AbstractGoats account for about 30%

AbstractGoats account for about 30% of Africa’s ruminant livestock and produce about 17 and 12% of its meat and milk, respectively.Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for over 60% of the total goat population in Africa, with an estimated 147 milliongoats representing about 80 indigenous breeds or strains distributed across all agro-ecological zones and ruminant livestockproduction systems. Goats are particularly important in marginal agricultural land areas, especially in arid and semi-arid areas,which together hold 64% of the goat population. At the rural community level, goats play a significant role in the food chainand overall livelihoods of the poor rural households where they are also largely the property of resource poor women andtheir children. Indigenous goat breeds/strains are adapted to the diverse local production circumstances and are able to thrivewith minimum inputs. Goats still remain largely marginalized, even at the household level. This paper attempts to look at thechallenges and opportunities of goat keeping at the household level for the improved welfare of the keepers, using SSA as arepresentative of other developing sub-regions.

Abstract
Goats account for about 30% of Africa 's ruminant livestock and produce about 17 and 12% of its meat, and milk. Respectively.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for over 60% of the total goat population in Africa with an, estimated 147 million
goats. Representing about 80 indigenous breeds or strains distributed across all agro-ecological zones and ruminant livestock
production. Systems.Goats are particularly important in marginal agricultural land areas especially in, arid and semi-arid areas
which, together. Hold 64% of the goat population. At the rural community level goats play, a significant role in the food chain
and overall. Livelihoods of the poor rural households where they are also largely the property of resource poor women and
their children.Indigenous Goat Breeds / strains are adapted to the diverse local production circumstances and are able to thrive
with minimum. Inputs. Goats still remain largely marginalized even at, the household level. This paper attempts to look at the
challenges. And opportunities of goat keeping at the household level for the improved welfare of, the keepers using SSA as a
.Representative of other developing sub-regions.