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Potential of Sheep and Goats in Less Developed Countries¹

Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The potential of sheep and goats in world food production is discussed in terms of productivity, economic importance and potential for increasing food production in less developed countries (LDC). The LDC possess about 400 million sheep and 327 million goats, or about 39 and 79%, respectively, of the total world population. The annual population growth between 1961–1965 and 1976 was .5% for sheep and 1.0% for goats. It is estimated that about 10 million full-time economically active people are dependent on sheep and goats. The LDC contributed approximately 467 of the mutton and lamb, 72.3% of the goat meat, 46.9% of the sheep milk, 68.8% of the goat milk, 39.9% of the fresh sheep skins and 78.3% of the goat skins. Ownership of sheep and goats rests primarily with farmers and peasants, and small flocks are common. The systems of production are tethering, extensive production, intensive production and integration with crop agriculture. Data are presented on the level of production and current knowledge of energy and protein requirements. With regard to genetic resources, potentially important improver breeds are indicated. Efficiency of energy and protein conversion indicates that goat meat production is comparable to beef production; however, milk production appears to be more efficient in goats. Increasing the production from both species is associated with overcoming current constraints and exploiting the animals' small size, their reproductive efficiency and, in the case of goats, digestive efficiency. In particular, the priorities for research in the LDC are discussed in relation to production systems, target ecological zones and multidisciplinary involvement.

¹ Invitational paper presented at the Symposium on "Research Priorities for Developing Animal Agriculture in the Lesser Developed Nations, "sponsored by the ADSA, International Relations Committee and the ASAS International Animal Agriculture Committee and held on July 12, 1978, during the Joint Annu. Meet, of the ADSA and ASAS, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing.