Preface

The future of the goat sector is influenced by several factors, perhaps the most important of which is the growing demand for meat, milk, and other dairy products. Co-products such as hair (mohair, cashmere) and leather (pelt, fur) are also involved in meat production and, in some places, milk production.

### *The number of goats*

There has been a huge change in the number of goats in the world in the last 60 years. The number of goats worldwide almost quadrupled between 1961 and 2019, and in the last three decades this number has doubled. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Statistical Database 2019 (2021), the number of goats kept in 2019 approached 1.1 billion (1,093,732,777 heads).

### *The importance of goat meat*

World meat consumption is diverse and has undergone profound changes in recent decades. According to the FAO Statistical Database 2019 (2021), chicken and pork are the most consumed meats in the world, with beef ranking third. The order of the ten most consumed types of meat in the world is as follows: chicken - 118 million tons; pork - 110 million tons; beef - 68 million tons; sheep meat (lamb) - 9.9 million tons; goat meat - 6.2 million tons; turkey - 5.9 million tons; ducks - 4.8 million tons; buffalo - 4.2 million tons; geese - 2.7 million tons; rabbit - 0.883 million tons.

Although this "ranking" of the types of meat consumed shows an order of importance, there is a considerable difference between the consumption of developed and developing countries. Thus, the consumption of goat meat can be evaluated accordingly.

### *The most goat meat producing regions*

World goat meat production reached 6,252,564 tons in 2019, with Asia playing a key role. According to the FAO Statistical Database 2019 (2021), the production of goat meat is distributed among countries as follows: Asia - 4,529,027 tons (73.05%); Africa - 1,467,207 tons (23.66%); America - 137,407 tons (2.21%); Europe - 96,310 tons (1.55%); Oceania - 22,613 tons (0.36%).

Among the top ten goat meat producing countries, China's leadership is clear, followed by Asian and African countries: China - 2,357,205 tons; India - 553,380 tons; Pakistan - 491,000 tons; Nigeria - 266,638 tons; Bangladesh - 226,338 tons; Myanmar - 128,701 tons; Chad - 125,789 tons; Sudan - 120,000 tons; Mali - 110,764 tons; Ethiopia - 96,190 tons.

## *The importance of goat milk*

Milk production and consumption mainly involve only a few species. There are large differences in the consumption of the five most popular dairy species, according to the FAO Statistical Database 2019 (2021). The most widely consumed milk is cow's milk (715 million tons), followed by buffalo milk (133 million tons), goat milk (19 million tons), sheep's milk (10.5 million tons), and camel's milk (3.1 million tons).

### *The most goat milk-producing regions*

Goat's milk is the third most popular type of milk, but its volume is negligible compared to that of buffalo milk.

There are considerable differences in the production of goat's milk from country to country. The top ten goat milk-producing countries according to the FAO Statistical Database 2019 (2021) are: India - 5.4 million tons; Bangladesh - 2.7 million tons; Sudan - 1.1 million tons; Pakistan - 0.940 million tons; France - 0.656 million tons; Turkey - 0.577 million tons; Spain - 0.525 million tons; South Sudan - 0.460 million tons; Niger - 0.391 million tons; the Netherlands - 0.386 million tons.

The book is divided in 12 sections

### **1. Future of Goats**

The future of goat keeping and farming is dependent on recent changes in meat and milk production and the environmental impact of goat farming, including its role in the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In contrast to its negative impact on the environment, goat farming can help to eradicate rural poverty in many parts of the world. Chapter 1 of this book addresses this dichotomy.

### **2.Breeding and Selection**

It is challenging to determine which breeding methods can be used to significantly increase the yield of livestock in semi-arid and recently desertified areas and regions. In a large part of the world, in areas where there is a lack of feed and nutrients and a lack of drinking water, the choice of breeding methods and selection of species (local or exotic) is up to the farmers. Chapter 2 summarizes knowledge on breeding and selection. The authors analyze the different yields of various breeds and the effect of genes determining the protein content of goat's milk (based on the different protein fractions of the milk). They also demonstrate the applicability of nucleotide polymorphisms in culture programs.

In the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, goat keeping and breeding are influenced not only by the alternation of dry and rainy seasons and the availability of nutrients and drinking water, but also by metal mining in the area. Chapter 3 evaluates this relationship and analyses the environmental conditions in the Katanga Copper Belt.

### **3.Male Goat Reproduction**

There are two basic "halves" of all animal husbandry, including goat breeding: the quality and reproductive capacity of both males and females are essential for successful breeding. There are two main forms of preservation. "In situ conservation" means the conservation with utilisation of the existing stocks. There are two possible ways to preserve "ex-situ". In the "in vivo" version, the representatives of the given breeds are preserved in the zoo or part of the herd of a given breed is kept under protected conditions. "In-vitro preservation" means the "storage" of genetic/reproductive material of a given species in a frozen state. These determinant properties, as well as their test methods, were systematized by the authors in Chapter 4.

### **4.Goat Nutrition**

Chapter 5 describes procedures and methods developed in recent years for feeding and nutrition of goats. Feed products for goats include, but are not limited to, additives, pre- and probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, secondary plant metabolites, and so on. These can be used to increase animal yields and reduce the use of artificially produced antimicrobials.

On the other hand, in addition to modifying/optimizing the utilization of the area, programmed grazing, reducing the number of herds, and applying for political support programs, additional tools can provide solutions. The authors of Chapter 6 look for solutions to this increasingly pressing issue.

### **5. Production Systems**

Goat farming plays a particular role in the South African region, where animal husbandry is hampered by feed shortages and quality problems, drinking water quality and shortages, low training of animal handlers, limited flock sizes, lack of administration and planned breeding programs, and the presence of several diseases, lower than expected reproductive property of the animals, and so on. These disadvantages were summarized by the authors in Chapter 7, where the number, breeds, and background of production and breeding of goats in 10 South African countries are assessed. The proportion of goats above 90% is limited to small herds, although there are also some large farms with breeding and production programs. The adaptability of the goat, which tolerates heat, feed deficiencies, intermittent drinking water shortages - or quality disadvantages - as well as diseases, is maximized.

The information summarized in Chapter 7 makes it easier to understand the old classification of a goat as a "poor man cow" and how much effort the governments of the countries in the region need to make to maintain goat farmers, the environment and the economy, and how much education, training and further education of the goat farmers are needed to get in this region.

"Backyard goat farming" is quite common, with the greatest numbers of goat keepers farming in this type of system. Chapter 8 examines this farming system in Nigeria.

The importance of goat farming in economically disadvantaged areas cannot be overstressed. It is becoming increasingly important because the keeping and farming of goats require low initial investment. Chapter 9 discusses goat farming in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where during the country's long civil war most of its cattle was killed for food, leaving goats as the dominant ruminant.

### **6.Heat Stress**

In parallel with global warming, resistance to heat stress is becoming increasingly important in animal husbandry, including goat farming and product production. The goat is excellent at adapting to environmental differences because of a combination of behavioral, morphological, physiological, biochemical, metabolic, and hormonal characteristics as well as molecular changes at the gene level. The effects of heat and moisture tolerance are well traceable in some morphological properties. Chapter 10 examines heat stress in goats.

### **7. Gender and Climate Change**

The increase in both the human and goat population in the sub-Saharan region, where feed and drinking water are scarce, has led to the development of special goat breeds.

Gender inequality is an important factor at the family level, as women tend to do the shopping and decide which products to consume. Care of small animals (goats and sheep) also tends to fall on women. Chapter 11 discusses the important roles that women play in the family unit and the need for gender recognition, which plays a key role not only in the maintenance and upkeep of the family but also in the rural population.

### **8.Use of By-products**

Goats produce two main products (milk and meat), two coproducts (hair and pelt), and one byproduct (manure). Unlike the main product and coproducts, goat manure is yet to be efficiently utilized. Chapter 12 discusses the potential utilization of goat manure in the hydroponic farming of vegetable plants.

### **9.Animal Health**

Goat keeping is also affected by several microbial factors that are fundamentally related to the health status of the animal. Bacteria and viruses can cause serious problems for animal keepers. Chapter 13 examines several bacterial diseases that can affect goats, including anthrax, brucellosis, tetanus, enterotoxemia, pasteurellosis, caseous lymphadenitis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, and dermatitis stinking lameness (foot rot). The chapter discusses the etiology, epizootiology, transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, preventive measures, and public health significance of these diseases.

There are sixteen known members of the *Eimeria* genus, four of which have been shown to have pathogenic effects and do not occur on all continents, although there are overlaps in their distribution. Chapter 14 provides a comprehensive overview of the genus, including information on the geographical appearance of each variant, its life cycle, pathogenesis, pathology, clinical signs, diagnosis, prevention and control, and economic effects.

Numerous external parasites and the diseases they spread must be considered by all animal keepers. Tickborne illnesses are of particular importance. As such, Chapter 15 summarizes the types of ticks and the diseases they cause and the types of plants that can be used against them.

### **10. Goat Milk and Human Health**

Knowledge of the role of goat's milk in human nutrition is constantly expanding. According to some research, goat's milk, more precisely the peptides formed during the breakdown of milk proteins, may play an important role in the treatment and prevention of hypertension, a condition that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

 Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory (ACE-I) peptides are some of the most widely used bioactive peptides in medicine and food processing. These inhibitors are applied to regulate blood pressure and prevent hypertension. While synthetic peptides may have several side effects, naturally occurring peptides that replace them do not. The breakdown of both groups of proteins in goat's milk (caseins and whey proteins) produces peptides that can trigger the synthetic drugs. Chapter 16 investigates the health benefits of goat's milk on the cardiovascular system.

Goat milk has a special role to play in feeding babies and the elderly. The reason for this is multifaceted: in part, casein differs from cow's milk in its protein composition and milk fatty acid composition. This difference allows for easier digestion. Moreover, peptides formed during the breakdown of goat's milk proteins can help prevent and treat diseases in infants such as obesity and epilepsy. Chapter 17 explains the beneficial qualities of goat's milk, including its use as a substitute for cow's milk in allergy sufferers and for treating infants with epilepsy and metabolic disease.

Goat's milk has long been known to have robust health properties and has been used as a medicinal food in lung sanatoriums for many decades. Chapter 18 evaluates the properties of goat's milk, including its protein, fat, lactose, vitamins, and minerals.

### **11. Goat Meat as a Protein Source**

The protein content of goat meat is about the same as that of other types of red meat (sheep, beef, etc.), but its fat content, especially saturated fatty acid and cholesterol content, is significantly lower. In addition to reducing the potential negative impact of goat meat consumption on human health, there is little consumer awareness of the biological benefits of goat meat consumption. Chapter 19 highlights these advantageous properties.

### **12. Economy of Goat Production**

One important element of the economics of goat farming is related to animal health. According to Czech researchers, udder health and one of its indicators, somatic cell count, plays an important role in the economic value of goat keeping. The main source of income for goat farming is the sale of dairy products, so the loss of animals from milk production, the cost of veterinary treatment, and a reduction in the amount of milk that can be sold can affect up to one-third of the income of goat keepers. Chapter 20 presents the results of the Czech study.

The economics and profitability of keeping goats as farm animals are important factors in all regions, yet their quality varies considerably. Understanding, analyzing, and outputting this depends on several factors within which clean and known market processes are essential. In addition to production, this includes regulated and known details of slaughtering and sales of meat, but also details of sales of milk and dairy products. The whole process also has significant social and employment implications, which are also part of the assessment of the economy and profitability.

The Maghreb region is not one of the fertile regions of Africa, thus the economic activity of the people and communities living there depends to a large extent on animal husbandry. Chapter 21 examines the role and economic significance of goat keeping in this region.

So-called household goat farmers are an existing category in goat farming and make up a crucial proportion of the number of goat farms in developing countries. Chapter 22 discusses household goat farming in South Africa.

> **Sándor Kukovics** President, Hungarian Sheep and Goat Dairying Public Utility Association, Executive Manager, Sheep and Goat Products' Board, Budapest, Hungary
