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Scope for goat rearing and its Natational Importance The country has 115.278 million goat as per 1992 livestock census has increased to 120.8 million in 1997 and ranks first in the world. The state wise goat population is given in Annexure-I. Goat meat production stands at the level of 0.47 million tones. The slaughter rate of goat is at the level of 39.7 % as compared to 31.8% for sheep and 11% for buffaloes respectively. Goat also produce 2.55 million tones of milk and 0.1288 million tones of skin as per F.A.O. 189 records 2002 report (Annexure-II). The trend in consumption of mutton and goat meat shows increase from 467000MT in 1981 to 696000 MT in 2002 indicating annual compound growth rate of 1.28 % during 92-02.Sheep and goat meat production has reached 700400MT during 2002in India. Ovine meat export has touched 29670 thousand $ during 2000 which was then reduced to 5635thousand $ during 2001. |
Goat makes a valuable contribution to the livelihood of economically weaker sections of the society. Amongst the livestock owners goat rears are the poorest of the lot.
Realizing the importance of goat in the agrarian economy of the country, various developmental activities have been taken up by Govt. of India. The Central Government had established Central Institute for Research on Goats at Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh. During VIII Plan Period Seven Intensive goat breeding farms were proposed with the objectives:
- To produce 1000 stud bucks per year for the distribution among goat rearer’s.
- To improve yield of milk and chevon through selective breeding of regular breeds like Jamnapari, Beetal, Barbari, Jakhrana, Jhalawadi.
- Cross breeding of non Pashmina goats with Angora goats to produce Mohair in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- To conserve germ plasma of regular breeds like Jamnapari, Beetal, Barbari, Black Bengal, Malbari, Sirohi etc.
