Climate change and goat agriculture interactions in the mediterranean region

Abstract

Currently, even countries located within the temperate zone are affected by changes in global warming. These changes are associated with unprecedented events of extreme high ambient temperature, above 40 °C, and seasonal changes. The number of days with temperature humidity index above a specific comfort threshold (>68) has noticeably increased in recent years in the Mediterranean region. The rate of global warming, including in the temperate zone, is expected to continue to vulnerable in coming years. The economic importance of goat production has been increased during the last decades all over the world, predominantly in countries that are routinely exposed to harsh environment. Goats have numerous advantages that enable them to maintain their production under extreme climate conditions. Moreover goats emit less methane than other domestic ruminants. Based on these advantages, it can be said that goat breeding will play an important role in mitigating and adapting to climate change (CC) in harsh environments. The impacts of CC on goat production could be assessed analyzing the direct or indirect effects of climatic factors. The CC is expected to create indirect impacts on quality and amount of goat feeds, feeding strategies, seasonal usability of grasslands, genetic improvements (hybridization and others) and on the goat population. The interaction between goats and their environment in relation to their physiological stage, use of natural resource, waste management and crop production are direct effects of CC on goat production. In this chapter the direct and indirect effects and interactions of CC-animal-environment will be determined.