The goat is perhaps the earliest ruminant to be domesticated, and of all the species of domesticated animals except the dog, has the widest ecological range. The goat, numerically is the most important species of livestock in developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa which have 90% of its population and produce 90% of their requirement of meat and 70% of their requirement of milk from this species. Goats provide subsistence to a large percentage of small holders and landless poor and marketable commodities such as meat, milk, skins, fibre and manure. The goat’s role in destruction of vegetation leading to desertification is highly exaggerated and is more due to various misconceptions. Goats in fact help in revegetation through dispersal of seeds, prevent forest fires and open unutilised vegetative areas for other livestock species. The socio-economic importance of goats is evident from the sharp rise in their number and their contribution to human welfare in the last ten years.
The International Goat Association, in collaboration with the host country, organises international conferences every five years. The V International Conference on Goats with the theme of “Goat and Rural Prosperity” is being organised from March 2 to 8, 1992 in New Delhi. The conference will be attended by 1000 participants, 700 from within the country and 300 from almost all countries of the world, both developed and developing. The main objectives are to provide a scholarly exchange of information on all aspects of goats and utilisation of their products for the benefit of mankind, to encourage and promote international co-operation in research and development of goats as a species for the prosperity of mankind and to promote awareness on the socio-economic value of goats in ameliorating poverty of the rural masses.
Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India