Sustainable Management and Feeding Practices in Sheep and Goat Production in Norte de Santander, Colombia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70917/ijcisim-2026-5651Keywords:
Animal welfare, livestock sustainability, sheep production, goat production, good livestock practices, food safety, Norte de SantanderAbstract
Objective: To describe and assess management and feeding practices in sheep and goat production systems in Norte de Santander, Colombia, in order to identify improvement opportunities towards productive sustainability.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured 22-item Likert-scale questionnaire applied to 50 sheep and goat producers in the region, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling during a technical field visit. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion.
Results: A total of 86% of producers (n = 43) acknowledged the importance of meat and dairy product quality; 82% (n = 41) expressed the need for training in livestock marketing; and the majority considered the adoption of sustainable production systems a priority. Deficiencies in technology transfer, sanitary management, and diversification of the herd's feed base were identified.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the urgency of incorporating good livestock practices grounded in regenerative agriculture, continuous producer training, and articulation with sustainable value chains to strengthen the competitiveness of the sheep and goat sector in the region.
