Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

Goat is basically an animal of Asian origin which is distributed all over the world and inhabits almost all agro-climatic regions from arctic-circle to the equator. It is a very important source of livelihood of the people below the poverty line. Goats are the backbone of rural economy of the arid, semi-arid and hilly regions of our country and regarded as “ATM” means any time money and any time milk. They give rapid return on account of their short kidding intervals, higher rate of prolificacy and marketing of related products can be done at any time easily. Owing to its good economic potential, the goat rearing under semi- intensive and intensive system for commercial production is gaining momentum.  Numerous development programs anticipated to increasing the productivity of goats have been started countrywide. The farmers mostly from landless and marginal category are traditional in maintaining the animals. Unless the feeding regime is good, the genetic gain envisaged may be unattainable. If feeding, breeding and other management practices fixed into proper equation it would be possible to reach the desired level of milk and meat production.Farmers however face a number of problems while stating commercial goat farming. In order to present socio-economic status of goat keepers, human resources involvement in goat farming, Management practices like feeding, breeding, housing and diseases pattern of goats, constraints perceived by goat keepers, etc and productive and reproductive performance of goats under various production systems are studied  in this book. We are sure that this book will serve as a complete reference book to all students, researchers those engaged and interested to conduct study on goat husbandry practices and performance of goats in field as well as farm conditions and commercialization and marketing of goats and their products in the country.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The author of this manuscript, Dr. Balbir Singh Khadda (B.1974) earned his B.Sc Ag. (Hons) degree from Swami Keshvanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner in 1997 and M.Sc. (Ag.) Animal Husbandry from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur in 2000. After compilation of post graduation he joined the AICRP on Sirohi goat (field Unit) as SRF at Livestock Research Station, Vallabhanagar, MPUA&T, Udaipur. The author joined as Subject Matter Specialist (Animal Husbandry), ICAR-KVK, Panchmahal, (Gujarat) in 2009. He earned his Ph. D. degree in department of Livestock Production Management with major in “Livestock Production Management” and minor in “Poultry Science” as in-service ICAR sponsored candidate securing an OGPA of 8.293/ 10 (first division) from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand in 2017. He has published more than 45 research paper in national and international journals. He is recipients of many awards and recognitions including Young Scientist Award, 2014, Young Scientist Award, 2015, Distinguished Scientist Award, 2016, Scientist of the year award, 2017 and Reviewer Excellence Award-2017.

Dr. Brijesh Singh (b.1967) obtained his B.Sc. (Ag.), M.Sc. (Ag.) Animal Sci. and Ph.D. (Animal breeding) degrees from N.D.U.A.& T., Faizabad with illustrious career.  Dr. Singh joined as Junior Research Officer in GBPUA & T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand in 1995. Currently he is serving GBPUAT, Pantnagar as Professor (LPM). He had done pioneering work on Guinea fowl and goat.  He has published more than 133 research papers in national and international journals and guided 7 M.V.Sc. and 2 Ph.D. scholars. He is recipients of many awards (Young Scientist Award, 2012, Distinguished Scientist Award, 2016, Reviewer Excellence Award-2016. He authored 2 books, 2 laboratory manuals, 2 bulletin and many chapters in books as well. He has delivered many Key note address/ lead paper in many symposia/seminars/workshops organized time to time. He organized 25 National, 1 International training programme and 1 National Seminar. He has also delivered 25 Radio & T.V. Talk on important/ burning topics of the animal science.