Challenges, opportunities and drawbacks in intensifying goat feeding systems in the context of climate-smart agriculture

As a ruminant species, goats are able to valorize fibrous feeds and non-protein nitrogen to produce meat and milk in extensive feeding systems. They are also able to attain high production levels when they have the potential and receive a diet of high nutritive value. There is a trade-off between the cost of the diet and increased production, which needs to be evaluated in the context of climate-smart agriculture. Climate change may modify both the availability and the types of feed for ruminants, the animals’ physiology and – thus – their requirements. Increasing levels of production can be achieved by increasing the percentage of concentrate feed in the diet. Intensification of feeding systems might modify feeding behaviour and have impacts on intake and rumen metabolism, increasing negative outputs of nitrogen or methane. All these aspects have to been taken into account when proposing new sustainable goat feeding systems