Caracterização da caprinocultura leiteira no município de Alagoinha, Pernambuco

Abstract

Alagoinha is located in the agreste Pernambucano which has been staanding out in last years for the production goat milk on the community Lage do Carrapicho. Actually in the community, thirty families commercialize goat's milk for the industrialization and distribution of milk, through social programs of the state and federal governments. The activity has come progress and growth socioeconomic in the state, but, there isn’t a scientific study about the activity on the region which shows its positives and negatives and yours opportunities, as well as their threats. The objective of this study was to study the sale of goat milk in the last five years, to characterize the properties, the goat herd and its structure, and to outline the current profile of goat milk producers in the municipality of Alagoinha-PE-Brazil. To do so, initially the number of active producers was surveyed, and 30 producers were identified, to whom structured questionnaires were applied, face-to-face, the survey also counts on pre-existing data obtained from access to the producers register, minutes of meetings and control books for the sale of goat milk in the municipality. The results show that the sale of milk presents an important source of income for families and high success rates in the last five years. The production of derivatives is an important opportunity to reduce dependence on government programs. The properties are characterized as family units of production, where activity has reduced the rural exodus and is a factor of inclusion of female labor in the field. The goat herd is composed mostly of crossbred dairy cattle with predominant use of the Saanen breed, 70% of which are likely to expand. Sporadic and unskilled technical assistance compromises the speed of progress of these production systems. Goat milk producers have an optimistic profile, and their commitment is based on the principles of associativism and cooperativism practiced in the Lage do Carrapicho community.