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All India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement

Ganjam Field Unit, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Principal Investigator

  • Dr. D.K. Karna, Senior Scientist (AG&B)

Activity assigned and targets fixed for each activity during the period

The Ganjam goats remains in the field all the times. The unit has been given responsibility to improve the production and productivity of Ganjam goats. For this field data recording of on growth, reproduction, health and selection of superior bucks and implementation of technologies were main work assigned on to this Unit.

  • Performance recording on at least 600 breedable does under the coverage.
  • Selection of superior males at 9 month age and distribution to the registered farmers.
  • Provision of health coverage to the all goats of project with collaboration of AH Dept.

Activity carried out during the period

            As per technical programme of field units.

Detailed Achievements

            The Ganjam field unit located at OUA&T, Bhuvaneshwar had three village centres identified in different blocks of Ganjam district where the concentration of animals were high and response of farmers is encouraging. A total of three new villages Bharasa, D. Guhariapat and K. Guhariapat in the Khallikote centre were adopted. Gola community mostly rears Ganjam goats. The goats are migrated from one place to another in search of browsing materials.

Flock Statistics

            The flock statistics of Ganjam field unit has been presented in Table 1. The Ganjam field unit had a closing balance of goats at Chattarpur, Rambhaand Khallikote centres was 2003, 1197 and 1674, respectively in the year 2013-14. The opening balance of Ganjam goats including all the centres was 8510 and closing balance was 9748 at the end of year. A total number of 980 kids were born in Chhatrapur centre followed by 722 numbers of kids at Rambha centre and 757 kids in Khallikote centre during the reporting period i.e. 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.  A total number of 936 kids were born in Chhatrapur centre followed by 722 numbers of kids at Rambha centre and 811 kids in Khallikote centre during the reporting period. The mortality in kids was 10.47 % during

the reporting period. A total of 912 un-castrated males and 872 females were sold from the population during the year.
Table1: Flock Statistics of Ganjam goats at different centres (2013–14)

Center

Sex

Opening Balance
April 2013

Closing Balance
March 2014

0-3

3-12

Adult

Total

0-3

3-12

Adult

Total

Chhatrapur

M
F
T

76
70
146

269
240
509

95
1545
1640

440
1854
2294

62
63
125

229
150
379

96
1403
1499

387
1616
2003

Rambha

M
F
T

48
54
102

118
111
229

111
1106
1217

81
841
922

45
43
88

72
72
144

98
867
965

215
982
1197

Khallikote

M
F
T

72
73
145

203
196
399

90
1308
1398

365
1577
1942

69
58
127

160
128
288

73
1186
1259

302
1372
1674

Body Weight

The least squares means for growth and body weight has been presented in Table 2. The overall least squares means of body weight at birth 3, 6, 9 and 12 month of age were 2.41± 0.02kg, 7.48±0.05 kg, 9.90 ± 0.07kg, 14.49 ± 0.06 kg and 18.38 ± 0.07 kg, respectively. Males were found to be significantly heavier than female counterparts at all stages of growth. The effect of season of birth was found to be non-significant on the body weights at different ages. There has been considerable improvement in body weights at 9 and 12 months age in elite group. There was a significant increase of the body weight at 9 and 12 months of age in comparison of base population average.
Table 2: Least squares means for body weight (kg) in Ganjam goats

Year

Age group

Birth

3 Month

6 Month

9 Month

12 Month

Overall

2.41±0.02

7.48±0.05

9.90±0.07

14.49±0.06

18.38± 0.07

Centres

Chhatrapur

2.66±0.04

7.16±0.08

10.22±0.10

14.46±0.09

18.40±0.12

Rambha

2.31±0.04

7.47±0.09

9.91±0.16

14.58±0.10

18.23±0.13

Khallikote

2.25±0.04

7.80±0.10

9.58±0.12

14.40±0.11

18.51±0.13

Milk Production

The average daily milk yield of Ganjam goats was 425.5±10.8 ml.

Reproduction

The reproductive performance has been presented in Table 3 and has been calculated on the basis of does available for breeding purpose. A total number of 3757 does were available for breeding during the years 2013-14 at different village centers out of which 2262 kidded. The kidding percentage of Ganjam goat was 60.02. This breed produced only single kids (2455) and there were 4 twins born in 2013-14.
Table 3: Reproductive performance of Ganjam goats

Parameters

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

No. of does available for breeding

3502

3683

3779

3757

No of does conceived

2377

2465

2480

2301

No. of does kidded

2342

2424

2459

2262

No. of kids Male

1169

1212

1219

1136

No. of kids Female
1173
1212
1240
1126

Type of birth (Single)

2338

2424

2455

2262

Abortion

35

41

21

39

Kidding percentage

66.87

65.81

65.07

60.20

The age at first kidding, wt. at first kidding, and kidding interval were 602.6, 20.4 and 314.3 days, respectively (Table 4). It is observed that the time interval between age at first heat and age at first kidding is about 185 days in Ganjam goats. The service period of Ganjam goats is longer compared to other contemporaries reared in this region. It is observed that the kidding interval of the Ganjam goats was also significantly longer. The longer service period has resulted in longer kidding interval in Ganjam goats.
Table 4: Reproductive Traits (Mean ±S.E.) of Ganjam goats

Parameters

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Age at first heat(day)

433.7±3.6

431.6±4.2

406.7±7.4

417.2±8.7

Age at first kidding (day)

624.2±3.9

619.3±4.0

611.4±6.3

602.6±7.8

Weight at first kidding (kg)

21.90±0.1

22.1±0.24

21.8±0.34

20.4±0.4

Kidding interval (day)

319.7±3.9

317.9±4.6

302.8±8.2

314.3±10.5

Health Management

Prophylactic measures were undertaken in the farmer’s flock. A total number of 10112 goats were dewormed and 5500 goats were vaccinated against FMD. A total number of 2312 goats were treated for different diseases in the project area by this field unit in the year 2013-14. The mortality percent in newborn kids was 10.47% under field conditions.

Socio-economic Profile

  Ganjam goats are exclusively reared by Gola Community since generations. Study of socio-economic analysis indicated that most of the goat keepers (50%) had education up to upper secondary level. The average annual income of goat keepers was Rs. 45000 out of which 67 % income were from goat rearing occupation (Table 5) during the year 2013-14.


Table 5: Socio-economic profile of goat farmers in Ganjam district

Parameters

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2013-14

No. of villages

7

4

4

10

No. of farm families

42

42

40

53

No. of goats per farmer

70.86

87.14

--

3.84

Land holding

0.8

1.75

1.46

1.41

No. of family members

5.48

7.07

8.38

7.68

(a) Below primary (%)

32.61

77.7

72.0

72.5

(b) Up to UP (%)

53.04

15.4

26.6

23.52

(c) Above UP (%)

14.35

6.9

1.4

3.9

Av. Annual Income (Rs)

30,000

>36000

>38.000

>45,000

Av. Income from goat (%)

70.00

>60.00

>66.00

>67

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

The unit is working on a breed which remains in migration for about 6 months therefore pedigree and performance recording is a problem.

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

            The Unit has to post qualified staff to the project area and implement the technical programme properly. The animal identification is to be done on priority. About 100 male kids are to be identified on the basis of type of birth and weaning weight and selected as future bucks for improvement of breed.

Remarks

            The flock size maintained by the farmers range from 50 to 250 and a group of four to five farmers mix their goats taking a population ranging from 500 to 1200 which remain in the field. Although, pedigree and performance recording is bit difficult but the unit has to make efforts to implement technical programme of the project properly.