Structural, market and organisational conditions for developing goat dairy production systems

This paper reviews the characteristics of goat dairy systems and conditions for their development and presents indicators for developing goat dairy systems. Comparative examples from several cases are considered and the consequences relating to their productivity, specialisation and feeding systems elucidated. Goat dairy products can be produced as high quality, low cost products, but there needs to be a ready local, national or international market. Goat dairy systems have an important potential social impact and they can optimally utilize marginal areas. The advantages of collective organisations and the value of technical support from the public services or NGOs are set out. © 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.