Indian Goat Breeds

Jamnapari

a. Breed characteristics

b. Conformation

There is a great variation in coat colour but they are generally white or light yellowish tan with light brown spots on the neck and face, and occasionally patches of tan or black are found on the body. The typical character of the breed is a highly convex nose line with a tuft of hair known as “Roman nose” or parrot mouth appearance.
The ears are very long, flat and drooping. Both sexes are horned with short and thin tail. A thick growth of hair is present on the buttocks, known as feathers. The breed has well developed udder round in shape with large conical teats.

c. Performance

i. Milk: Average daily yield varies from 1.5 to 2.0 kg per day with a total lactation yield of about 200 kg.

ii. Kidding: Usually doe kids once a year, giving birth to single in 57% while twins in 43% cases. They kid once a year.

iii. Meat: Dressing percentage on pre-slaughter live-weight basis is about 45% at 6 months and 48% at nine months with a bone and meat ratio of 1:3.9.

Thalachery/Malabari

The breed is reared mainly for meat purpose and their skin is popular with the tanning industry. Kerala Agricultural University has undertaken cross-breeding programmed with Alpine and Saanen for improving reproduction and milk yield. The average milk yield of this breed is 100-190 kg with a lactation period of 180-210 days. The animals are medium in size. They have no uniform color which varies from completely white to full black. 30% goats are long haired. All males and a small number of females are bearded.

 a. Breed characteristics

b. Conformation

The animals are medium in size. They have no uniform colour which varies from completely white to full black. About 30% goats are long haired. All males and a small number of females are bearded. Animals are medium sized, head with flat and occasional Roman nose and medium sized ears directed outward and downward.

c. Performance

The breed is reared mainly for meat purpose and their skin is popular with the tanning industry. The average milk yield of this breed is 100-190 kg with a lactation period of 180-210 days.

Osmanabadi

Osmanabadi breed shows a very efficient reproductive performance and resistance against diseases not only in well managed semi stall feeding system but also in severe drought conditions. The age at the first kidding is around 15 months with the lactation length of around 130 days. The dressing percentage varies from 50- 55 %. In favorable conditions the does will breed twice a year, twinning is common and the milk yield ranged form 700 gm to 1500 gm. In the end the leather of osmanabadi goat is fairly of good quality and its meat is preferred by majority of the rural .

a. Breed characteristics

b. Conformation

The goats are large in size, colour varies, but mostly it is black (73%) and the rest are white, brown or spotted. Ninety per cent males are homed, females may be homed or poled.

d. Performance

The breed is considered useful both for meat and milk. Average daily yield varies from 0.5 to 1.5 kg for a lactation length of about four months.

The dressings percentage varies from 45 to 50. In favourable conditions the does will breed regularly twice a year and twins are common.

Kanni Adu

The Kanni-Adu breed is found in Tamil Nadu in south India. They are also known locally as Pullaiadu and Karapuadu.They are tall animals, predominantly black or black with white spots. The ears are medium long, males are horned and females are polled¹. The tail is medium-sized and thin; the udder is small and round, with small teats placed laterally.  The kidding percentage is 80 to 85%; the litter size is primarily single (90%) and sometimes twins.

The Kanni-Adu is maintained primarily for meat and is not milked. According to the 18th Livestock Census 2007, the number of Kanni-Adu goats in the country is 2,094,297.