Introductory chapter: Goats in arid and mountain areas

Abstract

The present introductory chapter contextualizes the development of goat breeds in adverse environments. Local goat breeds are reared mainly in drylands or mountain regions of all continents. The goat rearing systems in adverse environments, normally under pastoralism, are related with people or countries presenting low economic resources accessibility. Local goats are very well adapted to their environments and biomass availability, but show low-producing yields contrarily to high-producing improved breeds. Breed miscegenation can generate adaptation problems related with the decrease in parasites resistance of the new cross breeding population. Furthermore, reproductive and milking management, as well as udder conformation, could be issues to taking into account when the farmers try to improve the genetic quality of their herds.