PROSPECT AND POTENTIALITY FOR GOAT FARMING IN

NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA -,A REVIEW

S.K. Das
Division of Animal Production
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region. Umium - 793103, Meghalaya. India
ABSTRACT
Goat being the principal meat producing animal in India and having wide adaptability under
unfavourable climatic, feeding and management conditions, pros and cons of goat farming in NE
Region of India were reviewed in this article. After considering different factors i. e. population
dynamics of goat, feed and fodder resources of this region, topography and climate of different
states of this region, availability of goat breeds, availability of other facilities and moreover de-
mand of the local people for chevon, it revealed that goat.is potential animal next to pig for
economic meat production in most of the states of NE Region.
Goats occupy a unique place among
domestic livestock in North Eastern region be-
cause of their ability to survive and produce
under unfavourable climatic and managemental
condition. Goats possess superior efficiency for
transforming feed into milk, meat and capable
of selective browsing on undesirable vegeta-
tion. Goat is known as poor man's cow, be-
cause its milk is wholesome and nourishing. It
is considered specially for infants and aged
persons due to easy digestibility. Goat is the
principal meat producing animal in India and
therefore goat meat Le. chevon fetches more
revenue than mutton and beef.
Prospect of goat farming: Goat
farming has several advantages over the hus-
bandry of other livestock species. They are as
follows e.g. (a) Initial investment for starting
goatary is lesser than dairy, piggery, poultry.
(b) Goat consumes less feed which is about one
fifth of the consumption in cattle and buffalo.
(c) It does not compete with human beings for
grains like pig and fowl. So feed cost is lesser.
(d) Goat is prolific animal which usually pro-
duces twin and some breeds even produce triple
and quadruplet. (e) Goat being hardy animal,
disease incidence is very less in comparison to
cattle, pig, fowl and hence health manage-
ment cost is lesser. (f) Goat milk is rich in cer-
tain amino acids Le. histidine, aspartic acid,
phenylalanine, threonine; certain minerals Le.
sodium, iron, copper; certain vitamins Le., vi-
tamin A, nicotinic acid and choline. (g) Goat
milk is being used to produce different prod-
ucts such as cheese, curd etc. (h) Goat skin is
of high values e.g. Skin form Bengal goat is of
best quality in the world. (i) Besides meat, milk,
skin, hair is another byproduct obtained from
goat, e.g. pashmina and mohair is valued high
in international market due to its several uses.
(j) Faeces and urine of goat being rich in nitro-
gen, phosphorus and potassium used in field
for improving soil fertility and to increase pro-
ductivity of crop. (k) There is no prejudice about
the consumption of goat meat. Above men-
tioned points indicate that goat is potential ani-
mal for economic growth and employment
generation.
Disadvantage of goat farming: If
goat farming is practised in extensive system,
it may cause damage of crop and even soil
errosion like all grazing animal e. g cattle, buf-
falo, sheep. Secondly milk consumption of goat
is less due to bad smell.
Population dynamics of goat
in NE Region
As per basic statistics of NE region
(1995), goat population in all the seven states
of NE region was 3.01 million, which was about
3.029-6 of total population in India (99.41 m).
Statewise population was 2.13 m in Assam
which is highest in NE region (70.83
l
J1J) fol-
229
Sikkim local goat is native of Sikkim
having adult body weight 15 kg at 1 year age
in male whereas female weighs 14 kg at 1 year
age. They produce two crops in 15 months.
Single birth is around 45% and twin birth is
around 30%. Average growth rate in male and
female are reported to be 36 g/d and 33 g/
day respectively.
Climate and Topography
Goat is basically animal of arid and
semi-arid region. They prefer hot, dry climate,
The climate of N.E. region is subtemperate to
temperate and rainfall varies state to state,
moderate to heavy. Therefore, humidity ranges
from 60% to 98%. The soil is undulating type
which is not suitable for rearing large animal.
So from climatic point of view it is not very
suitable for goat rearing but due to undulating
topography rearing of small animals is
favourable rather than large animals like cattle,
buffalo. From a report of Department of Agri-
culture Govt. of Tripura, it is found that around
118 thousand hectares of land is barren
uncultivable and around 4 thousand hectares
land is fallow land in Tripura. So this vast area
of Tripura can be utilized for goat rearing.
Performance of goat in N.E. region
In view of the popularity of Black Ben-
gal goats in Tripura a comprehensive study was
undertaken at Tripura centre of ICAR Research
Complex (Singh, 1987). The study revealed
that the growth rate in male and female kid
was 37 g/day and 27 g/d. At the age of 6
months male kid attained a body weight of 8.16
Vol. 22, No. 3/4, 2001
lowed byTripura (0.44 m, 14.64%); Meghalaya Black Bengal is very common.
(0.19 m, 6.44%); Arunachal Pradesh (0.11 m, Assam Local goat is one of the hardi-
3.58%); Nagaland (0.07 m, 2.39%); Manipur est breed reared mostly for meat purpose and
(0.04 m, 1.46%) and Mizoram (0.03 m, rarely milked. The breed is famous for high
0.66%). When goat population was considered fertility, fecundity and prolificacy. It is reported
per 100 human population, it was highest in that (Das and Sarma, 1995), Assam Local goat
Tripura (15.96) followed by Arunachal Pradesh is better than Beetal in respect of service pe-
(12.73), Meghalaya (l0.71), Assam (9.50), riod and interkidding period (293 11 days).
Nagaland (5.79), Mizoram (4.35) and Manipur They kid mostly twin and single. Triplet is not
(2.28). So average goat population/100 hu- uncommon.
man population was 9.06 in contrast to 13.90
in national level. Average density of goat in
Tripura was highest (34.40/Km
2
) followed by
Assam (22. 18/km
2
). Growth rate per year was
also highest in Tripura (29.32%) followed by
16.25% in Manipur and 15.83% in Nagaland
(Prakash and Balain, 1992).
Available goat breeds in N.E. Region
Assam Hill, Assam Local breeds goat
are found in Assam. Sikkim local breed is avail-
able in Sikkim. Bengal breed is distributed all
most all the states of N.E. region, particularly
in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur etc.
Apart these local breeds the other purebreeds,
crossbred and exotic breeds of goat are also
available. In organised farm like goat research
station, Byrnihat (AAU), Jamunapari and
Beetal breeds are also available.
Assam Hill breed is found in Khasi,
Naga and Luchai hills of Assam. Animals are
heavier than Bengal breed, short legged and
long bodied. Adult male weighs 30 Kg and adult
female weighs 25 kg. Animal possess long hair,
majority of goat kids twice a year and twin birth
is common. They are poor milker and mainly
kept for meat production.
Bengal goat is highly prolific, small
sized, thin short legged. They give two crops
in 14 months usually. Twin is very common,
even triplet is also found. This breed is famous
for quality meat production and skin quality.
Milk production is scanty, just to feed the kids.
This breed have three strains Black Bengal,
White Bengal and Gray Bengal out of which
Grasses constitute more than 50 per
cent bulk of all vegetation utilized as fodder
during high rainfall months. This is available
from abandoned jhum, scrub, forest, road side
and unutilized agricultural area. Availability of
grasses in most of the area of N.E. region is
seasonal. Grasses are available after 8 to 10
rain days and ceases within 15 to 30 days af-
ter the last rains. c.P. and c.F. content of
grasses vary between 291> to 1m'il and 17% to
40
u
/l> (Varma et ai., 1982) e.g. Bambusa tuida
(Bijli in Assam, Jawa in West Bengal), Brachiera
rosenesis (Congosignal in Meghalayal, Setaria
paimifoiia, Penninseterm poiystachoon (Thin
napier).
Yadavand Gupta (1992) reported that
In AAU, Assam local goat was crossed
with Beetal breed for the improvement. Ani-
mals with 509'6 and 75% Beetal inheritance
were compared with Assam local goat. It was
230 AGRICULTURAL REVIEWS
kg whereas female kid recorded 6.23 kg. The found that the Beetal crosses showed some
average milk yield of goats in one lactation (110 improvement in terms of body weight and vari-
days) was recorded as 30.99 litre whereas av- ous body measurements. However, the Assam
erage daily milk yield was found to be 283 ml. local goat was found to be better for traits like
The dressing percentage was found to be service period and inter kidding period. When
41.65% on live weight basis. Out of total kid- compared on overall performance the Assam
ding 45.23% were single, 49.40% twins and local goats were found to be economically suo
5.37% triplet. Kidding interval and kidding rate perior over the animals of other genetic groups.
were found to be 177 days and 1.6. Gestation So for improvement of Assam local goats in
period was found to be 146 days. The number respect of meat production selective breeding
of service per conception was found to be 1.2 was advocated (Das and Sarma, 1995).
and fertility was recorded to 95%. Availability of browsing and grazing
Young mortahty was found to be 22.8 Yo. Per- materials
formance of Bengal goat under FSRP was Herbivorous animals may be classified
found to be promising at Barapani also. 50% into two broad categories i.e., the first prefer-
kidding were twin and 50% were single kid- ring grasses e.g. cattle sheep etc. and second
ding. Mortality 17.491>. On 70% preferring woody plants und pods with supple-
congoslgnal grass feedmg ADG and ADDI were mentations of grasses and herbages e.g. goat.
27.46 gld and 736 g/d. On guinea grass Therefore. it is desirable that a balance between
feeding ADG an? ADDI were 31.29 gld and browsers and graziers be maintained for fool-
691 gld respectIvely. proof soil, plant, animals ecosystem (Skerman,
Regarding the performance of Sikkim 1977). Stall fed animals like goat receive
local goat it was recorded that average birth ture of grasses, shrubs, weeds, thorny plants,
weights of male and female kid were 1.19 pods, tree leaves etc. North-East region is rich
0.13 kg and 1.85 0.07 kg. Live wt. in male in the above resources. Per cent of type of veg-
and female at 6 months age were 11.78 etation and species vary from place to place
0.51 and 10.62 0.74 kg. The growth rates depending on agro-climatic condition and soil
of male and female were found to be 35.64 gl type.
day and 32.95 g/day. Live weight at 12
months of age and dressing percentage was
recorded to be 14.86 kg and 49.08% respec-
tively. Regarding the reproductive traits of
Sikkim goat, body weight at first service, body
weight at first kidding, body weight at second
kidding were recorded to be 20.17 1.72 kg,
22.53 2.04 and 24.20 1.25 kg. Inter-
kidding period was recorded to be 274.50
9.02 days. Gestation period was recorded to
be 148.0 0.94 days. (lCAR, Annual Report,
1999).
Vol. 22, No. 3/4, 2001 231
goat gained a body weight of 41.36 g/day af- moisture content. Squash leaves may be used
ter feeding congesignal grasses for a period of for feeding goat. Water hyacinth is a weed
1 month. The acceptability and palatability of commonly available in Assam and Tripura. It
this was reported to be excellentin case of Black contains 13.1% CP and 52.1% NFE. Pine-
Bengal goat. apple leaves and pine apple needles are excel-
It was observed that plants of genus lent vitamin feeds which are very suitable alter-
Artocarpus, Bahunia, Caneya, Ficus, Grewia natives of paddy straw when its supply is short.
and Vites are most important for providing (Verma et al., 1982).
edible leafy fodder to all the domestic livestock Scope of fodder production for
species particularly to goat in this region (Varma goat farming
et aI., 1982). Exbucklantia leaves are available Terrace risers constitute substantial
dUring winter in Meghalaya. The DM consump- amount of area, around 30.4% of total area.
tion in goat was reported to be around 3% of These are vulnerable to soil errosion. Terrace
body weight in goat. The efficiency of DM di- risers can be utilized for production of three
gestibility was 64.55/CJ and the gain in body types of fodder crops - annual legume, peren-
weight was optimum, so goat can utilize thisnial legume and cultivated grasses. The yield
leaves as feed which is very common in this of thin napier on terrace riser was 90.85 t/ha.
region (Yadav and Gupta, 1992). The major- The yield of Stylosanthes hamata on terrace
ity of these leafy fodders are high in CP and riser was reported to be 7.35 t/ha and that of
low to medium in CF content. So, evidently Stylosanthes guyanesia was 8.81 t/ha (Verma
there leafy fodders can profitably be utilized to et al., 1982).
feed to goat throughout the year particularly Interspaces of horticultural blocks are
in lean period. also important from livestock production point
Ficus cunia and Grewia leevigata, of view. Amount of area under this block which
Atrocarpus sp., Bauhinia purpurea L, are ex- can be utilized for annual legume fodder pro-
ample of fodder trees. Homalometra arometica, duction. The yield of annual fodder was re-
Osbeckia crinata are example of herbs. portedtobe50t060t!ha(Vermaetal.,1982).
Sesbaniasesban, MilJotiaauriculataand Urena In N.E. region cowpea (Vigna
lobata are two examples of shrub commonly unguiculata) and rice bean (Phaseolus
found in N.E. region. calcavatus) are the two most promising legume
Availability of by-products for fodders. The yield of cowpea at low altitude
feeding goats area was recorded to be 12 to 25 t!ha. Its CP
The tribal people of N.E. region uses content is about 25.75%. The CP content of
different by-products for feeding different rice bean is 16. 9 l ~ l J . Lotonis (Lotononis bainesiJ)
classes of livestock, particularly goat. There are is an excellent legume fodder for poor soil con-
forest by-products e.g., banana leaves, banana dition and at 1400 m to higher altitude zone.
stem, pine apple leaves, pine needles, wild root It is considered as best frost resistant tropical
and tubers; crop-by products like jackfruit, tapi- legume. Its CP content is 19.3%. Stylo
oca leaves, pumpkin, sweat potato, squash etc. (Stylosanthes guyanensis) is one of the best le-
Banana leaves are rich source of riboflavin and gume for pasture lands, terrace raisers, acute
vitamin A and poor in sodium. So it is advis- slops and all kinds of waste and poor lands. It
able to add common salt to banana leaves diet. contains 19.04% CP and its yield is 7.52 t/ha
Squash is a common vegetable of higher alti- of dry matter at low altitude.
tude. Its feed value is limited due to higher So, from feed, fodder, grass and
232 AGRICULTURAL REVIEWS
browse availability point of view whole N.E.
region is very rich and therefore wide scope of
goat rearing exists in this region.
Status of other livestock farming
Although cattle population per hun-
dred human population in this region is higher
than that of national level. Cattle are mostly
zebu type. So, productivity of these animals
are low. Due to undulating type of topography
and sloppy land, rearing of large animal like
cattle, buffalo are not very popular in N.E. re-
gion except Assam and Tripura. Moreover,
people of this region are less dependent on
milk rather than meat for their meal. This is
another cause of less popularity of farming
cattle and buffalo. Climate, topography and
likingness to meat are in favour of farming small
animals like pig, goat and sheep. People are
being basically meat eater, particularly, they like
pork. Moreover, pig population per 100 hu-
man population in this region is higher than
national level. So, pig farming is most popu-
lar. Next preference goes to goat due to less
capital investment, disease resistance and re-
quirement of less care and management in com-
parison to pig, cattle, buffalo and bird. Sheep
farming is not popular due to low population
density, lack of suitable environment Le. dry
climate etc. Although in recent years rabbit
farming is getting popularity in Manipur,
Meghalaya, Sikkim of N.E. region due to its
prolificacy and shortest generation interval. So
considering all livestock farming in this region,
position of goatary is said to be next to piggery.
Status and system of agriculture
in N.E. region
In N.E. region lands are sloppy except
in Assam and Tripura. Land is undulating type.
Soil is acidic. Mostly shifting cultivation is prac-
tised which leads to soil errosion. Productivity
is low to medium. Cereals of this region in-
cludes rice and maize. Except this oilseeds like
mustard, groundnut, horticultural plants like
orange, lemon, guava, pine apple, banana etc.
are produced. So, farmers keep livestock as a
subsidiary source of income in integrated man-
ner. Moreover, farmers are marginal to land-
less labourers. So they are unable to invest more
capital in dairy because in the cases initial in-
vestment is very high. Since farmers landhold-
ing is low, so they can not go for mechanisation
of agriculture. Therefore productivity per capita
is less in comparison to other parts of country.
So their source of income is from both agricul-
ture and livestock farming particularly rearing
of small animals Le., goat, pig etc. Hence, in-
tegrated farming has been developed. Crop
residues are being used for feeding animals.
The faeces, urine etc. are being used in field as
organic waste for improving fertility of soil.
Manural value of goat faeces and urine is very
high. Goat can thrive well on the agricultural
by-products. So feed cast for maintaining goat
is low in integrated system of farming.
People of N.E. region
The people of this region are mostly
tribal and Christian. From food habit point of
\ ~ e w they are non-vegetarian and therefore pre-
fers meat rather than milk. So for meat they
depends on pork, chevon or chicken. Main oc-
cupation of people is agriculture followed by
livestock farming as a subsidiary source of in-
come. So people prefers to keep meat animal
rather than dairy animals. Therefore, there is
great demand for goat meat and skin in all the
status of N.E. region.
Facilities
Facilities include training facility, credit
facility, transport facility and marketing facil-
ity. Farmers in this region get financial sup-
port from different banks like NABARD, Co-
operative banks, national banks. They have
scope of insuring their animals by GIC. All the
capital towns in this area are well, connected
by national highways. There are marketing fa-
cility for purchasing seed stock, feed, medicine,
vaccine etc. and to sell the outputs. NABARD,
lCAR, Department of Animal husbandry of all
J
Vol. 22, No. 3/4, 2001 233
the states, Assam Agricultural University, Cen- population dynamics of goat, breads of goat
tral Agricultural University impart the training available in N.E. region, performances of above
on goat farming to farmers which in turn in- goat breeds in the agro-climatic condition of
creases trained manpower on goat production N.E. region, feed and fodder resources for goat
in this region. These organisation are also en- production, status of other livestock and agri-
gaged in research work to develop suitable tech- culture, different facilities in N.E. region, it may
nologies on goat production which is ultimately be inferred that there is high potentiality of goat
being percolated to the farmer's field. farming and increasing of goat production in
CONCLUSION North-Eastern Region particularly in Assam,
Considering the above factors i.e. Tripura, Meghalaya and Sikkim.
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