and milk production: Review.

[18] Güney OO, Torun O, Özuyank O, Darcan N. Milk production, reproductive and growth performances of Damascus goats under northern Cyprus conditions. Small Ruminant

[19] Husein MQ, Ababneh MM, Haddad SG. The effects of progesterone priming on repro‐ ductive performance of GnRH‐PGF2alpha‐treated anestrous goats. Reproduction Nutri‐

[20] Al‐Khaza'leh J, Reiber C, Al Baqain R, Valle Zárate A. A comparative economic analysis of goat production systems in Jordan with an emphasis on water use. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 2015;**27**(5). Available from: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd27/5/

[21] Aldomy F, Hussein NO, Sawalha L, Khatatbeh K, Aldomy A. A national survey of peri‐ natal mortality in sheep and goats in Jordan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal. 2009;**29**:102‐106

middle Badia of Jordan. Dirasat‐Agricultural Sciences. 2005;**32**:205‐214

them for goat breeds in Jordan. Small Ruminant Research. 2009;**84**:8‐15

Jordan. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2016;**12**:441‐458

Tropical Animal Health and Production. 2011;**43**:1319‐1326

2004;**31**:347‐354

Research. 2006;**65**:176‐179

tion Development. 2005;**45**:689‐698

khaz27081.html/[Accessed: June 7, 2017]

7‐19

Different Jordanian goat breeds have been identified and characterized under different pro‐ duction systems. Damascus (Shami), Mountain Black, Dhaiwi (Bedouin goat), and Desert goats are the main Jordanian goat breeds.

Goat production systems in Jordan changed gradually and shifted from extensive production to systems that involve cropping of arable land. There are several constraints limiting goat production in Jordan. Feed, disease, and drinking water shortages are some of them.
