Question

What is the significance of goat and sheep rearing?

Answer 1

• Income and livelihood: Provide regular cash income for smallholders and landless families through sale of meat, milk, wool, skin and live animals.
• Low capital and quick returns: Lower input and housing costs than many large livestock; shorter generation interval - faster returns.
• Nutrition & food security: Sources of animal protein (meat, and goat milk) for household consumption and markets.
• Mobility and use of marginal land: Well suited to grazing in arid, semi-arid, hilly and marginal lands where cropping is difficult.
• Diversification & risk reduction: Complement crop farming (mixed farming systems) - graze crop residues, produce manure, and spread economic risk.
• Value-added products & trade: Wool, mohair, cashmere (pashmina), hides, dairy products and specialty meats have commercial value and export potential.
• Cultural and social roles: Many communities use small ruminants in rituals, dowries, customary systems and indigenous economies.
• Genetic resources & adaptability: Indigenous breeds are adapted to local climates, diseases and feed regimes - important for resilience and future breeding.
• Employment: Provide farm and off-farm employment (herding, transport, processing, trading).