A Brief Update on the Challenges and Prospects for Goat Production in Mexico

The comparative advantage of urban goat production

BACKGROUND

Urban agriculture significantly contributes to food security. The two primary components of urban agriculture are livestock production and horticulture. The goat, Capra hircus, is one of the commonly raised food animals. Goats can be used to generate income, produce milk, meat, skins, furs (hairs) and manure and provide various sociocultural and ecological services.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluates the significance of urban goat production and recommends ways to lessen the adverse impacts of urban goat production.

METHODS

This report involved an in-depth interview with seven key informants in Adama and Addis Ababa cities.

RESULTS

Goats can thrive in limited urban open spaces, scavenge leftovers from homes and open markets and browse on open public land. Goats can be incorporated into urban agriculture, in so doing contributing to a circular economy. Goats can thrive on a limited supply of water and feed and require less care and space. Goat farming is used to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change. Goats are naturally active, which makes them better at avoiding traffic accidents. Goats can be used to control bush encroachment. Goat farming in cities improves land use efficiency and food security. Being friendly animals, goats can be utilized to play with kids, and they can be a basic piece of metropolitan ecotourism. However, goats can harm urban green spaces; therefore, to avoid issues of this kind, goat production must be zoned.

CONCLUSIONS

Urban goat farming could add a new dimension to urban food security. Extensive pieces of empirical evidence need to be generated to enhance the adoption of urban goat farming.

Morphophysiological Responses of the Goat Mammary Gland to Water Scarcity in Arid and Semi-Arid Environments: Are They Enough to Generate Adaptation to New Climatic Challenges?

Due to climate change, diverse territories of the planet will suffer from water restrictions. Goats are perceived as the most resilient ruminants in this scenario. So, various studies have focused on describing how a lower water intake influences milk production, especially in breeds adapted to desert environments. In water-stress situations, goats lose up to 32% of their body weight (BW), the rate of passage is reduced, and the digestibility of the feed increases. When goats consume water again, the rumen prevents hemolysis and osmotic shock from occurring. Regarding milk production, the response varies depending on the breed and the level of water restriction, maintaining the milk volume or reducing it by up to 41%. Systemically, it decreases the urinary volume and glomerular filtration rate, increasing blood osmolality and the vasopressin (ADH) concentration. Studies are scarce regarding changes in blood flow to the mammary gland, but there would be a reduction in blood flow velocity of up to 40% without changing blood pressure. New studies must be undertaken to determine which breeds or crosses are the best adapted to changing environmental conditions and to improve our understanding of the changes that occur at the morphophysiological level of the caprine mammary gland.

Multiplex assay for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against small ruminant lentivirus, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Brucella melitensis in goats

Background and Aim

Brucellosis, paratuberculosis (PTb), and infections caused by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), formerly known as caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), adversely affect goat production systems. Nonetheless, commonly used diagnostic tests can only determine one analyte at a time, increasing disease surveillance costs, and limiting their routine use. This study aimed to design and validate a multiplex assay for antibody detection against these three diseases simultaneously.

Materials and Methods

Two recombinant proteins from the SRLV (p16 and gp38), the native hapten of Brucella melitensis, and the paratuberculosis-protoplasmic antigen 3 from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) were used to devise and assess a multiplex assay. Conditions for the Luminex^® multiplex test were established and validated by sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility parameters. Cut-off points for each antigen were also established.

Results

The 3-plex assay had high sensitivity (84%) and specificity (95%). The maximum coefficients of variation were 23.8% and 20.5% for negative and positive control samples, respectively. The p16 and gp38 SRLV antigens are 97% and 95%, similar to the CAEV sequence found in GenBank, respectively.

Conclusion

The multiplex test can be effectively used for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against SRLV, MAP and B. melitensis in goats.

Influence of goat management systems on hematological, oxidative stress profiles, and parasitic gastrointestinal infection

Background and Aim: Good management in goats is known for good quality health and increasing productivity. The physiological change studies in goats are limited despite some existing studies on the relationship of various patterns to growth rates. This study aimed to determine the hematological parameters, oxidative stress, and parasitic infection in three management systems in Thai native goats. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 male goats were randomly assigned to the three systems: The free-range model (FREE), the semi-intensive model (SEMI), and the kept-in-a-cage model (BARN) for 35 days. Blood, fecal sampling, and weight data were collected and monitored every 5 days for analysis. Results: No statistical differences were found in the FREE and SEMI groups, but significance was observed in the BARN group. The body weight of the goats gradually reduced from 13.0 ± 2.44 kg to 10.18 ± 2.61 kg (mean ± standard deviation). In contrast, the significantly increasing red blood cells, packed-cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, cortisol hormone, and antioxidation profiles were observed to be higher in BARN than in FREE and SEMI groups. The intensity of the parasite eggs was remarkably significant. It was observed in the BARN group between the beginning and end of the experiment (supported by a high level of eosinophils). Conclusion: These data can be applied for the realistic evaluation and improvement of management practices, especially fully restrained management (BARN) for monitoring the health status of goats. Keywords: goat, hematology values, management systems, oxidative stress, parasites.

Microbial Carotenoid Synthesis Optimization in Goat Cheese Whey Using the Robust Taguchi Method: A Sustainable Approach to Help Tackle Vitamin A Deficiency

The work describes the carotenoid synthesis process by Rhodotorula glutinis P4M422 using an agro-industrial waste as the substrate, seeking a biorefinery platform approach for waste utilization to produce high-value molecules. A culture medium based on goat milk whey (GMW) was optimized via the Taguchi method (L9 array). Four factors (ethanol, carbon and nitrogen source, and pH) were evaluated at three levels. The carbon and nitrogen composition were the factors dominating the process performance. Optimized conditions were validated (Urea, 0.3% w/v; pH, 4.5; ethanol, 10% v/v; glucose, 6.0%), and the carotenoid production (4075 µg/L) was almost 200% higher than when using the un-optimized process (2058 µg/L). Provitamin A carotenoids torulene, β-carotene, and γ-carotene (different proportions) were produced under all conditions. The hydrolyzed goat milk whey showed promising expectations as a low-cost source for carotenoid production by Rhodotorula glutinis P4M422. The results are important for the innovative sustainable production of carotenoid-rich matrices for different purposes (nutrition, health promotion, color) and industries (foods, nutricosmetics, nutraceuticals, feeds), notably to help to combat vitamin A deficiency.