Productivity of goats and their contribution to household food security in high potential areas of East Africa: A case of Mgeta, Tanzania

Abstract

Utilization of goats on Tanzanian farms for meat and milk was studied, focusing on contribution of goat products to household protein intake. Data were obtained from 4 villages in Tanzania for farms keeping a combination of dairy and meat goats, dairy goats only, meat goats only or dairy and meat goats in combination with swine. Breeds involved were pure Small East African goats, Norwegian goats and their crosses. Wide variation was noted with regard to contribution of goats' milk and meat to protein supply. The estimated amount of animal protein available for human consumption within households was highest in production systems for dairy goats (22 g/person/day), whereas systems with meat goats only supplied 1 g/person/day. It is concluded that introduction of dairy goats has improved nutrition in Tanzanian households and can be recommended particularly for low-income households to increase animal protein intake and improve food security.