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Copyright of Archivos de Zootecnia is the property of Archivos de Zootecnia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Caprine farming is no longer a marginal livestock production, but it is progressively gaining more importance in the animal industry worldwide. In middle and low-income countries, where more than 95% of the global census is concentrated, the domestic goat assumes a crucial role as a source of meat, milk and cheese. This is done on small herds, following rudimentary practices and under extreme weather conditions. Contrarily, developed countries have specialised on highly technification dairy production. Goat meat is considered a by-product and censuses are decreasing, as the current trend is to have fewer but larger and more efficient farms. Spain is a main power in caprine milk production. It is a leader in terms of technification and genetics but, at the same time, it preserves herds based on high-rusticity local breeds that are reared in traditional pasture systems providing many benefits to the society. In this review, current caprine census and production are exposed, as well as their evolution and trend. Moreover, the economic impact on the Spanish caprine sector is explained and perspectives and future difficulties will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivos de Zootecnia is the property of Archivos de Zootecnia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)