Potential of the goat in less-developed countries

Abstract

The prime objective of the travel funded by a Lincoln Foundation Scholarship was to evaluate the potential role of the goat in less - developed countries (LDCs), the potential for improvements in animal husbandry in these countries, and to determine how Lincoln College could help in any development. A second objective was to get information allowing me to better assess the future role of the goat in New Zealand agriculture. There are generally-perceived prejudices, difficult to analyse against development of goat industries. Association of goats with poverty and destitution, and large populations of goats seen under adverse management systems in LDCs probably encourage a negative attitude amongst advisers and planners. Cultural attitudes also influence government and business attitudes, and this is particularly so among institution research workers. All these have difficulty in relating to the unfamiliar. In dealings between developed and LDCs, practices successful and applicable in developed countries are transferred to developing countries by default. This attitude towards goats may be relatively recent. Tracing back to the time of domestication of the current domestic species (circa 4000 B.C.) one finds images of the goat in art in Mesopotamia associated with symbols of peace and prosperity; feeding and clothing man. Negative images towards goats are seen in the Middle Ages, themes of the Dionysus cult being transferred to witchcraft stereotypes. These negative images persist in modern demon worship.