Characterisation of Jamunapari goats in their home tract

Abstract

SummaryThe improvement programme in Jamunapari goats was started with the active participation of farmers in two adopted villages and efforts have been made to characterise the performance of Jamunapari goats in their home tract in relation to production, reproduction performance and field conditions relating to socio-economic status of farmers. The phenotypic measurements are also described in the breed in its habitat. Jamunapari is a tall, white and large size milch goat breed of India and their numbers have been reducing over the years for various reasons. The description in relation to housing, feeding, management, growth parameters, milk yield, parasitic load, blood polymorphism and constraints in field conditions has been made in detail. Body weights at birth, three, six and nine months were 2.75 kg, 12.3 kg, 16 kg and 22 kg, respectively. Milk yield at 90 and 150 days was 102 and 145 litres, respectively. The peak breeding season of this goat in field conditions is in May-June and twining percentage is about 52 percent. The overall mortality in village conditions is about 3.7 percent and is mostly due to diarrhea and pneumonia. The mortality was 3.7 percent, 1.9 percent, 9.8 percent and 2.0 percent in 0–3, 3–6, and 6–12 months, and adult goats, respectively over the years. The native goat in its home tract is endangered for several reasons and utmost care is needed from all angles to save this germplasm.