Goat production systems in the Mediterranean

Goat herd population has declined significantly in the last 30 years in most of the Mediterranean countries. The reasons for this decrease are : (1) anti-goat legislation; (2) decrease of rural population; (3) shift to more productive goats through intensification and (4) raising of goats in harsh environments. Two very distinct contexts characterize Northern and Southern Mediterranean goat farming systems. On the Southern shore of the Mediterranean, goats are an important component of risk and strategies because of their complementary role to the other grazing species. Goats are used to market marginal resources. Goat herds are an integral part of the farm capital and serve for different kinds of trades. Goats in the Northern shore of the Mediterranean, in addtition to products generated (kid, and milk products), are a way to start a farming business with small amount of capital. Goat farming systems are classified into three types. Range goat production system is the first one. The basis of this farming system is the maximization of the utilization of the spontaneous vegetation per animal. The second type is ''mixed range and concentrate feeding system''. This farming system is milk-production oriented where range resources are associated to feed supplements. The third farming system is an intensive one where the objective is maximize the milk production per animal. The three farming systems differ in their objectives and the role of goats on the farm. These differences supply explanations of the number of head in flocks, mating policies, nature of products and the way to market them.