Kerala’s Goat Breeding Policy (2024): Implications for Indigenous Goat Genetic Resources

Abstract

The new goat breeding policy of Kerala aims to increase farmers' income by improving goat productivity through selective breeding. The policy proposes the use of selected Malabari and Attappady Black bucks for frozen semen production and natural mating to improve these breeds within their respective breeding tracts. It also proposes the use of exotic breeds such as Saanen and Alpine for milk production and Boer for meat production through controlled crossbreeding trials with non-descript goats. The use of superior Malabari and Attappady Black bucks for the genetic improvement of these breeds is a welcome step. However, the proposed use of exotic breeds for crossbreeding raises concerns about the possible genetic dilution of indigenous goat genetic resources. In this context, this article reviews some of the past experiences of crossbreeding native goats with exotic breeds. Earlier studies on crossbreeding Malabari goats with Saanen and Alpine reported improvements in milk production and growth performance. Similarly, Boer × Malabari crossbreds showed better growth performance under favourable management conditions. However, Malabari goats performed better than the crossbreds in several reproductive traits and showed greater adaptability to Kerala's hot and humid climate. The crossbreds also experienced higher mortality, greater susceptibility to respiratory diseases, and required better management. These limitations raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of crossbreeding under Kerala conditions. Experiences from crossbreeding programmes elsewhere also showed that the expected benefits were often not realized under low-input production systems, leading to the discontinuation of several such programmes. In view of these experiences, greater emphasis should be placed on the conservation and genetic improvement of indigenous goat breeds through systematic selective breeding. Such an approach may offer a more sustainable strategy for the long-term improvement of goat production in Kerala.