Herd Development and Productivity Indicators of Goat Herds in Oman

In the Al Jabal al Akhdar mountain range in Northern Oman, goat husbandry remains the main livestock activity, rearing of goats within the traditional farming systems of the region appears to be limited. Despite the natural conditions, the Sultanate of Oman has undergone significant economic, political and social changes in the past four decades, which has also affected the agricultural systems in the mountain oases (Dickhoefer, 2006). Nevertheless, agricultural research has so far largely been focused on crop cultivation, with the role of livestock within these farming systems receiving little attention. This study therefore seeks to fill this gap by analyzing important determinants of productivity of goat herds in the traditional oases system of Al Jabal al Akhdar.