The Italian Cilentana goat breed: productive performances and economic perspectives of goat farming in marginal areas

Abstract

In the internal areas of Cilento, province of Salerno (Campania), the Cilentana, a small native goat breed population, is reared quite widespread, due to its dual-purpose attitude and to its typical productions. The extensive livestock system adopted for this breed allows the use of otherwise abandoned territories and a sustainable farming capable of ensuring high-quality levels. In addition, Cilentana goat farming represents an important source of income for the local communities and also preserves the territory itself guaranteeing the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of local activities that have a historical tradition. The aim of this study is twofold: give an overview of Cilentana breed morphological and productive traits linked to the historical and gastronomic tradition of the area and emphasize the economic role of this breed in the perspective of the ongoing new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules.

Goat Meat: Production and Quality Attributes

“…In Europe, various conservation and development programs are under way for the potential of native breeds in goat meat production. Some of the currently conserved native or indigenous breeds are Cilentana [ 55 ] and Teramana goats of Italy [ 56 ], and Carpathian goats of Poland [ 57 ].…”

Diet Supplementation with Hemp (<em>Cannabis sativa L.</em>) Inflorescences: Effects on Quanti-Qualitative Milk Yield and Fatty Acid Profile in Grazing Goats

“…The diet of all the grazing goats were formulated to satisfy their energy requirements according to Tudisco et al [32] as follows: energy requirements for maintenance 0.0365 UFL/kg metabolic weight (MW:BW0.75); energy requirements for milk production 0.41 UFL/kg fat-corrected milk (FCM, 4% fat). Therefore, total energy requirement was 1.48 UFL (0.63 UFL maintenance + 0.85 UFL milk production) and since the average pasture DM intake in the inlands of South Italy is 20g/kg BW [33] the deficit of 0.78 UFL was met by the concentrate.…”

Can Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation Save Native Goat Breeds? The Situation in Campania Region (Southern Italy) between History and Regional Policy Interventions

“…Local breeds seem to be an important component of the biodiversity of farms [10], thanks to their excellent adaptation to specific environmental conditions [11]. Since sustainability takes into consideration environmental, social, and economic aspects, and as stated by Esposito et al [12] also animal welfare, the breeding of native breeds preserves the typical and traditional productions of marginal territories, giving these breeding systems (especially those extensive) an added value [11,13].…”

“…Local breeds seem to be an important component of the biodiversity of farms [10], thanks to their excellent adaptation to specific environmental conditions [11]. Since sustainability takes into consideration environmental, social, and economic aspects, and as stated by Esposito et al [12] also animal welfare, the breeding of native breeds preserves the typical and traditional productions of marginal territories, giving these breeding systems (especially those extensive) an added value [11,13]. The conservation of native animal resources and the sustainable development of their products appear to be important actions to save those animal breeds at risk of extinction due to the spread of cosmopolitan and more productive breeds, which often offer a poor-quality product.…”