Goats and their role in climate change

Abstract

Goats are the primary source of protein for many rural communities worldwide, particularly those living in extreme geographical conditions. Goats have numerous advantages that enable them to maintain their production under extreme climate conditions. They have efficient browsing behavior as well as an efficient digestive system, allowing them to remain productive in difficult environmental circumstances. Strong heat resistance, outstanding feed conversion efficiency, survival in adverse climatic circumstances, and high resistance to many diseases are all traits that contribute to production. Because of these features, goat breeding is vital to minimizing and adapting to the negative consequences of climate change. Livestock production accounts for around 7–18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Of this, goats specifically account for 4% of overall greenhouse gas emissions in global animal farming. Enteric CH4 released during production is considered a nutritional energy loss in goats and it’s an important role in global warming and the greenhouse effect. These effects ensure that CH4 production is reduced to provide an optimum economic return from goat farming as well as reduce the impact on global warming. The capacity of goats to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change and their benefits in sustainable production compared to other ruminant species will be thoroughly examined in this paper. As a result, it will contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of goat breeding in the face of future climate change.