Introduction and performance study of Pashmina goats in Kargil District (Non Traditional Area) of Jammu & Kashmir, India

Abstract

Pashmina goats, normally reared by changpa, a nomadic tribe in Changthang region of Leh Ladakh have been introduced in Kargil District of J&K state under the NAIP Pashmina Project with the objective of expansion of pashmina goat rearing area and enhancing the livelihood security of the farmers in these areas. Fifty one (51) mini farm units of goats, each comprising of 9 does and 1 buck were established in Kargil district (Suru, Bodhkharbu, Drass, Shakar, Chiktan and Khangriyal). The intervention in the form of shelter, feeding and health cover was provided to all the farm units. After two years of rearing, the average survivability and mortality was reported as 84.07± 0.49 (%) and 15.93± 0.49 (%) respectively. The overall kidding percentage was reported as 79.62± 0.77 with kid mortality as 24.92± 0.71(%). The pashmina yield/head was 161.6± 0.31 (gms) with fibre diameter and fibre length of 14.07±0.11 (μ) and 55.99± 0.19 (mm) respectively. The average body weight (kg) of kids, hoggets and adults was reported as 2.63± 0.09, 20.72±0.19 and 28.87± 0.12 respectively. The study revealed that the adaptability and production performance of pashmina goats in some of the areas of Kargil (Non Traditional Belt) which is having similar ecological niche as that of Changthang region (Traditional Belt) is very good in terms of survivability, kidding percentage, pashmina yield etc. Further, by adoption of pashmina goat rearing in these areas, there is an enhancement of livelihood security through sale of pashmina and increase in strength of livestock which is expected to reach worth Rs 250000 after 5 years and an increase in total production area of Pashmina from Ladakh.