TECHNO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL GOAT BREED FARMS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify development tendencies of farms that rear local goat breeds, and the level of application of intensive management elements, in order to design proper preservation policies. The study was based on the data collected in 52 farms that keep goats of five local breeds in Albania. Statistical data processing (SPSS) has shown that the main reason for keeping local goats is the adaptation to biophysical conditions (84.6% of farmers), resistance to pathologies (34.6%), quality of product for human use (34.5%), high productivity (15.4%). About 36.5% of farmers plan to increase number of animals. This tendency is more evident at bigger farms. These farms are more the market oriented, and show a higher management level, as use of concentrate before and after kidding, use of hay during the winter, higher replacement rate etc. They have higher kidding percentage, compared with other farms. Practices to avoid inbreeding are more common at bigger farms but the problem still exists. Reduction of number of purebred local goats and number of farms increase the threat to local breeds. Differences evidenced in the study show that bigger farms are better structures for preservation of local goat breeds. Development policies, especially those in protection of local breeds need to focus mainly in bigger farms that may become model farms or ARC farms in mountain and hilly areas.