Sirohi Unit, CSWRI, Avikanagar, Rajasthan

Principal Investigator

• Dr. S.S. Misra,  Senior Scientist (AG&B)

Activity assigned and targets fixed for each activity during the period

• Objectives and technical programme as per approved XII Plan SFC and given in PC unit. Apart from implementation of approved technical programme, unit is allocated following work.
• In XII plan the unit is to work with two KVK’s in the home tract of the breed for technology validation, impact evaluation, grading up and brining genetic improvement in farmers flock. Necessary fund required for this purpose can be utilized from allocated fund to this Unit.
• To adopt farmers either through KVK’s or directly for technology validation.
• The technical programme as approved in the XII plan / Annual Review Meet has to be followed by the Unit.

Activity carried out during the period

The experiment of Unit is based on closed herd population of Sirohi goats maintained under semi-intensive system of management. Performance recording, genetic selection to bring improvement in Sirohi goat for meat and milk production has been carried out. Sale of superior Sirohi goat germplasm to the farmers/NGO/Govt organizations were made for genetic improvement of their goats in the field flock.  The detail achievement is narrated below.
The flock statistics of Sirohi goats under field unit is shown in Table 1.  The flock strength of registered animals under field unit was 1220 including 980 females as on 31 March, 2014. During the year 2013-14, addition due to birth was 496 while reduction due to death and sale of animals were 66 and 619 respectively. Total 1465 animals among different age group were draft during the report period.
Table 1: Flock Statistics of Sirohi goats (2013–14)

Table 1(A) : Flock Statistics of Sirohi goats (2010–14)

Population growth

Considering the initial adult does the growth of the population is recorded to be 81.75%.

Table 2: Population Growth (%) period (2013-14)

Population growth %=(( B-D)/ A) X 100

Body weight/growth

The body weights of kids at different ages have been presented in Table 3.3. The overall body weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 2.46±0.03, 13.72±0.19, 18.00±0.29, 21.83±0.53 and 26.32±0.51 kg, respectively. Period (year) had significant effect on body weight at different age groups. Season of kidding had significant effect on body weight. Male and single born kids were significantly heavier over females and multiple born kids. The heritability of body weight at birth was moderate to high as at other different ages was found to be higher. The genetic correlation among 3, 6, 9 and 12 month was high and positive. The phenotypic correlation coefficients of birth weight with 3, 6 and 12 months of body weight were also positive (Table 4).

Table: 3 Least Squares Mean of Body Weight Growth (Kg) in Sirohi Goat

Table: 4 Heritability (Diagonals) Genetic (Below Diagonals) And Phenotypic (Above Diagonals) Correlations for Body Weight in Sirohi Goats

Body Measurements

The biometrics dimensions of Sirohi goats at different ages and sex have been estimated. At 12 month of age the Body Height, Body Length, and Heart Girth in males were 68.11±1.01 cm, 62.44±1.14 cm and 68.55±1.02 cm and females were 66.25±1.00 cm, 60.55.±1.13 cm and 66.71±1.01 cm, respectively.

Lactation Performance

The overall mean for 90, 150 days milk yield and total lactational yield was 72.08±2.79, 104.29±3.49 and 104.60±3.45 lit., respectively (Table 5). Year of kidding affected the 90, 150 days and lactation milk yield. The overall lactation length was 151.11± 0.37 days. The production performance in terms of 90, 150 days milk yield and total lactation yield improved over years. Doe kidded during November – February, had significant higher milk yield as compared to doe kidded during other seasons. The lactation order played a significant role in milk yield. The heritability of 90 days and total lactation milk yield was found to be higher. The phenotypic correlation between 90 days yield and lactation length was high and positive. The genetic association between 90 days milk yield and lactation yield was positive.  

Table 5: Lactational Performance of Sirohi Goats

Selection Differential
The selection differential of selected males for 3 months body weights and 90 days milk yield of dam were estimated. Thirty Eight male kids were selected, on basis of 3 month body weight and 90 days milk yield for future breeding purpose (VII set). The selection differential of 4.89 kg body weight and 9.75 lit. milk yield of dam for 90 days over population mean.   

Reproductive Performance
The age at first matting and first kidding was 447.11±28.02 days and 590.73±27.98 days, respectively. The overall age at first matting and first kidding was 537.10±9.14 and 686.31±9.13 days, respectively. On the other hand, weight of doe at first matting and first kidding was 27.39±0.29 and 30.11±0.27 kg, respectively. The service period and kidding interval was 278.68±9.48 and 428.82±9.43 days, respectively. The overall gestation period of Sirohi goats is recorded as 150.14±0.18 days. 

Health Control Measures

Total 1250 and 600 animals were vaccinated against Enterotoxaemia and PPR during report year. Total 2145 and 2840 animals were covered under treatment to control the endo and ecto-parasitic infestation, respectively. A total of 949 animals were treated for different diseases. Even after regular deworming of the registered animals, Enteritis was encountered as a major disease affecting the goats during the report period, followed by pneumonia. The overall mortality was 1.97%.

Practical Utility

• Base line information about breed parameters for body weights and body measurements at various ages, production and reproduction traits, socio economic status of goat breeder have been generated. A brochure will be prepared for the breed descriptor of Sirohi goats. 
• The technologies provided by the project staff to the goat keepers have helped to reduce mortality and increase growth rate as well as milk production.
• The farmers are taking interest to bring breeding bucks from other flocks or from nearby village to avoid inbreeding.
• The project is of immense help to conserve the breed in its native tract.

It is of great help for farmers who don’t have their own breeding bucks. The farmers are assured of good breeding bucks. 

Gaps/constraints/shortfalls/excess and reasons thereof, if any

1. Shortage of scientific, technical and administrative staff in the project.
2. . adaptation of farmers are at slow speed.

PC’s evaluation: Very Good (A); Good (B); poor (C)
------------------ Good (B) -----------------

Future programme identifying the activities, timeline and targets for each of the activity

            In XII plan the unit is to work with two KVK’s in the home tract of the breed for technology validation, impact evaluation, grading up and brining genetic improvement in farmers flock. Necessary fund required for this purpose can be utilized from allocated fund to this Unit.

• To adopt farmers either through KVK’s or directly for technology validation.
• The technical programme as approved in the XII plan / Annual Review Meet has to be followed by the Unit.
• Distribute approximately 15-20 bucks to farmers flock for breeding purpose in adopted area under this project on the line of field unit.
• Necessary health care to goats in adopted farmers will be provided under the project.
• Performance recording of filed flock has to be carried out.

Remarks

The performance of goats has gone down in the year of report. Therefore rated as  B.