The Italian Cilentana goat breed: productive performances and economic perspectives of goat farming in marginal areas

In the internal areas of Cilento, province of Salerno (Campania), the Cilentana, a small native goat breed population, is reared quite widespread, due to its dual-purpose attitude and to its typical productions. The extensive livestock system adopted for this breed allows the use of otherwise abandoned territories and a sustainable farming capable of ensuring high-quality levels. In addition, Cilentana goat farming represents an important source of income for the local communities and also preserves the territory itself guaranteeing the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of local activities that have a historical tradition. The aim of this study is twofold: give an overview of Cilentana breed morphological and productive traits linked to the historical and gastronomic tradition of the area and emphasize the economic role of this breed in the perspective of the ongoing new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules.

Automated summary

The Cilentana goat, a small native breed in the internal areas of Cilento, province of Salerno, is reared widely due to its dual-purpose attitude and typical production. The extensive livestock system used allows for sustainable farming in otherwise abandoned territories, ensuring high-quality levels of production. This breed not only provides an important source of income for local communities, but also protects the territory, biodiversity, and historical traditions.