Performance of goats under adopted villages of Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh

Barbari is a medium size dual-purpose goat breed of Western region of Uttar Pradesh. It is known for high prolificacy, lower age at first kidding, low kidding interval, quality carcass characteristics and performance under stall fed conditions. However, population and performance of Barbari goats is continuously declining in its home tract. Four villages of Farah block in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh were selected for grading up of non-descript goats under transfer of technology programme. Mostly flocks (>95%) in adopted villages were small in size (2–6 goats) with 200–300 goats in each village and none of the village had pure Barbari bucks. Goat keepers of these villages were motivated to adopt improved management practices/technologies through fortnightly individual interactions, organizing health camps, farmer's day and field demonstrations. Under breeding intervention 1–2 Barbari bucks were provided by the Institute in each adopted village. This intervention resulted in an increase of Barbari goat population from 52.7 to 68.6% in Jalal, 7.6 to 16.7% in Bar Ka Nagla, 22.7 to 37% in Popa Burj and from 21.6 to 38.9% in Pauri Sahjadpur. Visible improvement was also recorded in body weights of kids, multiple birth, kidding rate and milk yield of goats. Goat improvement programme motivated many new aspirants to set up goat units in the adopted villages. The study suggested that the pure bred and high potential buck's distribution, as per the goat population in the field area, should be made regular to minimize breed dilution of Barbari goats and to further enhance production performance. It should be supported by organized marketing practices.