Production performance of Gohilwadi goats under range conditions

Abstract

A study on Gohilwadi goats belonging 56 flocks of 17 villages of Kathiawad region of Gujarat was carried out to evaluate the management and performance. Gohilwadi are medium to large sized (70–85 cm withers height) and dualpurpose goats mostly concentrated in Bhavnagar and Amreli and in some pockets of Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Junagarh districts. The coat colour of these goats is black, head is long (16–22 cm) with relatively bulged forehead and convex face profile. Horns move backward laterally, twisted (1–2 folds) and medium in length (12–17 cm). Ears are pendulous, folded, medium in length (15–19 cm) and black in colour. Udder is symmetrical, pendulous and capacious with cylindrical and outward teats with round tips. People of Rebari and Bharwad communities mostly rear these goats. Flock size varied from 10 to 78 with an average of 28 ± 3. Goats were mostly (76%) kept in open corrals enclosed with fencing of bushes. These goats were maintained on range grazing without supplementary feeding. About 35–50% (medium to large size) flocks migrate for 6–8 months towards North and South Gujarat in summer and sizable flocks (10–15%) remains on migration throughout the year. Goats (>87%) were bred during summer (April–June) due to better biomass availability with onset of rain in July. Males for breeding were mostly (67%) selected from their own flock, initially from high yielding (2.5–3 litre peak yield), tall and true to breed dam’s and finally on the basis of their libido and fertility. Bucks (1–2) were available with large flock and used excessively (80–100 goats/year). Major criterions of doe/female selection were breed characteristics and milk yield. The average age of first kidding, lactation length, kidding interval, and herd life were 19.07±0.73, 6.52±0.30, 10.78±0.57, 91±7 months, respectively. The twin and triplet recorded were 46.7 and 5.3%, respectively. The average body weight of males at birth, 3, 6, 9, 12 and >18 months of age were 2.78±0.1, 10.1±0.4, 16.9±1.1, 21.8±1.6, 30.4±2.4 and 48.5±4.5 kg, respectively. Corresponding body weights of females were 2.64 ± 0.01, 10.6 ± 0.3, 15.6 ± 0.5, 18.2 ± 0.7, 21.07, 21.07 ± 0.8 and 37.6 ± 0.5 kg, respectively. The average milk yield recorded was ranged from 0.98 litre (I parity) to 1.42 litre (fourth parity) with an average of 1.29 litre/day. Infantile diarrhoea, pneumonia and coccidiosis were major diseases in kids accounted for 10% mortality. Whereas, diarrhoea, FMD foot-rot, PPR, pneumonia, blue tounge and mycoplasmal mastitis were common diseases in adult accounted for about 5% mortality of their strength. Grass root infrastructure available in the state for sheep development may be utilized for goat development by state government for motivating the goat keepers to adopt strategic management inputs, judicious utilization of bucks, prophylaxis and marketing of goat (males) for meat.