Research Achievement and Impact
There were 9 research units functioning tinder this project in the Sixth Plan Period in different parts of the country representing different agro-ecological zones. The All India Coordinated Research Project on Goats (for Milk Production) is located at the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur. The average milk yield of the crossbred genotypes (3,14th Saanen 1/4th Beetal) produced at N.D.R.I.,Karnal unit was 399 kg in a lactation period of 296 days. The magnitude of improvement was 104 per cent over the indigenous dam breed Beetal. The highest milk yield recorded was 792.7 kg. At the Kerala unit, 9 different genetic combinations of Saanen and Alpine with the indigenous dam breed Malabari were tested. The crossbreds with 75% Alpine inheritance were the highest yielders exhibiting 84 % improvement over native Malabari.
The All India coordinated Research Project on Goats (for Meat Production) is located at 4 places viz. Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar (Rajasthan); Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi; Assam Agricultural University, Burnihat and Sikkim Animal Husbandry Department, Jorethang. Three unexplored indi-genous goat breeds viz. Jhakrana, Marwari and Kutchi were tested at C. S. W. R. I. for their meat production potential. Preliminary analysis revealed that Jhakrana and Kutchi were much superior to Marwari in growth. The difference between the former two was non-significant (P < 0.05) with respect to milk production and prolificacy.
The crossbreeding between Beetal and Black Bengal at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi showed an improvement of 50% in 6 months body weight. The Jamunapari X Black Bengal crosses could attain 14.7 kg body weight at 6 months of age as against the target of 15 kg for this centre. The improvement in milk yield was 11.7% over purebred Black Bengal. Beetal X Assam local crosses generated at Assam Agricultural University, Burnihat unit was superior than the native goat in body weight as well as feed conversion efficiency.
