PRODUCTION, AGROINDUSTRIALIZATION AND MARKETING CHARACTERIZATION OF SHEEP AND GOATS IN PANAMA

Abstract

Interviews were conducted to 121 sheep-goat producers and 14 agroindustrial and marketing companies in order to examine production, agroindustry and commercialization aspects of the sheep-goat activity in Panama. Results indicate that for 17% of the producers, the sheep-goat activity is the main source of income. According to herd management, the predominant production system for the group of mixed producers (sheep and goats), as well as, for the group of sheep producers is the semi-confinement (58% and 53%, respectively); while, the grazing system predominates for the group of goat producers (43%). The average number of milking goats was six, with a production of 1,16 L animal^-1 day. Fiftyseven percent of the producers process milk to sell as fluid milk (B/.3,00/kg.), yogurt (B/.1,50/240 g) or cheese (B/.19,00/kg). The animals are sold live for B/.4,07 to 5,50 per kg or in carcass from B/.7,70 to 11,00 per kg. Nationwide, three main factors that affect sheep-goat meat and milk producers are identified: (1) low availability of breeders with high genetic potential (51%), (2) low availability and quality of forage (49%) and (3) marketing (47%). Five agroindustries commercialize fluid milk, yogurt and cheese; however, for 100% of them, fluctuations in production and variability in milk quality affect the volume of production and the quality of their products. National meat is marketed in carcass or processed, while imported meat is sold in the main supermarket chains of the country, which also offer national products derived from goat's milk.