A study of effect of sex, season, type and parity of birth on absolute and relative body weight of Black Bengal goats at different ages under farm condition of management

Abstract

Goats are an important contributor to the rural economy providing food and nutritional security along with self–employment opportunities to the small and marginal farmers. It being free from any religious taboos is the choicest meat in India with huge demand for chevon. Medicinal properties of goat milk is arousing the interest and the demand of goat meat a step further. Black Bengal goats are the dwarf goats found in northeastern India like West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand etc. which are a good source of meat, milk, and leather. The productivity of goats under the prevailing traditional production system is very low because they are maintained under the extensive system on natural vegetation on degraded common grazing lands and tree lopping. Therefore it is imperative and mandatory to rear goat under intensive and semi-intensive system using improved technologies for commercial production. Current study deals with the growth traits, absolute as well as relative, as recorded in Black Bengal goats under farm system of management. Absolute growth traits observed included body weight at birth, 1months, 2months, 3 months and 6months. Relative Growth traits included 1-3 months body weight gain and 3-6 months body weight gain. Significant effect of different factors i.e. sex, parity, type and season of birth was observed on various traits under study. It might be concluded that the intensive and semi-intensive system of management will help in realizing the full potential of Black Bengal goats and will also meet the increasing demand of chevon (goat meat) in the domestic as well as international markets.