Abstract:
This research was conducted during the period 1st January to 28th February 2017 to assess the consumption rate of goat milk in Khartoum State. The data was obtained mainly by using questionnaire distributed randomly to 120 individuals representing three localities of Khartoum State (Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman), 40 per each area. The results obtained indicated that (70%) of the respondents prefer to consume goat milk compared to other milks, irrespective of gender, age, educational level and occupation. Reasons for preference were mainly due to high nutritive value and health benefiting effects of goat milk. Goat milk food as part of the diet was given by (70.8%) of the participants. It was used fresh (47.5%), fresh with additives (46.7%), and not as finished processed dairy product (zero %). Various types of additives were added to goat milk when consumed. Use of goat milk for curing diseases was not carried out by 68.4% of the respondents, while (31.6%) used it. The type of diseases associated with goat milk consumption included: allergey, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular diseases, beside mal nutrition, especially by infants and children, cough and other diseases. Feeding children with goat milk was done by (77.5%) of the participants and health improvement was reached as given by (76.7%) of the respondents. The availability of goat milk was of no problem for (40%) of the consumers, while (60%) had no easy access to it. The source of milk was mainly from home rearing (29.2%), farms (26.6%) and markets (24.2%). The source of goat milk was unknown to (20%) of the respondents. The price for one pound goat milk ranged from 4 to 10 Sudanese pounds. as given by (67.9%) of the participants. Most of them (50.8%) considered this price as high and expensive compared to other milks, e.g cows. Goat breeds used for milk production were known to (55.8%) of the respondents, while (44.2%) had no knowledge about milk goat breeds. Based on the obtained results, the production of goat milk is a useful tool to overcome problems of mal nutrition and cure for certain diseases, beside expected economic gains.
