SURVEY ON SMALL HOLDERS AND PASTORAL DAIRY GOAT’S FARMERS IN ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

Study was carried out to investigate dairy goat farmers and constraints of goat production in Adamawa state. The study was conducted in the Benue trough block where more than 50% of the goat population of the state were found. Dairy goat farmers were found only in Girei, Song and Gombi local Governments. The milk produced by goats was poorly consumed in urban areas. Tradition was one of the reasons of non consumption of goat’s milk in the study area which comprised 84.58%, while low yield, odour and health conditions accounted for 15.17, 17.54 and 9.00 %, respectively. Breeds of goats reared in the study were Sokoto Red (67.90%), Sahel (6.25%) while other breeds and their crosses made up 25.83%. Farmer’s reasons for keeping goats showed that 64.58% kept goats for income generation, 12.08% of them kept goats for milk production, 8.75% of people kept goats for their meat. While 2.50% of the people kept goats for using them during ceremonies. Other purposes apart from those mentioned above were 12.08%. The study reveals that dairy goats and their product are underutilized. Extra awareness on the benefits of goat milk in human nutrition and better technology for the milk processing is needed to improve the milk consumption in the area of study