**4. Goat breed characterization, regional distribution, and production system of goat breeds**

Due to their behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations, indigenous goats are able to thrive under extreme temperatures and shortage of water [7]. Little information is avail‐ able on the Jordanian goat breeds. Therefore, goat breeds have not been characterized well, and most of the information that is available has usually been gathered by the few researchers. Most of Jordan's native goat breeds are owned by farming households. They vary in morpho‐ logical characteristics (**Figure 2**), production systems, regions, agro‐ecological zones, house‐ hold types, and herd size [8–10].

also occur. Black Bedouin goats are mainly kept in the southern part of the country (Petra and Wadi Rum). The Black Bedouin goats are adaptive and raised under nomadic (exten‐ sive) production systems under harsh environmental conditions of deserts. These breeds

**Figure 2.** Morphology of Jordanian goat breeds. Source: Author and Dr. Tabbaa M. (2011, permission was obtained).

**Desert Crossbred Damascus** 

**Mountain Black Mountain Black Mountain Black** 

Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69015 371

**Black Bedouin Black Bedouin Black Bedouin** 

They are known by other names such as Damanscence or Shami Goat. They originated in adjacent Syria and are imported to Jordan because of their high productivity of milk and

are mainly exploited for their meat.

**4.2. Damascus goats**

#### **4.1. Black Bedouin goats**

They are also known as Bedouin, Dihawi, Dwarf, and Hejaz Goat. They originate in Arabian Peninsula. Black Bedouin goats are small and have the lightest body weight. This breed of goat is known as "Dwarf breed" long time ago. The ears of Bedouin goats are medium in size and spotted white, most animals are black; however, brown individuals

**Figure 2.** Morphology of Jordanian goat breeds. Source: Author and Dr. Tabbaa M. (2011, permission was obtained).

also occur. Black Bedouin goats are mainly kept in the southern part of the country (Petra and Wadi Rum). The Black Bedouin goats are adaptive and raised under nomadic (exten‐ sive) production systems under harsh environmental conditions of deserts. These breeds are mainly exploited for their meat.

#### **4.2. Damascus goats**

on the changes that have occurred in Jordan's goat populations throughout the country from 2000

Due to their behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations, indigenous goats are able to thrive under extreme temperatures and shortage of water [7]. Little information is avail‐ able on the Jordanian goat breeds. Therefore, goat breeds have not been characterized well, and most of the information that is available has usually been gathered by the few researchers. Most of Jordan's native goat breeds are owned by farming households. They vary in morpho‐ logical characteristics (**Figure 2**), production systems, regions, agro‐ecological zones, house‐

They are also known as Bedouin, Dihawi, Dwarf, and Hejaz Goat. They originate in Arabian Peninsula. Black Bedouin goats are small and have the lightest body weight. This breed of goat is known as "Dwarf breed" long time ago. The ears of Bedouin goats are medium in size and spotted white, most animals are black; however, brown individuals

**4. Goat breed characterization, regional distribution, and production** 

**Table 2.** Number of goats by governorates during the period of time from 2000 to 2015.

to 2015.

Source: [6].

370 Goat Science

**system of goat breeds**

**Year**

**Govern. 2000 2005 2010 2015 Amman** 88,310 74,650 103,600 119,120 **Balqa** 35,150 54,350 82,310 91,220 **Zarqa** 46,260 43,830 41,790 50,720 **Madaba** 42,150 29,730 53,440 75,030 **Irbid** 29,180 47,190 48,940 75,280 **Mafarq** 40,710 69,560 80,240 97,000 **Jarash** 53,940 23,940 20,650 43,710 **Ajloun** 10,180 13,100 49,820 50,700 **Karak** 34,850 85,290 116,840 101,990 **Tafilah** 5590 18,560 36,210 30,450 **Ma'an** 30,380 28,800 77,550 87,140 **Aqaba** 55,760 27,140 40,340 37,850 **Total** 472,460 516,130 751,730 860,220

hold types, and herd size [8–10].

**4.1. Black Bedouin goats**

They are known by other names such as Damanscence or Shami Goat. They originated in adjacent Syria and are imported to Jordan because of their high productivity of milk and twins [11]. They are used as dual purpose breeds for milk and meat. Damascus goat has a large body size. It has a Roman‐shaped nose and is the most discriminating variable among different goat breeds of Jordan. Their ear type is pendent and has a high leg. They are reared around towns and countrysides of the northern part of Jordan and are kept under sedentary production system [10].

weight, head length, and width, etc.). **Figure 3** shows two large clusters, first cluster includes Damascus breed as a large group and two subclusters of Mountain breed and crossbred goats,

Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69015 373

**Table 3** accounts for the distribution of goat breeds in the country. No information is avail‐ able on the estimated population of Bedouin and Desert goat breeds of Jordan. However, Mountain Black and crosses accounted for the largest proportion of the current goat

At birth, female kid's average weight is similar to male kid's average weight but male kids show higher weight gains during the suckling period. The body weight of males was signifi‐ cantly higher than those of females due to sexual dimorphism. The weight of adult goats has also been recorded by Al‐Khaza'leh et al. [13] who reported that the mean body weight of adult does was about 45 kg with little variation (′5.4). The author also reported that the mean body weights of growing kids (of 1–11 months age) was 24.4 ′ 5.7 ranging from 7.3 to 41.1 kg. Zaitoun et al. [14] reported a significant difference in mean body weight among the goat breeds, with the Damascus does being the heaviest, crossbred does having intermediate

whereas the second cluster includes the Desert and Dhaiwi breeds.

**Breed Govern. Mountain Black Crossbreed**

**Amman** 119,119 0 **Balqa** 91,223 0 **Zarqa** 50,718 0 **Madaba** 75,034 0 **Irbid** 75,139 139 **Mafarq** 96,997 0 **Jarash** 43,678 29 **Ajloun** 50,145 559 **Karak** 101,992 0 **Tafilah** 30,452 0 **Ma'an** 87,140 0 **Aqaba** 37,853 0 **Total** 859,490 727

**Table 3.** Number of goats in the kingdom by governorates of different breed in 2015.

population.

**5. Goat performance**

Source: [12].

#### **4.3. Mountain goats**

They are also called by other names, namely Mountain Black goat or Balady (local). They are indigenous to Jordan and nearby countries. They are large dual‐purpose breed and play an important role in meat and milk production in Jordan. They are distributed throughout all regions of the Jordan especially in the country's mountainous areas. They are kept mainly in semiextensive and sedentary systems. Because of their ability to survive and reproduce under the prevailing arid and harsh environmental conditions, this breed was used to develop highly productive crossbreeds especially with Damascus breed in Jordan.

#### **4.4. Desert goats**

They are indigenous to Syrian Badia desert. It is also known in Jordan as northern desert goat. They are light in size and mainly kept in northern‐eastern Badia of Jordan and reared under extensive production system.

**Figure 3** shows the relationship between goats breeds based on morphological‐structural variables (nose shape, ear shape, presence or absence of horns and wattles, color, body

**Figure 3.** Relationship between goat breeds based on morphostructural variables [8].

weight, head length, and width, etc.). **Figure 3** shows two large clusters, first cluster includes Damascus breed as a large group and two subclusters of Mountain breed and crossbred goats, whereas the second cluster includes the Desert and Dhaiwi breeds.

**Table 3** accounts for the distribution of goat breeds in the country. No information is avail‐ able on the estimated population of Bedouin and Desert goat breeds of Jordan. However, Mountain Black and crosses accounted for the largest proportion of the current goat population.


**Table 3.** Number of goats in the kingdom by governorates of different breed in 2015.
