Only 30% of households in Bairro Boroma (Boroma neighborhood) have a regular protein intake, mainly due to the lack of a proper cold chain. We analyzed the level of knowledge about a local dried meat called chinkui, examining the relationship between this knowledge and its value for strengthening local food security. Through surveys of Bairro Boroma goat herders (n = 23) about “chinkui awareness” and passive observation of chinkui preparation (n = 5) from local biotype goats, we found that chinkui was known to most goat herders (91.3%), but was used only irregularly, mainly because knowledge transmission has decreased over time. From passive observation, we found that the amount of dried meat obtained from an animal rarely exceeded a yield of 10% and its performance and safety depended on weather conditions and the absence of other animals in the area of preparation. It is, therefore, recommended to strengthen initiatives to increase the amount of chinkui, based on local knowledge, so as to enhance its frequency of consumption and the possibility of using it as a sustainable alternative source of protein.

An exploratory study was conducted to analyze combinations of variables that define typological groups that condition the abandonment/continuity of sheep farming in the semi-arid region of Chile. Three typological groups were identified. Group I is made up of middle-aged farmers with the largest flocks. Group II has typical farms from an arid zone, own by elderly male farmers. Group III is located in areas near urban centers and has a greater presence of women farmers. The study allowed to identify the variables that influence the continuity of sheep farmers and to determine strategies that avoid/delay the abandonment of the activity.

Due to climate change, diverse territories of the planet will suffer from water restrictions. Goats are perceived as the most resilient ruminants in this scenario. So, various studies have focused on describing how a lower water intake influences milk production, especially in breeds adapted to desert environments. In water-stress situations, goats lose up to 32% of their body weight (BW), the rate of passage is reduced, and the digestibility of the feed increases. When goats consume water again, the rumen prevents hemolysis and osmotic shock from occurring. Regarding milk production, the response varies depending on the breed and the level of water restriction, maintaining the milk volume or reducing it by up to 41%. Systemically, it decreases the urinary volume and glomerular filtration rate, increasing blood osmolality and the vasopressin (ADH) concentration. Studies are scarce regarding changes in blood flow to the mammary gland, but there would be a reduction in blood flow velocity of up to 40% without changing blood pressure. New studies must be undertaken to determine which breeds or crosses are the best adapted to changing environmental conditions and to improve our understanding of the changes that occur at the morphophysiological level of the caprine mammary gland.

Undernourishment and food insecurity are still challenges threatening poor urban and rural communities. Approximately 12% of the global population faced severe food insecurity in 2020, representing 928 million people. A significant fraction of the world’s land surface is covered by drylands, and this proportion is expected to increase in the future, affecting the food security and livelihood of 2 billion people due to climate change. Goats have traditionally been a significant asset and source of protein for rural communities inhabiting arid and semiarid regions of the world. We hypothesize that goats were intentionally selected by communities in dry environments and might be the optimal animal to breed in the future due to their capability to survive in dry environments and to utilize less water than other livestock production systems. However, it must be considered that only a small fraction (1%–2%) of the total water consumed by goats is drunk or utilized directly by the animals. Most of the water consumed is utilized to grow the feed that livestock such as goats consumes. Which in most regions of the world is green water due to goats feed on the vegetation that grows in rainfed rangelands. Increasing water efficiency in goat production is thus critical in the context of increasing water scarcity and desertification. However, there is little research on goat water productivity and the impact of decreasing water security on the sustainability of goat production and, hence, on the livelihoods in small communities in developing countries. Therefore, the impact of increasing water scarcity and desertification on goat production in rainfed lands should be a research priority.