Abstract

Characterization of dairy goat production, constraints, and opportunities was the aim of this study. The study was conducted in selected districts of Korahay Zone, Somali Regional State. The weredas and populations (owning goat) were selected purposively to assess management practices, performance of dairy goat, and problems of goat production in selected districts of Korahay Zone. Parameters like milk production of goat, purpose of keeping of goat, and major constraints of goat production were collected. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. The constraints faced by the respondents were ranked and analyzed by the ranking index. The current result indicates that the purpose of goat production by pastoralists in the study area was for income source (buck) and milk consumption (doe) purpose. According, to the result the dairy goat production were hindered with different constraints like feed shortage, land shortage, water shortage, lack of improved forage, feed cost enhancement, disease prevalence, lack of veterinary service, lack of improved goat breed, poor government attention and lack of market access to sell goat and goat products. Therefore, it is recommended that the government should give attention for pastoralists like provide proper veterinary service, improved breed, breeding system, implementing community based breeding and health management practice and adjust market access.

Key words: Dairy, constraint, production, opportunity.