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Beetal goats in their native tract

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

M.S. Tantia ,
P.K. Vij ,
G. Sahana ,
A. Jain  and
S.K. Prasad
M.S. Tantia
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P O Box 129, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
P.K. Vij
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P O Box 129, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
G. Sahana
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P O Box 129, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
A. Jain
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P O Box 129, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
S.K. Prasad
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P O Box 129, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
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Summary

Beetal is one of the largest Indian breeds of goats bred mainly for milk but equally important for meat as well. This breed is found in Punjab along the Indo-Pakistani border. The status of the Beetal breed in its native tract was studied through a detailed survey in the Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts of Punjab. In this part of the country goats are mainly reared by ‘Sansi’ tribals who are landless. Goat flocks are mainly stationery and browsing is the main source of feed and fodder for these goats. Long drooping ears and roman nose are the typical characteristics of this breed. The total population of this breed in its native tract in 1997 was found to be 20 772 and the average flock size was 5.27. Average test day milk yield and lactation length were 1.8±0.79 kg and 161 days, respectively. Average ages at first kidding and kidding interval were 17.2 and 11.14 months, respectively. Prolificacy was fairly high with an average of 1.76 kids per kidding.

Beetal goats are the mainstay for the landless poor families of this region and the breed needs to be conserved in its breeding tract. There is a need to popularize this breed through demonstration units to convince the farmers that this breed is sustainable under low input conditions. This will help in in-situ conservation of the Beetal breed.

Resumen

La raza caprina Beetal es una de las más importantes no sólo por su producción lechera sino también por la producción de carne. Esta raza se encuentra mayormente en Punjab, a lo largo de la frontera entre India y Pakistán. Se ha realizado un estudio de la raza Beetal en su entorno natural a través de una encuesta detallada llevada a cabo en los distritos de Gurdaspur y Amritsar pertenecientes a la región de Punjab. En este lugar del país las cabras pertenecen principalmente a los grupos tribales “Sansi” que no poseen tierras. Los rebaños de cabras son estacionarios y el pastoreo es la mayor fuente de alimentación disponible. Las características típicas de la raza son orejas largas y caídas y un perfil pronunciado. El total de esta población en su ambiente natural en 1997 era de 20 772 y la media del tamaño de los rebaños de 5,27. La media de producción de leche diaria comprobada en el campo y la duración de la lactación eran de 1,8±0,79 kg y 161 days, respectivamente. La media de la edad al primer parto y el intervalo entre partos eran de 17,2 y 11,14 meses, respectivamente. La prolificidad era relativamente alta con una media de 1,76 crías por parto. Las cabras Beetal representan una base sustancial para las familias sin tierras de esta región y por lo tanto se deberían conservar en su ambiente natural. Se debería también dar a conocer mejor esta raza a través de unidad de demonstraciones, con el objeto de convencer a los agricultores de la capacidad de esta raza de mantenerse en condiciones difíciles y con un aporte muy bajo. Todo esto ayudaría a la conservación in situ de la raza Beetal.

Keywords

GoatBeetalPopulationPunjabGurdaspurAmritsarCharacteristics
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 31 , April 2001 , pp. 65 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2001

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