International Journal of Livestock Research, Vol.

11 (11) Nov’2021
http://www.ijlr.org
eISSN: 2277-1964

Original Research

Production System of Assam Hill Goats and their Performance

Under Field Condition
B. Das1, R. G. Sarmah2* and J. P. Sarmah2
1
Professor cum Principal Investigator, AICRP on Goat Improvement, Goat Research Station (GRS), Assam
Agricultural University (AAU), Burnihat, Assam, INDIA
2
Research Associate and Senior Research fellow, AICRP on Goat improvement, GRS, AAU, Burnihat, Assam, INDIA

*Corresponding Author: roomigags@gmail.com

How to cite this paper: Das, B.,

Sarmah, R., & Sarma, J. (2021).
Abstract
Production system of Assam Hill Goats
and their performance under field An investigation was undertaken to study the farming system of Assam Hill
condition. International Journal of Goats (AHG) under field condition. A total of 3745 goats maintained by 311
Livestock Research, 11(11), 33-37. number of beneficiaries during 2009 to 2019 in five clusters (18 villages) of
https://dx.doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.2021082
different districts, viz., Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Darrang, and
3081705
Morigaon of Assam, India adopted under “ICAR - All India Coordinated
Received : Aug 23, 2021 Research Project on Goat Improvement ”, Goat Research Station, Assam
Accepted : Sep 28, 2021 Agricultural University, Burnihat were utilized for the study. The percentage
Published : Nov 30, 2021 of marginal (land holding of <2 acres), small (2 to 5 acres) and medium (5 to
10 acres) farmers was 53.47, 26.07 and 20.46 respectively. Majority (61.41%)
Copyright © Das et al., 2021
of the goat farmers were from other backward class (OBC), followed by
This work is licensed under the schedule tribes (ST) (22.83 %.) general (12.54 %) and schedule caste (SC)
Creative Commons Attribution (3.22 %). The average flock size was 4.03 with a range of 2 to 19. The
International License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/
management system followed for rearing of the goats was found to be semi-
licenses/by/4.0/ intensive system. The average body weight of AHG was recorded to be
1.24±0.01, 5.29±0.02, 8.03±0.04, 10.73 ±0.06 and 13.94±0.09 kg at birth, 3,
6, 9 and 12 months of age respectively. The weaning age of goat was at the age
of 75 to 87 days. The age at first mating (days), weight at first mating (kg),
age at first kidding (days), weight at first kidding (kg), first kidding Interval
(days), service period (days) and gestation period (days) were 256.76 ± 7.01,
10.55±0.07, 405.07±0.07, 14.06±0.09, 225.99± 7.03, 79.91±7.86 and
147.31±1.01 respectively. The daily milk yield (gm) of AHG was recorded to
be 114.33±1.50 with a range of 82.05-181.17 gm. Assam Hill Goats are small
in body size and are mainly reared for meat purpose.

Keywords: Assam Hill Goat, Production System, Performances,

Reproduction, Socio-economic Condition
 Available @ http://ijlr.org/issue/vol-11-11-pp-33-37/

Introduction

Goat has been an integral part of all sections of the people of Assam since ancient time. The Assam Hill Goat (AHG)
has a close association with religious, cultural and folk tradition in Assam. North-Eastern India is known for its
diversity in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry with different genetic groups of livestock and poultry.
Assam Hill Goat, locally known as Assam Local is the predominant species of goat found in the state. They are
primarily white and white with black back line in colour. The animals are highly prolific, twinning is common and
triplets are also not uncommon. The breed is mainly maintained for meat purpose and the meat is of high quality
with good flavor. As per the 20th Livestock Census, the population of goat in the state of Assam was 43.17 lakhs.
The animal is small in size, docile in nature, easily manageable by children or women. For a marginal farmer, goat
act as economic buffer and provide economic security during crisis.

The present study examines the performances of AHG in respect to the socio-economic conditions of the farmers,
husbandry and feeding practices, production performance, reproduction performances, incidence of diseases,
mortality pattern, health protection programmes and income from the flocks under field conditions in the adopted
villages of the project.

Material and Methods

Survey Procedure

The survey was conducted in five adopted clusters with 18 villages of four districts under the project entitled “ICAR-
All India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement” implemented at Goat Research Station, Assam
Agricultural University, Burnihat, Assam during 2009 to 2019.

The required information was collected from a total of 311 farmers through standard questionnaires provided by the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats (ICAR-CIRG), Makhdoom, Uttar
Pradesh, India. Personal interview with the owner were also done. The data in respect to body weights, reproductive
traits, incidence of diseases and mortality were collected and recorded from those fields during 2009 to 2019 and
then compiled, computed and tabulated by using standard procedures. The data were analysed using MS-Excel and
descriptive statistics was used.

Results and Discussion

Socio-Economic Status of the beneficiaries

Of the 311 respondents in the survey, the percentage of marginal (land holding of <2 acres), small (2 to 5 acres) and
medium (5 to 10 acres) farmers was recorded to be 53.47, 26.07 and 20.46 respectively. Majority (61.41%) of the
goat farmers were from OBC, followed by ST (22.83%), general (12.54%) and SC (3.22%). During the study, it
was observed that goat farming or rearing among the farmers is a secondary source of income. The main occupation
of the farmers is agriculture and some of them are daily wage labourers. In addition to goats, the villagers also rear
cattle, buffalo, pigs, poultry, etc. The study also revealed that two third of the farmers were illiterate and the others
were educated up to a minimum of primary school standard.

Husbandry Practice

Flock Size and Sex Ratio for Breeding

The farmers in the adopted villages under the study maintains a flock which varies from small (2-5 numbers),
medium (6-15 numbers) and large (>15 numbers). The overall average flock size was recorded to be 4.03 with a
range of 2 to 19. The sex ratio of breeding male to females maintained in the clusters for breeding was found to be
1:20. The breeding system followed in the field condition is natural service under controlled breeding system.

Rearing System

Semi intensive system of management was followed for rearing of the goats in the adopted villages. The goats were

34 International Journal of Livestock Research

 Das et al., 2021

allowed for grazing in the open field for around 7-8 hours. When the animals return from grazing, they were provided
with ad libitum clean water. They were also fed with locally available tree leaves during scarcity whenever there is
shortage of greens in pasture lands. Occasionally some farmers feed their goat small amount (around 100 to 150
gm) of concentrate feeds which consist of maize, wheat bran, rice polish, ground nut cake, mineral mixture and salt
along with kitchen waste (vegetable cuts) in the evening. It was found that the AHG are usually taken care by the
women folk or children. This finding was in congruence with the finding of Zeshmarani et al. (2007), who in their
study on Assam local goats, observed that the animals were kept in semi-intensive condition and allowed to graze
from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, with supplementation of concentrate in the morning at 8.00 am and ad libitum drinking
water at all times. In another study, Dhanda (2003) found that in India, the most common system for managing goats
is extensive grazing of flocks on natural lands with or without nutritional supplements.

In the areas under the study, goats were housed in raised platform type of shed made up of locally available building
materials like bamboos, wood and hays. In the sheds dual form of ladder cum door were used to minimize the cost
of construction.

Performance

Growth

The average body weight of AHG in the present study was recorded to be 1.24±0.01, 5.29±0.02, 8.03±0.04, 10.73
±0.06 and 13.94±0.09 kg at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age respectively and the weaning age of goat was recorded
as 75 to 87 days. The daily weight gain (gm/day) of the goats were observed to be 45, 30, 30 and 36 gm per day
respectively at birth to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months of age in the goats under the
study. Nahardeka et al. (2001) and Doley et al. (2018) reported similar finding to the present study. Nahardeka et
al. (2001) reported that the body weight of Assam local goats at the age of 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 7.5±0.2,
9.4 ± 0.3 and 11.8 ±0.3 kg respectively whereas Doley et al. (2018) reported that the weight of Assam local at birth,
at the age of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months was 1.46 ±0.05, 4.68 ± 0.12, 8.75 ± 0.15, 11.97 ± 0.32 and 15.32 ±0.11 kg
respectively. Zeshmarani et al. (2007), also observed a similar weaning age (3 months) Assam local goats. Dhanda
(2003), reported that the rate of growth in goats can vary from around 50 g/day for the small tropical breeds (e.g.,
Indian Barbari, Indonesian Kambing) to over 200 g/day for large European dairy breeds (e.g., Saanen, Alpine).

Reproduction

During the study period, twinning and triplet was recorded to be very common. The age at first mating (days),
weight at first mating (kg), age at first kidding (days), weight at first kidding (kg), first kidding Interval (days),
service period (days) and gestation period (days) were observed as 256.76± 7.01, 10.55±0.07, 405.07±0.07,
14.06±0.09, 225.99± 7.03, 79.91±7.86 and 147.31±1.01 respectively. The lifetime number of kidding and the
conception rate were recorded to be 8.56±1.44 and 72% respectively. The litter size in the AHG was found to be
1.58. Zeshmarani et al. (2007) observed that the age at puberty, age at conception, age at first kidding and gestation
period in Black Bengal, Assam hill and Manipuri non-descript goats were 190 ±1.89, 264 ± 1.68 and 317 ±1.7;
220±2.43, 291± 1.92 and 344±2.27, 366±2.41, 441±2.28 and 496±2.43 and 145±0.41, 148 ±0.37 and
152±0.49 respectively . The present findings regarding the age at puberty and age at first kidding was in agreement
with Mayenuddin and Waheb (1989) and Ahamed (1992) in Black Bengal goats while age at first conception and
gestation period was similar to the finding of Mia et al. (1996). However, Nahardeka et al. (1995) observed a higher
value for age at conception and age at first kidding than the present findings and Das and Goswami (1992) reported
a lower length for gestation period in Assam Hills breed. The findings of Doley et al. (2018) in respect to age at
first service (298.17± 3.87 days), age at first kidding (488±2.46 days), kidding interval (241.52±3.09 days) was more
but the gestation period (147.47±0.47 days) was, however, is in agreement of the present study.

Health Maintenance Programmes

Prophylactic Measures

During the study, it was recorded that the major constraints faced by the farmers in rearing of AHG were infestation
by both ecto and endo-parasites. The animals are dewormed starting at the age of three months. Animals in the area
under study were vaccinated against Goat Pox (GP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Enterotoxiemia (ET) twice

International Journal of Livestock Research 35

 Available @ http://ijlr.org/issue/vol-11-11-pp-33-37/

a year starting at the age of six months, however, vaccination against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) was done
once in three years. Present recordings were in accordance to that of the findings of Zeshmarani et al. (2007) who
observed that routine deworming was done on the basis of faecal examination and all the animals were vaccinated
against PPR, GP, FMD and ET.

Mortality Pattern

During the study period, the major causes of mortality among AHG were recorded to be pneumonia (24.2%),
followed by predation (16.37%), colibacillosis (14.95%), cold stroke (11.03%), general weakness (9.61%), pnemo-
enterities (7.47%) and others. The average percentage of mortality in kids (0-6 months), young (6-12 months) and
adult (more than 12 months) in AHG were observed as 4.70, 1.23 and 1.58 percentage respectively. The overall
mortality among those animals was observed to be 7.50%. However, Sarmah et al. (2018), reported pneumonia
(22.06%) to be major causes of mortality followed by Haomonchosis (16.29%) in AHG. They further recorded
highest mortality in the age group of 3-6 months (12.45%) followed by adult mortality (5.84%), with an overall
mortality of 9.09% in the breed.

In the present study, mortality was recorded as 32.38%, 31.32%, 24.20% and 12.10% respectively during south west
monsoon (June – September), winter (December – February), post monsoon (October- November) and summer
monsoon (March-May). Sarmah et al. (2018), however, recorded that the mortality was highest in winter (10.33%)
followed by south-west monsoon (9.64%), summer monsoon (8.74%) and post- monsoon season (7.59%).

Conclusion

Assam Hill Goats are small breed of goat found in the North-Eastern region of the country and are mainly reared
for meat purpose. Multiple birth is very common in this breed of goat. Majority of the goat farmers are marginal
farmers with land holding of <2 acres (53.47%) followed by small (26.07%). 61.41% of the goat farmers were
recorded to be from OBC. Semi intensive management system is followed for rearing of the goats.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research- All India Coordinated Research Project
on Goat improvement, CIRG, Makhdoom for providing financial help in carrying out the study. The authors also
express their thankfulness to the Director of Research (Vet.), Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara for
extending the necessary facilities

Conflict of Interests

There is no conflict of interest.

Publisher Disclaimer

IJLR remains neutral concerning jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliation.

References

1. Ahamed, J. (1992). Reproductive pattern of Black Bengal, Recent advances in Goat Production in Goat
Production. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on goats, New Delhi P, 1215 – 1220.
2. Das, D and Goswami, R.N. (1992). Recent advances in goat production proceedings of papers presented at V
International Conference on goats, New Delhi, India, March, 519-525.
3. Dhanda, J. S., Taylor, D. G., Murray, P.J., Pegg, R. B. and Shand, P. J. (2003). Goat Meat Production: Present
Status and Future Possibilities . Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 16(12): 1842-1852.
4. Doley, M.K., Baruah, N., Deka, A. K., Maibangsa, S., Bhuyan, S. and Phookan, A. (2018). Performance of
Assam Hill goat and their crossbred Beetal through Artificial Insemination in hill district of Assam.
International Journal of Agriculture Sciences, ISSN: 0975-3710 & E-ISSN: 0975-9107, 10 (10): 6168-6169.
5. Mayenuddin, M. and Wahab, M. A. (1989). Reproductive performances of Black Bengal goats in Manikganj.
Bangladesh Veterinarian, 6 (1) : 48-49.

36 International Journal of Livestock Research

 Das et al., 2021

6. Mia, M. M., Ali, A. and Bhuijan, A.K. F. H. (1996). The reproductive performance of Black Bengal, Barbari,
Barbari x Black Bengal and Anglo Nubian goats. Indian Veterinary Journal, 73(10) :1048 -1052.
7. Nahardeka, N., Das, A., Goswami, R. N., Roy, T. C. and Gogoi, P.K. (1995). Reproduction performance of
Assam Hills goats and their cross breeds with Bengal. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants, 1: 8-14.
8. Nahardeka, N., Das, D., Roy, T. C., Goswami, R.N., Das, G. C., Gogoi, P. K. and Das, B. (2001). Studies on
body weights of Assam local goats and their crosses with Beetal. Indian Veterinary Journal, 78 (9) : 811-814.
9. Sarmah, R. G. , Nahardeka, N. , Saleque, A., Roy ,T. C. , Sarma, J.P., and Borah, P. (2018). Factors
Affecting Mortality in Assam Hill Goat under Field Condition.
International Journal of Livestock Research, 8 (7): 329-334.
10. Zeshmarani, S., Dhara, K. C., Samanta, A. K., Samanta, R. and Majumder, S. C. (2007). Reproductive
performance of goats in Eastern and North-eastern India. Livestock Research for Rural Development, Volume
19, Article #114.

******************

International Journal of Livestock Research 37