TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

ANBIL DHARMALINGAM AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI


AMP. C01 – CAPRINE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY (1+1)

COURSE MATERIAL

PREPARED BY

Dr.B.SAVEETHA M.V.Sc.,

INTRODUCTION OF GOAT

One of the first animals to be domesticated by man was the Goat. References are made to goat in early biblical literature when it provided milk, meat, hides, manure and was commonly used for sacrificial purposes at ceremonies. Through the centuries the goat has remained a popular, hardy, prolific animal serving the needs of man.India has vast livestock resources, the largest bovine population, the largest goat population and all under utilized, underfed and malnourished.

Goats are perhaps the friendliest creation on nature to mankind and its role and contribution in the developing countries has been prominent. The goat is a hollow-horned ruminant belonging to the mammalian order Artiodactyla, sub-order Ruminantia, family Bovidae and either of the genera Capra or Hemitragus. The distinction between the two genera was first based on horn-form but it has since been confirmed genetically about distinguished characteristics. The domesticated species Capra hirus are the descendants of pasang. They occupy a place of honor in their long association with mankind over millennia, being the earliest domesticated animals and next oldest to dog. In the Indo-Gangetic plains, goats were among the first ruminants to be domesticated in 2000 BC.

The contribution of small ruminants in rural economy of the country is evident from the fact that they are closely associated with poorest of the poor. Sheep and Goat rearing is traditional occupation of marginal farmers, landless laborers and the nomads in those regions of the country where crop production is always a gamble due to prevailing unfavorable agro climatic conditions. The small ruminants are conventionally maintained employing self or unpaid and unorganized family labour (Women and children) under extensive range management on degraded public range land, forest land and stubble grazing on cropped land after harvesting. In addition, the farmers also extensively utilize top feed resources (tree lopping and shrub grazing) for sustaining their stock during critical lean summer season.

With the increase in human and livestock population and per capita reduction in acreage for food forage and forest production, diversified use of available landmass to roads, industries and human rehabilitation and also fast deterioration of the ecosystem due to deforestation and increase in soil erosion, it has become necessary to consider alternative land uses for sustainable food security.

Most goats are maintained in small holder situation, integrated with crop farming, however, there are large flocks maintained under nomadic system. Expect in Europe and America, where large dairy goat herds are maintained under intensive management for commercial milk production and the milk is primarily utilized for making cheese and yogurt. Goats are essentially raised under extensive system of management.

Goats contribute to the subsistence of small holders and landless rural poor. They also produce meat, milk, fibre, skins and manure and transport power, especially in high altitudes as in Himalayas. A Gaddi goat can carry up to 10 kg of load on much steep slopes than could be negotiated by mule, the most versatile drought animal. Goats along with sheep have an important role in income generation, capital storage, employment generation and improving household nutrition.

Poor man’s cow

The goat is known as a poor man’s cow all over the world. In Switzerland, the milch goat is said to be the Swiss baby’s foster mother. The goat is an animal that adapts itself readily to almost any climate. The goat eats a class of fodder over which other animals would starve, and for that reason, goat rearing is followed as an occupation by a large section of landless laborers in rural areas.

The goat is the principal meat producing animal in India. Goat flesh is preferred to other meats. Goats flesh also fetches better price than mutton and beef in most of the urban markets.

Mohair from Angoragoats and pashmina from Kashmiri goats are greatly valued for the manufacture of superior dress fabrics and shawls. The intestines of goats are used to make cat-gut. The average milk production of the desi doe is 55 kilograms.

Socio-economic important

Goat farming is place in the socio economic context of a landless and marginal Indian Agrarian Society. The national commission on Agriculture has recommended that Animal Production is one such means to provide additional rural employment and to increase the Meat and Milk Production in the country.

The prominence is associated with a number of features unique to the species, wide distribution functional contribution, socio-economic relevance and also controversy.

Goats can be reared /raised with low investment under intensive as well as most extensive forms of nomadic grazing, and the major consideration is profitability. The socio economics of goat rearing is evident by the sharp increase in its population from 95 million in 1982 to 131 million in 1996 with an almost 2 percent increase per annum. Goat rearing involves low cost technology and therefore is most beneficial for landless laborers, marginal farmers and industrial workers.

On the total analysis the ownership of goat to the poorest of the poor serves material, cultural and recreational needs. The ownership has several advantages.

  • Income: Providing a medium of exchange in economies where access to cash can be limited (also means of earning supplementary income).
  • Food: Providing high quality protein (meat and milk) to people whose access to this is otherwise limited.
  • Security: Source of investment, security and stability
  • Employment: Creation of employment including effective utilization of unpaid family labour.
  • Fertilizer: Contribution to farm fertility by return of dung and urine.
  • By product Utilization : Converting otherwise inedible fibrous material into human food (economic utilization of non-marketable crop residues)
  • Social values: The ownership of animals has shown to increase the cohesiveness in village activities.
  • Recreation: Ownership of animal also includes recreational contribution to small and marginal farmers and landless laborers.
  • Easy Market: Being of a size which makes distribution of the product easy and preventing spoilage where refrigeration is limited.

Prospects of Small Ruminant Production:

Due to increase in human population and increase in demand for additional animal proteins, ruminant livestock need to provide these proteins since ruminants convert inedible roughages and crop by-products/residues into desirable human food.

1. Small ruminants can live in ecology where grazing material is scanty. In pastoral and agricultural subsistence societies, small ruminants are kept as a source of investment and as an insurance against disasters to meet urgent family needs.

2.Low initial investment than in cattle and buffalo, low operating cost at semi subsistence level, smaller body size, docile nature, least manage mental problems and treatment cost are some basic economic issues which further go in favors of sheep and goat farming.

3. Early sexual maturity, lower age at first kidding (10-12 months) and multiple births in well managed goats are economically most important. Goats in general are more prolific breeders.

4. The genetic variability is much higher which helps in selection for improved productivity.

5. In drought prone areas, deserter climate, cold alpine pasture region, and also in the migratory flocks, their mortality is comparatively high. But, due to their prolific breeding capability goats recover their flock size quickly. Thus, there is a less risk in goat farming.

6. Among small ruminants both male and female goats have equal values. Males and sterile females have high demand as meat animal while females are used to replenish the stock quickly.

7. Goat milk is a source of food for the poor goat farmers and also to many urban settlers for their household consumption. Goat milk has a higher content of Vitamin A than cow milk. An important feature of goat milk is that unlike cow milk, it contains no precursors of Vitamin A, the vitamin being present intact.

8. Small ruminants do not compete with human food and produce good quality meat, milk, wool and pashmina. As a result the cost of production is quite low.

9. It acts as seeding machine especially for hard-coated seeds of trees and grasses. While passing through the animal gut, the hard coats of seeds are softened and get pelleted. In monsoon such manure coated seeds easily germinate and establish.

10. Under proper management, sheep and goats can improve and maintain grazing land improve soil fertility and reduce bush encroachment (Biological control) without causing harm to the environment.

11. Smaller body size makes slaughter and dressing of carcasses easier. Goat meat is lean in character, therefore, good for fat and energy conscious people.

12. Goat milk contains smaller fat globules which is naturally homogenized and is easily digestible by infants and invalids. Many individuals, who are intolerant to cow or buffalo milk due to milk protein allergy, get relief from goat milk consumption.

13. Goats provide more meat and milk per unit live weight/year that cattle and camel.

14. Sheep/goat manure, rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acids, is a good bio-fertilizer. The urine is also rich in nitrogen and potassium.

Advantages of Goat Farm:

1. Financial Investment is small. The money required to purchase a doe is relatively small, so the goat has been called a “poor man’s cow.” A good doe may be expected to milk for six to ten years. After this time she may be sold for full salvage value as meat.

2. Building and Equipment Needs are negligible. Since goats are small animals they can be housed in an inexpensive hut.

3. Goats are Prolific. Usually a doe of the imported breed has twins (actually the figure varies from farm to farm averaging between 1.6 to 2.0 kids per doe). The sexes are about equally distributed when dealing with large numbers of animals.

4. Goat Milk is Easily Digested. As compared to the milk of other animals, goat’s milk approaches nearest to human milk in fat percentage and proteins. Its sugar content is slightly less and ash content more than in human milk. Due to the small-sized fat globules, and the soft curd which is characteristic of goat’s milk, it is easily digested; therefore, this milk is commonly recommended by medical men for infants, invalids and convalescents.

5. Goats Help Solve Unemployment Problem. Under-employment is a big problem in the villages. To partially overcome these problem milch goats could provide gainful employment, especially for the women and children who can easily manage a small docile goat.

6. Goat Manure Increases Crops. It has been estimated by the National Council of Applied Economic Research that 20 per cent of the cow dung produced in India is used as fuel. With goats all of the great advantages of livestock farming are that the manure maintains and builds up soil fertility at a minimum expense, especially if legumes are used in the crop rotation.

7. Goats Escape Tuberculosis. Goats are seldom affected with tuberculosis and their milk is considered safe.

8. No Prejudices against Goat Slaughter. In India, there are no prejudices against goat slaughter so it easy to cull and dispose of males and uneconomic females at full salvage value for meat.

Disadvantages of Goats:

1. Goats Destroy Plant Life. There is a common criticism that goats destroy trees, shrubs and grasslands.

2. Palatability of Goat’s Milk. Goat’s milk may have an off-flavor if not properly handled.

3. Goats Have Labour Requirement. Since five goats are considered one animal unit against one cow, it does take more time to feed, manage and milk five does than it does to milk and manage a good cow giving an equivalent amount of milk.

4. Hazards of Dairy Goat Farming. Goats are susceptible to many diseases, even though they are often said to be the healthiest looking animals in India. Many diseases can be successfully controlled through good feeding, management and vaccination but conditions such as mastitis may be difficult to control.

Goat in Integrated Farming System

The Indian agriculture traditionally is characterized by mixed farming combining crop production with animal production, be it Goatary, Poultry or cattle rearing. The Indian Agriculture system has never been commercial occupation in a strict sense and the farmer must make his own decision to strike a balance between the two enterprises, Crop Production and Animal Production so as to use the maximum output of one as an input for the other. The primary objective no doubt would be maximization of profits, but other objectives such as full time employment to the joint family members will also be met.

In all mixed farming systems it is essential to know what combination of resources can fetch a given maximum output. The efficiency of each input is maximized when its contribution to the production is direct and maximum.

Common terminologies of Goat:

Buck-Adult male uncastrated

Doe-Adult female that has give birth at least once

Kid-Young one of either sex

Doeling - Female between one and two years.

Buckling-A female between one and two years

Wedder / Wether-Castrated Male

Kidding-Process of giving birth

Serving-Act of mating

Band-Group of Goats

Sound produced -Bleating

Age of puberty -4 to 5 months

Chromosome No.-60

Dressing percentage-45-55%

Body Temperature- 38.3-40.0 degree Celsius

Pulse rate-70-80 per minute

Respiration rate-12-25 per minute

Breeding life span - 6-10 years

No.of breeds in India - 23

Meat of goat - Cheavon

Adaptability

The real evidence of physiological adaptation to a stressful environment rests on rationalization of neuroendocrine thermoregulatory, metabolic and eventually productive (growth, draught, reproduction, lactation etc.) activities to combat the stress. To interpret the neuroendocrine response in terms of adaptability, the quantitative description of the environmental stressor(s) including intensity and duration is needed.

Indian goats are considered to be adaptable to a wide range of environments though limited data on the thermoregulatory responses have so far been collected. It has been demonstrated that most of the Indian breeds have high vaporization rates. The information on heat production, at different environmental temperature-humidity combinations, is meager. Systematic information on the production performance as indicator of adaptability is also lacking in Indian goats. Neuroendocrine, thermoregulatory and productive indices should be appropriately combined to develop a reliable index of physiological adaptability.

Factors responsible for low production:

1. Lack of a planned breeding program to increase milk production. Most of the goats are of non-descript type, with low milk yields, since they are left production.

2. An insufficient amount of fed and of poor quality

3. Inadequate attention given to management

4. Ineffective disease control.

An attempt will be made to outline a program designed to overcome many of these shortcomings and stress the potential value of the imported goats for improving the indigenous stock, which should have an impact upon the overall milk industry.

SYSTEMS OF GOATREARING

1. Tethering:

  • Sedentary system
  • Suitable to areas of intensive agriculture
  • Controlled system of management
  • Minimum labour input
  • Utilization of feed stuffs in site

2. Extensive system:

They are allowed for grazing on agriculture land after harvesting and natural bushes, shrubs and natural pasture land.

Disadvantages: Low carrying capacity

  • Deficit of nutrients accepts during monsoon.
  • Only poor quality (High fibre) plants are available.
  • Less weight gain : 20-40gm/day
  • No possibility of separating on age basis.
  • No scientific management is possible

3. Semi intensive system:

  • On return from grazing the animals being supplemented with concentrate.
  • Provision of pen with paddocks.
  • The Growth rate is 40-50 gm/day.
  • High margin of profit.

4. Intensive system:

Advantages:

  • Don’t destroy plants – preventing soil session.
  • Carrying capacity is high.
  • FCR is high
  • Good quality manure is obtained.
  • Labour efficiency is high.
  • Scientific management is possible.

Disadvantages:

  • Parasitic problem - external.
  • Free roaming- restriction land to reduced feed in takes and weight gain.
  • So should be confined from young age onwards.
  • High quality litter management NH3 production – respiratory problem.
  • Heat identification – problematic.

BREEDS OF GOAT

Definition of breed:

Denotes and established group of animals / birds having the similar general body shape, colors, structure and characters which produced offspring with same characters.

I. The Indian Goats can be classified under four major heads:

  1. Milch Breeds

Indian: Jamnapari, Mehsana, Sirohi, Surti and Zalawadi

Exotic: Sannen, Alpine, Anglo-nubion and Toggenburg

  1. Mutton Breeds

Black and Red Bengal, Assam Hill Goats, Chegu, Ganjam and Malbari.

  1. Dual purpose Breeds

Osmanabadi, Barberi, Marwari, Beetal and Kutchi

  1. Hair/Fleece Breeds

Angora and Pashmina

II. Classification based on Agro-ecological region

1. Northern temperate region

Breeds: Distribution

Gaddi: Himachal Pradesh Uttar Pradesh

Changthangi:Ladakh above 4000 m.

Chegu:Himachal Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh

2. North-Western Arid & Semi-arid region

Breeds: Distribution

Sirohi:Rajasthan & Gujarat

Marwari: Rajasthan & Gujarat

Jhakrana:Rajasthan

Beetal :Punjab& Haryana

Barbari:Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan

Jamunapari:Uttar Pradesh

Mehsana:Gujarat

Gohilwadi:Gujarat