IGA Blog

Small Ruminant Research in Numbers

2/7/2019

January 2019 report

Written by S.Y. Landau, Editor-in-Chief, Small Ruminant Research (Elsevier)

Small Ruminant Research (SRR) is the official journal of the International Goat Association (IGA). Good science, relevance to small ruminant farming, and novelty are the major criteria of publication of our journal. Maintaining the quality of English is an ever-lasting challenge, as the majority of our contributors, reviewers and associate editors are not native English speakers.

Mrs. Tova Deutch surveyed the 1618 published papers from the last 6 years to identify strengths and weaknesses. The results are presented HERE (for IGA members only).

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Nepal Trip Report – Goats and the Chepang people

12/12/2018

My Visit to Siddhi, Chitwan, August 25-28, 2018

Written by Yumiko Kawamura, IGA member from Japan

Thanks to the wonderful assistance of Heifer International Nepal, I had the opportunity to visit Siddhi, a hillside village in Chitwan, where most residents are from the Chepang people group. The purpose of my visit to Siddhi was to witness the current livelihood status of Chepang and how goat initiatives deployed in 2012 by Heifer International Nepal are progressing.

The Chepang are one of 125 ethnic groups found in Nepal. They live in central Nepal along the steep slopes of the Mahabharat range from 45 meters to 1,400 meters above sea level. They are found in Makawanpur, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorka Districts, which are among Nepal’s 75 administrative districts. Based on their low economic status and threatened cultural identity, the Chepang are categorized as a highly marginalized indigenous group by National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) (World Vision Advocacy Forum, 2009). According to a 2011 population census, there are 68,399 Chepang people in Nepal among which 34,640 are males and 33,779 females; and more than 97% of Chepang people live in rural areas (CBS, 2011).

Conference Report – 4th Asian-Australasian Dairy Goat Conference

12/10/2018

Go Cong Dong Goat Farm, Tien Giang province, Vietnam

Written by Beth Miller, IGA President

The Fourth Asian-Australasian Dairy Goat conference (AADGC 2018) was held at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam with nearly 200 participants from 19 countries in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The theme was Strengthening Development of Dairy Goat Production Adapting to Climate Change. All the papers are published in the proceedings (ISBN 978-604-9). They are also available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NR-FA1XVARRSWgVbFjvtj47jt-IEnk_A/view.

Dairy goat production is increasing across Asia as farmers take advantage of increased prices for goat milk, and governments search for sustainable agricultural activities in the face of climate change. However, many challenges occur when new farmers take up dairy goat production, especially if they do not have strong livestock or commercial background. Training and technology are two key components of successful dairy goat enterprises, as well as markets and transportation. Key research topics include identification of the genetic merit of locally adapted breeds, and development of new and inexpensive feed resources so dairy goats can reach their genetic potential of milk production.

REPORT: Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG-2018), October 22-26

11/16/2018

Written by Yoko Tsukahara, IGA Board member

The Asian Regional Conference on Goats (ARCG2018) was held at Amity University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India on Oct. 22-26, 2018. The theme entitled “Current Challenges in Goat Industry and the Strategies to Combat in Asia Region.” A total of 287 researchers, professors, and producers from 14 countries including, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, Japan, Mongolia, Spain, and the USA attended the meeting. The scientific program included keynote addresses, expert talks, oral and poster presentations, and brainstorming and valedictory sessions. The participants enjoyed a warm traditional welcome during the technical tour at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute which produces and conducts research on pure Sirohi goats, varieties of sheep and rabbit breeds, veterinary medical plants, and so on.

Burkina Faso study quantifies impact of sustainable intensification on household food security

9/20/2018

Download the report

Sustainable intensification (SI) of agricultural production has become a predominant theme in development agendas in West Africa. But despite the availability of a wide range of technologies for adoption, uptake has been very minimal. One reason for the often-disappointing uptake of technologies could be poor targeting of households.

Researchers at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have analysed and quantified the potential food security impact of boosting a set of sustainable intensification options in Burkina Faso to better identify which technologies would fit the characteristics of specific households.

The research activities were designed to be solution-focused to meet the needs of farmers and were implemented in Seno and Yatenga provinces in the Sahelian zone of the country. The basis of the study is that there is a great potential for smallholder farmers engaged in crop-livestock systems, to produce more in a given area of land, thereby improving productivity, food security and nutrition while preserving ecosystem services.

READ MORE…

Activity Report from the XIV Goat, Cheese and ‘Cajeta’ International Expo

4/2/2018

Prepared by Javier Chaurand and special thanks to Jean-Marie Luginbuhl for Spanish translation.

The XIV Goat, Cheese and ‘Cajeta’ International Expo was held from October 12 to 15, 2017 at the facilities of ECOFÓRUM in Celaya. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Víctor Hugo Pineda Martínez, State SAGARPA (Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food) delegate representing the Secretary of Agriculture, Ing. Javier Guizar Macías, Federal SAGARPA delegate in Jalisco, Ing. Paulo Bañuelos Rosales, Secretary of Agrifood and Rural Development of the government of the state of Guanajuato (SDAyR), MVZ José Francisco Gutiérrez Michel, Sub Secretary of Agrifood and Rural Development of the government of the state of Guanajuato and the Municipal President of Celaya Ing. Ramón Ignacio Lemus Muñoz Ledo accompanied by various officials of the municipal administration. In addition, members of the board of directors of the national association of registered goat breeders, and regional cattle unions from the state of Guanajato and Querétaro were also part of the inauguration ceremony.

2017 Activity Report from Poland

3/22/2018

Written by Emilia Bagnicka, IGA Regional Director for Eastern Europe
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences in Jastrzebiec, Poland

I attended two conferences as IGA Country Representative* in 2017.

Increasing Goat Production in Brazil: Overview and Challenges

1/24/2018

Written by Livio Costa-Júnior, IGA Country Representative for Brazil and Professor of Parasitology at the Federal University of Maranhão

The Northeast Region of Brazil has 90% of the 10 million goats present in the country (Figure 1). The Northeast is characterized by an area of 981,821 km² of a semi-arid interior and 3,317 km of coastline, where it has the highest human population density and a large consumer market for products from this semi-arid region. Consumption occurs in specialized restaurants and bars in all areas of the Northeast region with several typical dishes.

Report: IGA Board meeting in China, 2017

12/12/2017

Board members of the International Goat Association (IGA) attended the 2017 National Symposium on Sheep and Goat and the 7th Member Meeting of Sheep and Goat Branch of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine from August 18 to 21, 2017 at Shijiazhuang, China. A total of 14 Board members, the Executive Director, and members of the advisory board from different areas of the world met together to discuss further development of the Association. Great appreciation was expressed to Dr. Yingjie Zhang, Professor of the Agricultural University of Hebei, President of the Sheep and Goat Branch of the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, and his student Ms. Xuejiao Yin for their dedication to organizing the trip.

China Field Report, October 2017

12/1/2017

Written by Juan Capote, IGA past president

In 2016, Beth Miller as IGA president and I were invited by Prof. Binyun Cao from Northwest A&F University to participate the following year in a conference concerning the dairy goat industry. Beth Miller could not attend due to scheduling conflicts, so I went as IGA representative and also as Honorary President of the conference Organizing Committee. The conference, titled “The International Conference of Dairy Goat Industry Development & International Symposium on Dairy Goat Industry Technology” took place on October 10 to 12, 2017 in Quianxian, Shaanxi province. During this trip, I visited three large factories: one just completed, another one in construction and another one in the planning stages. It was my 6th visit to China as an IGA officer. In addition, I had been the guide of a Chinese delegation who visited Spain in 2015.

National Foundation for Biotechnology Development (NADBIO) and the Venezuelan Department of Agriculture Initiate Program for Caprine Integral Development (PIDEL)

7/17/2017

Written by Luis Dickson, IGA Regional Director for South America
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas - Venezuela

The traditional breeding of goats began in Venezuela a few decades after the colonization by the Spaniards and has survived without many changes since then. The animal used is the Criollo, a very resistant animal that evolved from a mixture of Spanish, African and Canarian breeds introduced more than 200 years ago and that is adapted to the rough semiarid conditions of Venezuela. Breeders also use a very prolific mixture of crosses of Criollo and more recent introduced breeds like French Alpine, Anglo Nubian, Saanen and Majorera.

Report from 12th Italian Goat Cheese and Yogurt Competition, Milan

7/13/2017

“All’ombra della Madonnina”

Special thanks to Luca Rapetti, IGA's Country Representative in Italy for this information.

The 12th Italian Goat Cheese and Yogurt Competition was held in Milan on May 6th and 7th 2017. Entitled “All’ombra della Madonnina (In the shadow of the Madonnina) referencing the little Madonna of Milan’s Cathedral, this competition was organized by ONAF (Organizzazione Nazionale Assaggiatori Formaggi - National Organization Cheese Tester, www.onaf.it) with the collaboration of ARAL (Associazione Regionale Allevatori della Lombardia – Regional Association of Farmers of Lombardy) and with the sponsorship of IGA.

Exploring New Frontiers

4/10/2017

E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research

The five-year report of activities of the E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research is presented here. Through this report, you will find that this institute has proved itself again to be the United States’ premier institution for goat research, extension, and international activities. Over the past five years, we have reached a new milestone in our core foundational programs and expanding new programs. Within this report, you will find a synopsis of our major accomplishments. Our Institute scientists and extension specialists have led the way in publishing pertinent research findings, developing user-friendly technology for information dissemination to producers, and implementing development-centered assistance programs internationally. If you are not familiar with our exciting and forward-looking research programs, dynamic extension and outreach activities, and life-changing international activities, you soon will be. Our passion is enhancing goat productivity and improving the lives of goat producers worldwide. We hope that this report will ignite some of those same passions in you.

Read the entire report, Exploring New Frontiers.

CAPRIROM – The National Association of Goat Breeders – Progess in the Development of Goat Husbandry in Romania

3/8/2017

Written by Dr. Stela Zamfirescu, former IGA Board member, Vice president and Honorary president of Romanian Goat Association, CAPRIROM

The goat breeding sector in Romania has steadily increased in the past decade, reaching a total of 1,868,000 head at the end of 2016. Of these, 1,125,600 are reproduction-aged goats, and over 133,000 young female goats are mated. The interest of the Romanian population in consuming goat products – meat, milk and by-products has risen continuously. ANCC Caprirom had a major positive impact on the development of the goat sector, both socially and economically.

2016 General Assembly Report

2/24/2017

Below is a report from Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, IGA's Secretary-Treasurer. This was presented in September 2016 at the 12th International Conference on Goats during the IGA General Assembly.

You can either download the PDF version or click through the slides below.

Thank you again to ALL of our wonderful members.

The International Goat Association's mission is to promote goat research and development for the benefit of humankind, to alleviate poverty, to promote prosperity and to improve the quality of life.

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