**Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan**

**Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan**

Ja'far Mansur Khalaf Al-Khaza'leh Ja'far Mansur Khalaf Al-Khaza'leh Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69015

#### **Abstract**

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366 Goat Science

Goats are multifunctional species and play an important role in the livelihoods and food security of farmers particularly in rural areas. Goats are well‐adapted animals to the vari‐ ous ecological zones in the tropics and dry zones of developing countries such as Jordan. In the country, goat farming is a major component of the agricultural system. This chap‐ ter provides an overview of the present status and prospects of Jordan's goat production sector, changes in goat populations, and includes an evaluation of constraints and their impacts on goat production in the region. It discusses the general trends occurring in goat raising, diversity, and characterization of the prevailing production systems. The chapter also focuses on the major breeds of goats and the differences and unique charac‐ teristics of each goat breed. Additionally, this chapter covers a considerable contribution of goats in terms of meat, milk, and culture to the socioeconomics of householders and its role in poverty and hunger alleviation in Jordan. Moreover, this chapter also discusses basic goats' productive and reproductive performance. Management calendar for goat production in Jordan is reviewed. Finally, the chapter covers goat health, diseases, and approaches or management practices for prevention and control of goat diseases.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.69015

**Keywords:** goat production systems, goat production constraints, goat breeds, goat health, economic performance, reproductive performance

#### **1. Introduction**

In tropical and subtropical regions of the world, goats are kept over other livestock because of their adaptive capacity, tolerance, performance, and importance to the livelihoods of the farmers.

Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons

In Jordan, goat farming is a major part of agricultural systems as goats play a sig‐ nificant role in the economy, food security, and livelihoods of farmers in rural areas. Locally, goats are the second most abundant ruminant livestock species after sheep, with a total number of goats to be around 857,728 heads in the country in 2014 [1]. The goat breeds in Jordan include Shami (Damascus goat), Mountain Black goat, Dhaiwi (Bedouin goat), and Desert goat in addition to crossbred goats. Goat breeds are dis‐ tributed across different regions. Therefore, goats are raised in different production systems that are classified into sedentary (semi intensive), transhumant (semi‐exten‐ sive), and nomadic (extensive) systems. Mountain Black goat is the main goat breed with the largest population. The proportional contribution of goats to households var‐ ies from breed to breed and system to system. Jordan is an Arab kingdom in Middle East region (**Figure 1**) with a total area of approximately 89,342 km<sup>2</sup> (land 88,802 km2 , water 540 km2 ) and has a population estimated at 9.5 million people. The proportion of rural and urban population is around 16.3% and 83.7%, respectively [2]. The climate in Jordan is characterized by long, dry, hot summer and short, wet, cold winter seasons. Yearly temperature ranges from about maximum 26°C to minimum 13°C in winter to more than 32°C in summer; the temperature increases between 3 and 7°C toward the south, with the exception of some southern highlands. Rainfall varies considerably with location, mainly due to the national topographic profile. Between 1985 and 2014, the average annual rainfall in whole country was about 226 mm, with the lowest amount in the eastern and southern desert and the highest amount in the northern highlands [3]. Jordan's climate is, therefore, classified as semiarid with approximately 7% of arable land. Jordan is suscep‐ tible to climate change impact. Increasing temperatures, coupled with changing precipita‐ tion patterns, are expected to decrease water availability.

**2. Research methodology**

local production, respectively [4].

meat by human population.

Source: JD = Jordanian Dinar (1 JD ≈ 1.4 USD in 2015) [5].

**Table 1.** Livestock production value and quantity for goat holdings in 2015.

respectively.

The research methodology of chapter consists of a comprehensive, up‐to‐date compilation of available information on goat farming in Jordan. The methodological approach of the chapter involves the use of different elements, including (1) reviewing many articles and resource books in the field of goat science and searching the current topics in the literature related to goats in Jordan and (2) the experience of the author and consultation of other professors at

Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69015 369

Goats play an important role in the economy of the country. Goat farming in Jordan is the most important among all livestock activities in regions such as mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west, and the Great Rift Valley separating the eastern region. Jordanian goat breeds are used to produce meat, milk, and milk products. Market demand for these different products varies. Goats contributed about 24.8 and 9.6% of red meat and milk yield of the total

In fact, goat products are the basis of the livelihoods of farmers in some regions, particularly, in remote areas that have no other source of income. Goats are the only source of cash income, food, and savings for those households. Therefore, the maintenance of a viable goats sector is crucial to Jordan's economy. **Table 1** shows the estimated production value and quantity for goats in 2015. The goat meat production (newborn goats) in the country reached 610,243 head. The sheep and goat milk production (including dairy products) were 98,781 and 2496 (M.T),

The breeding organizations that should control the genetic improvement and management of the various breeds are still lacking. The current condition of the goat sector needs to be assessed and appropriate measures need to be implemented to ensure that it is developed sus‐ tainably. Goat meat production should be improved to meet the increasing demand for goat

During the time period from 2000 to 2015, the goat population increased, reaching up to 860,220 animals in 2015. Most of these goats are owned by individual household. **Table 2** provides data

**Type Unit Number or quantity Value in JD** New born goats Head 610,243 85,801,215 Sheep and goats milk M.T 98,781 74,652,046 Dairy product M.T 2496 17,576,606

different institutions in the region regarding goat production in Jordan.

**3. An overview of the present goat farming status**

**3.1. Changes in the population of goats throughout the country**

**Figure1.** Map of Jordan and where Jordan is located in the world. Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/ asia/jordan/jomaps.html.
