This paper aims to review, systematically synthesize, and analyze fragmented information about the importance of coat color in local goats and its relationship with productivity and other important traits. Topics on current research on color expression are addressed, the relationship that has as a mechanism of environmental adaptation, its relationship with the production of meat, milk, and derivates, and the economic value of this characteristic. The use of this attribute as a tool to establish selection criteria in breeding programs based on results reported in the scientific literature is significant, particularly for low-income production systems, where the implementation of classic genetic improvement schemes is limited due to the lack of productive information, which is distinctive of extensive marginal or low scaled production systems around the world.

This narrative review aims to summarize, synthesize, and organize current knowledge on the adaptation of sheep and goats to stressful environments and to discuss how these adaptations contribute to food security in vulnerable communities. A structured search of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted using combinations of terms related to sheep and goats, harsh environments (e.g., arid and semi-arid regions, heat stress, water restriction, poor-quality forage), and adaptation or resilience, combined with Boolean operators. A total of 1718 research publications were found, of which 86 were retained as the most relevant because they provided direct and detailed evidence on anatomical, physiological, digestive–microbiome, behavioral, and genomic adaptations of sheep and goats to stressful environments. The selected studies describe a wide range of phenotypic and integumentary traits, thermoregulatory and endocrine responses, digestive and microbial adjustments, behavioral strategies, and genomic signatures that, together, allow small ruminants to maintain basic functions, reproduction, and production under conditions of climatic and nutritional stress. Evidence from these studies also highlights how adaptive traits support herd productivity, economic stability of households, and the sustainable use of natural resources in regions where climatic variability and resource scarcity are common. Overall, the synthesis presented here underscores the importance of conserving and strategically using locally adapted sheep and goat breeds, incorporating resilience-related traits into breeding and management programs, and prioritizing further research on genomic, microbiome, and epigenetic mechanisms that underpin adaptation to harsh environments.

REVISTA CIENTÍFICA, es una revista internacional que representa el órgano científico de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela. La misión es publicar literatura científica generada en zonas tropicales y subtropicales relacionada a las áreas de medicina veterinaria, producción animal, salud pública, economía agropecuaria, tecnología de alimentos de origen animal y vida silvestre The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of variation in number and diversity of colors, coat pattern, and skin color and its effect on longevity and etnological indices in local goats from Northern Mexico. Two hundred fifty-one adult goats were chosen. The aforementioned variables were recorded in addition to age, live weight (LW), body condition (BC), and fifteen zoometric traits. Seventeen indices were calculated. The group with two colors was different (P<0.05) in age and BC. Skin color was different in LW and BC (P<0.05). BC was higher in white coat mottled animals (P<0.05). The one-color group presented the highest Facial Index. Flat-coated Animals had higher Index of horns. Cephalic, pelvic, facial, compactness, relative chest depth, substernal slenderness, and relative shortness indices were different in coat color. It is concluded that this population was phaneroptically heterogeneous and the number, diversity of colors, coat pattern, and skin color influence the longevity and ethnological and functional indices. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto que tiene la variación en número y diversidad de colores, patrón de la capa y color de piel y sus efectos sobre longevidad, índices etnológicos y funcionales en cabras locales de la Comarca Lagunera, al norte de México. Se eligieron al azar 251 caprinos locales adultos. Se registraron las variables antes mencionadas además de edad, peso vivo (PV), condición corporal (CC) y 15 variables zoométricas. Se calcularon 17 índices: Corporal (ICor); cefálico (ICF); pelviano (IPV); torácico (ITo); facial (IF); de cuernos (ICur); de compacidad (IComp); peso relativo (IPR); proporcionalidad (IProp); profundidad relativa de tórax (IPRT); grupa transversal (IGT); grupa longitudinal (IGL); diferencia de alturas (IDA); orejas (IO); torácico auricular (ITA); esbeltez subesternal (IES) y cortedad relativa (ICR). Los datos fueron analizados con ANOVA y la prueba de Tukey. El grupo con dos colores fue diferente (P<0,05) en edad y CC. Color de piel fue diferente en PV y CC (P0.05) en edad, peso y CC debido al patrón de capa. Animales con capa marrón y marrón con parche tuvieron la mayor edad dentro de los hatos (P<0,05). La CC fue mayor en animales con capa blanca moteada (P<0,05). El grupo de un color presentó el mayor IF. Animales con capa plana tuvieron mayor ICur. ICF, IPV, IF, IComp, IPRT, IDA, IES e ICR fueron diferentes en color de la capa. IO e ITA tuvieron mayores valores en animales con dos colores, IO en animales de piel rosada, ITA en ejemplares de piel negra y rosada (P<0,05) e IES en animales con piel rosada y blanca (P<0,05). Se concluye que esta población es fanerópticamente heterogénea y el número, diversidad de colores, patrón de capa y color de piel influyen en la longevidad, índices etnológicos y funcionales de esta población.

Nowadays, it is central to generate innovations that convert agricultural by-products and food waste into valuable animal products while promoting the long-term resilience and sustainability of vulnerable animal production systems. Nutraceuticals (i.e., ‘nutrition + pharmaceutical’) are derived from foods that offer health benefits. In animal production, nutraceutical supplementation with Withania somnifera and Lepidium meyenii has shown positive effects on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. We aimed to evaluate the possible impact of nutraceutical supplementation on rams fed a diet based on surplus feed from a highly industrialized Holstein cow production system, on corporal (live weight [LW], kg; body condition score [BCS], units), metabolic (blood glucose [GLU], mg dL⁻¹; serum protein [PRO], g 100 mL⁻¹), and sexual–testicular variables [sexual odor (ODOR, units); scrotal circumference (SC, cm); testicular volumes (TVOL, cm³); and estimated daily sperm production (EDSP, millions)]. Black Belly rams (n = 12; LW = 70.36 ± 1.2 kg; BCS = 2.96 ± 0.03 units; age = 3.8 ± 0.2 years; 25° N) were divided into 3 experimental groups: (1) WITH, supplemented with Withania somnifera (400 mg kg⁻¹ LW d⁻¹); (2) LEPI, supplemented with Lepidium meyenii (400 mg kg⁻¹ LW d⁻¹); and (3) CONT, not supplemented. The variables LW, BCS, GLU, PRO, and SC, as well as some components of TVOL, did not differ (p > 0.05) among the main effects of treatment or time; only ODOR, right transverse testicular diameter, and total testicular volume differed among treatments, generally favoring the WITH group. Furthermore, the TRT × T interaction demonstrated superior performance (p < 0.05) in the WITH group, with the largest values for LW, GLU, PRO, ODOR, SC, width of the right testicle, volume of the right testicle, total testicular volume, and EDSP. From a productive–reproductive perspective, the Robin Hood Effect—through the use of rejected dairy cattle rations as the base diet for rams—and supplemented with nutraceuticals (WITH and LEPI), emerges as a viable alternative to improve not only the productive–reproductive performance of Black Belly rams, but also other productive and socioeconomic outcomes; the latter contributing to the strengthening of producer and family well-being.

In recent years, brushes have been increasingly implemented on dairy farms to improve animal welfare, health, and productivity. This study presents a narrative review of scientific studies published over the past decade, selected based on their evaluation of brushing effects on behavioral, physiological, and production parameters in dairy cattle. The evidence consistently indicates that access to brushes increases grooming behavior and is associated with reductions in stress-related indicators, supporting improved animal welfare. In addition, brush use has been linked to improved hygiene and may serve as a non-invasive behavioral indicator of health status, as reduced usage has been associated with conditions such as metritis and lameness. In contrast, evidence regarding productive responses remains more variable. Some studies report increases in milk yield and changes in milk composition; however, these effects are not consistently observed and appear to depend on factors such as animal characteristics, management conditions, brush accessibility, and study design. Overall, brushing appears to be a promising enrichment strategy, but further standardized and long-term research is required to better establish its effects on production and reproductive performance.

Objective: To characterize and determine the consumption preferences for goat products in different regions of Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory study was carried out through a survey addressed to 300 consumers. The sample was obtained through convenience sampling. The semi-structured questionnaire was divided into the following sections: sociodemographic information, willingness to consume, type of derivative products known, and frequency of consumption. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to determine significant variables. Results: It was found that milk, cheese, and meat are the most relevant foods for goat consumption. These products are ideal for expanding the diversification of consumption in Mexican regions. Limitations on study/implications: To deepen the analysis of the sociodemographic and consumption characteristics, it is necessary to consider a greater number of variables. Findings/conclusions: Knowing the products that are consumed most frequently allows more effective and efficient strategies to be generated and, in turn, opens the pattern for consumption diversification.