Assessing the value of castrated and intact male goat attributes in livestock markets of Pakistan

Purpose - The purpose of the study was to find out the impact of the castrated and intact attribute of the male goat on its price in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach - Five major goat markets of Punjab, Pakistan, representing various cropping systems, climatic conditions and socio-economic conditions, were selected for the study. Data about the market location, traits of traded male goat (weight, age, breed, castration, etc.), buyer attributes (education level, experience of buying goats), the purpose of buying and price of 383 traded male goats were collected by using a pretested questionnaire. The hedonic regression model was used to estimate the impact of male goat attributes on its price. Findings - Results indicated a significant price difference between castrated and intact male goats and recommended castration of male goats for a better price. Additional findings showed a significant positive impact of live weight, age, breed and the selling marketplace on the male goat prices. Research limitations/implications - By targeting and marketing male goat characteristics like castration, weight, breed and selling markets, goat producers can receive a premium price for their animals. Originality/value - In livestock markets of developing countries, buyers strongly prefer castrated or intact male goats for several reasons. However, as existing literature did not document the effect of male goat's castrated and intact attribute on its price; therefore, the study is important to fill this gap.