GOAT (Capra hircus) FARMING VALUATION BY ME’PHAA PEASANTS OF THE GUERRERO MOUNTAIN, MEXICO

Abstract

Objective: To determine the valuation of the Me’phaa peasants of the Montaña de Guerrero on the herd and type of goats
(Capra hircus), the management practices, the socioeconomic benefits and the problems.
Methodology: In a sample of 40 farmers of the Me’phaa ethnic group, goat breeders, information was recorded from the production unit on land availability, problems and income, and the preference that producers have for the type of goats, management practices and the herd of goats. The information was analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitative principal component analysis with the PRINQUAL procedure of the SAS statistical package.
Results: The availability of forage was good and with a tendency to decrease over time. The peasants valued the herd of goats for their ability to graze, their maternal skill, their adaptation and their high reproductive rate. Goats represent capital savings, meat production and income source. The most common problems were the shortage of fodder, low sale price, lack of capital to invest, presence of diseases, and scarce and expensive external inputs.
Implications: There were differences in how different producers valued goat breeding; older peasants showed the highest preference because goat breeding is their main source of employment.
Conclusions: The valuation of the preferences for the goats was explained by the liking for the species, the adaptation of the animals, the current productivity and its contribution of income.