Population, World Production and Quality of Sheep and Goat Products

Sheep and goats are two of the first animals that were domesticated by humans. The initial reasons for raising these animals was meat, milk and dairy products, fleece and skin. Also, one of the most important reasons for raising sheep and, goats on the farm was due to the difficulties associated with preserving animal products like meat. It was easier to keep, raise livestock and slaughter them whenever meat was required. Sheep meat production on the global scale is near 9 million tones per year and developing countries are at the top of the list. Sheep meat consumption is fourth after pork, poultry and beef meat. About 20.8% of dairy products come from sheep and goats and they make up to 1.3 and 1.9% of the total milk production in the world, respectively. Many people and infants have allergic reactions to cow’s milk but not to goat's and sheep's milk and their dairy products, so there are medical benefits for goat and sheep milk. Undoubtedly, using fleece of goat and sheep is one of the main reasons for raising and developing related breeds. Carpets, bedding, upholstery and blankets are general end products of wool. Angora is a unique breed of goats that produces mohair that is suitable for knitwear, apparel, curtaining, upholstery material, shawls, socks and accessories. Global demand for small ruminant products is increasing and achieving this demand requires scientific, educational and practical infrastructures. These are mostly accomplished through organizing producer associations, access to technical services and arranging rules and policies to enhance profitable production of small ruminants and decrease obstacles.