Consumer's opinion about the consumption of goat milk and caprine dairy products in Natal-RN

Abstract

Great part of the Brazilian goats is concentrated in the Northeastern Region, and therefore caprine production is an important economic activity for people who live in this arid area. It provides home supply and works as a subsistence activity, besides helping to keep the northeastern farmers in their original habitats. Despite the great functional and nutritive potential of goat milk, dairy goat production is characterized by empirical and extensive management and low levels of applied technology. The dairy goat productive sector faces many difficulties related to commercialization and little availability of goat products in the market. Taking into account the few publications about the profile and expectations of the consumer towards goat dairy consumption, the present work aims to understand the view of potential consumers. It is a descriptive and exploratory work based on the responses of 400 consumers from Natal-RN. A structured questionnaire was used in this study approaching the following consumption aspects: market knowledge, nutritional knowledge, consumer's attitude and behavior. The results indicate little knowledge about the goat milk nutritional quality. It is also inferred that sensorial aspects and product reliability are important aspects which prevent consumers from buying goat dairy products. The potential health benefit of goat milk is pointed as an important parameter which motivates the acquisition of goat milk and its products.

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