Production And Uses Of Korean Native Black Goat

The majority of small ruminant flocks in Korea consist of Korea Native Goats (KNG), and particularly the black variety. The present population is about 700,000 heads kept on about 80 000 farms. Both males and females have horns and are highly resistant to diseases, especially to lumbar paralysis. Despite the important role of goats in Korean tradition and culture, KNG has been overshadowed by other meat-producing livestock (beef, pork and chicken) and milk-producing cows. Goat meat and milk have only a very small market share and KNG has been consumed more as a medicine than as food. Unlike in the past, goats have been recently recognized as an environment-friendly species mainly over concern for pollution resulting from disposal of wastes originating from the other livestock. Changes in consumers' preference and expectation of nutritional and medicinal effects have also resulted in increased consumption of goat products. Nevertheless, the technology applied to goat production in Korea has not developed, and the number of researchers involved in seat research is limited. This situation should change in order to achieve quantitative and qualitative progress in goat production in Korea. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.