Goat Production Systems for the Semi-Arid Region

This agricultural production system covers goat production in rangeland, chaparral, grasslands, and woodlands and where dry, sandy, rocky and saline soils predominate and the environment dictates quality and quantity of vegetation available. Parts of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and some other states fit under this category of agricultural system, which limits commercial goat production on farms. This system is characterized by extensive goat production with minimum inputs. Low rainfall, diversified native forage material, extensive rangeland goat production, large numbered goatherds, and hundreds of acres of rangeland per ranch are other characteristics unique to this system.

Rangeland vegetation, brush, browse and other bushes and forbs are naturally present. Natural grassland can provide sufficient forage for growth and meat production in rainy seasons (spring and summer), and forbs, bushes, shrubs, and trees feed free-ranging goats other times of the year. The nutritive quality of vegetation diminishes drastically during the winter and dry seasons and productivity can only be sustained with supplemental feeds; however, supplemental feeding practices are limited. Due to dry environmental conditions and extensive goat production, unlike other systems, internal and external parasites do not pose a major problem and parasite control is rarely practiced in this system.

Highly variable climates, and unpredictable environmental conditions from season to season and from year to year make this system even more challenging for goat production. Due to the nature and variability of vegetations, their quality and variable environmental conditions, it is difficult to design proper supplementation programs for optimum production. Experienced managers can assess range conditions as well as animal conditions to determine quality and quantity of supplemental feeds in this region.

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