Surti Field Unit, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat

Principal Investigator 

Dr. K.K.Tyagi, Scientist (Animal Genetics and Breeding)

Activity assigned and targets fixed for each activity during the period

The unit was assigned to improve Surti goat breed in farmers field following technical programme of the project.

Activity carried out during the period

• The genetic parameters for growth, lactation and reproductive traits were estimated.
•  Improvement in body weight at different ages, lactation and reproductive performance was observed.
•  Season of birth had significant effect on body weight.
•  Male and single born kids were significantly heavier than female and multiple born kids.
•  The overall average lactation yield and lactation length was 178.14 ± 2.97 (128) lit, and 165.81 ± 1.80 (171) days, respectively.
• Season of kidding had significant effect on milk yield.
• During report period deworming of 2165animals along with distribution of mineral mixture and antibiotics to 1510 animals was undertaken.
• The major diseases observed in the registered animals were enteritis and pneumonia, necessary measures were taken accordingly.

Detailed Achievements

            Surti Field Unit is located at NAU, Navsari (Gujarat). The survey work in six clusters (Bharuch, Surat and Navsari districts) was undertaken to collect the information pertaining to management and breeding practices followed by the goat keepers were collected.

Flock Statistics

            The flock statistics of Surti goats under field unit is shown in Table 1. The flock strength of registered animals under field unit was 684 including 595 females as on 31 March, 2014. Out of this, 25 new adult goats were identified and included in the clusters for recording of data. During the year 2013-14, addition due to birth was 520 out of which 261 were white Surti adding 131 male and 130 female white Surti kids respectively. Reduction due to death and sale of animals was 182 and 352 respectively. At the end of year only 12 adult white Surti males were available due to preferential selling of white males by goat owners from 6 months age onwards. Total 1064 animals among different age groups were drafted during the report period. The overall population growth was 95.67%.
Table 1: Flock statistics of Surti goats

Body Weight 

The body weights of Surti kids are present in Table 2. The least square means for body weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of ages was 2.008 ± 0.026 , 9.984 ± 0.113 , 17.287 ± 0.165 , 20.073 ± 0.185  and 23.276 ± 0.504  kg, respectively. Season of birth, sex of kid, colour type of birth had significantly affected the body weights. Kids born between November and February months (winter) had higher birth weights at birth, 3, 6 and 9 months. Kids born during summer had shown highest body weight at 12 month of age. Single born kids were significantly heavier than the multiple born kids during first nine months, whereas differences get subsides as they approach 12 months of age. Kids born in Navsari clusters had significantly lower body weight at all ages as compared to other clusters. Best performance in body weight was shown by kids born in Bilimora and Vapi cluster at birth and 3 months of age. Body weights were par at 12 months of age in all the clusters.
Table 2: Body weights (kg) of Surti Kids born during last three years

Milk Production

The overall least square means for milk yield over 90 days, 150 days, lactation yield and lactation length were120.22 ± 1.27, 169.99 ± 2.19, 178.14 ± 2.97 liters and 165.81± 1.80 days, respectively (Table 14.3). Season of kidding has significant effect on milk yield and goat kidded during the July to October remained low producer throughout. Clusters also imported significant differences in lactation length, 90 day milk yield and total lactation yield. Bharuch was adjudged to be the best cluster with total lactation milk yield of 195.42 ± 4.83 litres per goat. Surti goats proved to be a very good milch breed with a range of 129-285 litres milk in complete lactation.
Table 3:  Milk production in Surti Goats

Reproduction

      During the year 2013-14, age at first mating, weight at first mating, age at first kidding, weight at first kidding, service period, kidding interval and gestation period was 506.41 ± 29.65 days, 21.45 ± 0.48 Kg, 651.36 ± 29.79 days, 22.95 ± 0.48 Kg, 197.17 ± 4.47, 347.21 ± 4.70 and 150.04 ± 0.33 days, respectively. The kidding rate (litter size) was 1.48 justifying higher prolificacy in Surti Goats (Table 4).

Table 4: Reproduction performance of Surti goats

Health Control Measures

            During current year 2165 animals were dewormed, Mineral mixture and antibiotics were distributed for use in 1510 animals. Overall mortality in Surti flock was 7.33%.

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

---Nil---

PC’s evaluation: very good (A) Good (B) poor (C)

------------------- Very Good (A) --------------------

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

            Apart from implementing the technical programme, Unit has to support one of the first Goat Cooperative established with motivation and technical backup of this Unit.

Remarks

The Unit has significantly improved its operation in the field and impact is visible on productivity and health of goats. The Farmers have been benefitted and willing to participate in most activities of the project. Unit was successful in motivating farmers to establish a goat cooperative.