Cross-breeding

Cross-breeding There are very many situations in which the ideal producing animal is some intermediate between a tropical adapted and an improved temperate breed. This  applies particularly to dairy cattle kept under intensive conditions in the humid tropics and in many parts of the wet-dry tropics and to beef cattle under range conditions in the wet-dry tropics and the subtropics. This intermediate can most easily be formed by crossbreeding. A...

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Goat Farm economic feasibility

Goat Farm economic feasibility Goats are very important species of livestock in India, mainly on account of their short generation intervals, higher rate of prolificacy and the easewith which the goats and their products can be marketed. Goats can sustain themselves on sparse vegetation and extreme climatic conditions where other species of animals may perish. Goats produce a variety of products, mainly meat, skin, milk, fleece and manure. Goats...

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Research in sheep and goat production

Research in sheep and goat production The results of research in sheep-breeding were recently reviewed by Acharya in a discussion paper on breeding strategy for sheep in India. In addition to reviewing the performance of important pure-bred native breeds with respect to body weight, wool production and quality, lamb and adult survival, reproductive performance, etc., the author reviewed the effect of non-genetic and genetic factors on these...

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Sheep and goat development

Sheep and goat development Sheep development activity was undertaken as early as the early 19th century by the East India Company, which imported exotic breeds for cross-breeding with the indigenous breeds. Subsequently, with the establishment of the Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural Research, research and development programmes were taken up on a regional basis; they included selective breeding within the indigenous breeds...

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Research on sheep and wool

Research on sheep and wool is the responsibility of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its constituent institutes. the Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar (Rajasthan); the Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Makhdoom (Uttar Pradesh); and to some extent the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar (Uttar Pradesh) and the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal (Haryana);...

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Sheep and Goat Breeds

India's vast genetic resources in sheep and goats are reflected by the availability of 40 breeds of sheep and 20 breeds of goats. In the strict sense, there are no specific breeds, since the majority of them do not have specified defined characters. Neither are there breeding societies or agencies to register animals of particular breeds, maintain flock books and ensure the purity of the breed. A population of sheep or goats in a given locality,...

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Goat vs Cow Milk

Goat vs Cow Milk Here are 5 reasons goat milk is better than cow milk. 1. Goat’s milk is less allergenic. 2. Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized. 3. Goat’s milk is easier to digest. 4. Goat’s milk rarely causes lactose intolerance. 5. Goat’s milk matches up to the human body better than cow’s milk. According to ScienceDaily — Researchers have carried out a comparative study on the properties of goats' milk compared to those of cows'...

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Dry and Resting Period in Goats

Dry/Resting Period in Goats Goat should be maintained in good condition during the dry period (non lactating period) so she will freshen in a healthy state and have every opportunity to produce more milk in the next lactation. A good mineral mixture should be available.  Mineral may contain from 12-18% calcium, 6-8% phosphorus and 25-30% salt, with trace minerals and vitamins. During the last 3-4 weeks of gestation, nutrition becomes...

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Goat Care And Breeding

Goat Care And Breeding Goat care is a serious responsibility. Goats need companionship. Hence, it is better to keep two goats or have a sociable animal to give a single goat company. Goats need spacious shelters, which is free from dampness and drafts. There should be good ventilation so that the freshness of the air maintained inside the shelter. Barns with three sides and pitched roof are ideal for all weather condition. Fences for...

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Why Goat Farming

Why Goat Farming Goat is a multi functional animal and plays a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in the country. Goat rearing is an enterprise which has been practiced by a large section of population in rural areas. Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs and trees in adverse harsh environment in low fertility lands where no other crop can be grown. In pastoral and agricultural...

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