Effects of Heat Stress on Goat Production and Mitigating Strategies: A Review

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 12; p. 1793
• Main Authors: Danso, Felix, Iddrisu, Lukman, Lungu, Shera Elizabeth, Zhou, Guangxian, Ju, Xianghong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14.06.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Adaptability; Adaptation; Analysis; Animal lactation; Animals; behavioral characteristics; Cashmere; Cattle; Climate change; Climatic changes; Domestication; Economic impact; Extreme weather; Feeds; Food supply; Genetic engineering; Genetically modified organisms; goat production; Goats; Heat; heat stress; Humidity; insulin-like growth factor-1; Livestock; Livestock farms; Meat quality; Metabolism; Milk; palpitating; Physiology; Radiation; Review; Security management; Sperm; Brazil; Egypt; Middle East; heat stress; insulin-like growth factor-1; behavioral characteristics; palpitating; goat production
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani14121793

Goats, versatile creatures selectively bred for various purposes, have become pivotal in shaping the socioeconomic landscape, particularly in rural and economically challenged areas. Their remarkable ability to withstand and adapt to extreme heat has proven invaluable, allowing them to flourish and reproduce in even the harshest climates on Earth. Goat farming has emerged as a reliable and sustainable solution for securing food resources. However, despite its significance, the goat-producing industry has received less attention than other ruminants. Despite goats' inherent resilience to heat, their productivity and reproductive performance suffer under high ambient temperatures, leading to heat stress. This presents a significant challenge for goat production, necessitating a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to mitigating the adverse effects of heat stress. This review aims to explore the diverse impacts of heat stress on goats and propose effective measures to address the sector's challenges. By understanding and addressing these issues, we can enhance the resilience and sustainability of goat farming, ensuring its continued contribution to food security and socioeconomic development.