Feed Insufficiency and Milk Quality Constraints in Smallholder Goat Production Systems: A SWOT-TOWS Analysis of Southern Thailand’s Border Provinces

Smallholder goat milk production in Thailand’s three southern border provinces (Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat) represents a critical livelihood strategy integrated with Muslim cultural practices. Despite long-standing production experience, farmers face persistent constraints including feed scarcity, limited financial access, suboptimal milk quality and inadequate knowledge of high-quality raw goat milk production.

A convergent mixed-methods design combined focus group discussions with 47 dairy goat farmers, laboratory analysis of milk samples from six representative farms, structured surveys (n=10 farm enterprises) and secondary data from government livestock statistics (2024). Milk samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, total solids and density using ISO-standardized methods. Data were synthesized through thematic SWOT analysis and the TOWS strategic matrix framework.

Ten dairy enterprises operated 267 production units across the three provinces. Provincial forage sufficiency ranged from 50-60%, with monthly feed expenditure averaging 450-500 THB per goat (40-50% of total production costs). Fresh milk showed significantly lower nutritional values than national optimal standards: fat content 2.29-4.34% (mean 3.21±0.74%) versus the 4.5% standard (p<0.05), a 28.7% deficit; protein content averaged 3.10±0.26% versus the 3.6% standard (p<0.05). TOWS analysis identified four critical strategic pathways: cassava-based local feed development, producer cooperatives, technical capacity building and Islamic microfinance mechanisms.