Goat production scenario in Bihar, India

A Dey, S K Barari and B P S Yadav

Livestock and Fishery Improvement and Management Programme, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, ICAR Parisar,
P.O. Bihar Vet College, Patna, Bihar, India-800014
amitavdey_icar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Being the 5^th largest goat population state, Bihar contributes about 7.63% of India's total goat population. The state is also a habitat of 42.6% people below poverty line and hence there is a tremendous scope of goat farming to meet up the large gap between demand and supply of meat. Around 574000 goats are slaughtered annually in recognized slaughterhouses contributing 31.17% of total meat production of the state (175 thousand tonnes of meat in 2003). However, goat rearing is not well accepted by all classes of people in Bihar. It is mostly confined to backward classes and landless laborers who are unable to rear large animals. As a result, goat rearing has not been developed as an industry. Holding size is generally 1-3 goat per family depending on availability of surplus labor in the family.

Village goat is mostly of Bengal breed. However, crosses with other breeds like Jamunapari, Barbari, Sirohi and Jakharana are also available. Male Bengal breed comes in puberty at the age of 8-9 months where as the age of 1^st kidding is on an average 14-15 months. Lactation length of this breed of goat at farmer's field has been recorded as 80-120 days and kidding interval at 250 days. This breed is highly prolific and twining percentage has been recorded as 45. Goats are raised on grazing. No vaccination of FMD or PPR is given at farmer's field.

Goat has also been playing a significant role in rain-fed farming system. Marketing of goat is under the hand of unorganized sector and middleman oriented. So, there is urgent need to develop strategy in respect of breed conservation, management, health care, credit, insurance and marketing system of goat in Bihar.

Keywords: Bihar, Goat production, India

Introduction

The livestock sector has a significant potential for round the year employment generation particularly in rural areas. This provides subsidiary source of livelihood to the people living below the poverty line due to lack of sufficient agricultural land to sustain, particularly in the draught prone, hilly, tribal and other remote areas where crop production on its own may not be capable of engaging them fully. According to 50th National Sample Survey (NSSO 1998), the employment in the Animal Husbandry sector was 9.8 million (provisional) in the principal status and another 8.6 million (provisional) in the subsidiary status. However, in case of landless laborers and marginal farmers rearing of large ruminants specially the high yielder are mostly not possible due to shrinkage of common property resources (grazing land) and financial constraints but farming of small ruminants has more or less overcome these problems and can contribute additional income for the family. Goat, in true sense, is called as poor man's cow due to its tremendous economic importance in contributing milk, meat and ultimately the household nutrition security and livelihood to the downtrodden people. Census data revealed that India accounts for 20% of the world's goat population with annual growth rate of 1.6% (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying 2005). During the period from 1951 to 1992, there has been a growth of 31.7% in the cattle population and 92.2% in buffalo population whereas the population of sheep increased by 30% and those of goat and pigs increased by about 145% and 190%, respectively (Press Information Bureau 2005). The reasons for high growth rate include low cost and handy technology to the landless laborers, marginal farmers and industrial workers particularly less volume of feed is required than cattle, more resistant to diseases, easily manageable by child or female and easy market accessibility.

The state occupies a vast area under rainfed system with regular occurrence of either flood or draught or both. Hence there is a tremendous scope of goat farming that can meet up the large gap between demand and supply of meat in the state.

Socio-economic features of Bihar and goat population

Bihar is a land locked state having an area of 94,163 sq km with rural area of 97.97% (Table 1).

Normal rainfall of Bihar ranges from 1205 mm in a year but mostly confined to rainy season with average rainy days of 52.5. The state is thickly populated (880 per sq km) with sex ratio of 921. However, the literacy rate is 47.53% with lower value in case of female (33.1%). The state is poor of the poorest states in India. The per capita annual income has been Rs 6015 in 2002-03. The state is also a habitat of 42.6% people below poverty line whose livelihood depends mainly on livestock particularly goat.

Being the 5^th largest goat population state (9489830 in numbers), Bihar contributes about 7.63% of India's total goat population (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying 2005). District wise goat population density is depicted in Table 2. 

It revealed that mostly flood prone districts have the highest density.

Importance of goat as meat animal in Bihar

With rapid urbanization, higher income levels and changes in lifestyle, market for scientifically produced and hygienically packed meat and meat products is expanding rapidly. Meat production in India has been increased by 3% between 1990-2000 while the consumption of meat has been increased by 2.7% (FAO 2005). Around 39% of goat is slaughtered annually in India, which contributes about 8.02% of total meat produced in India (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying 2005). As per Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (2005), goat contributes 31.17% of total meat production of the state (175 thousand tonnes of meat in 2003). As in the case of milk, Bihar is a meat deficient state also and the per capita availability of meat in the reference yr. 2003 was only 105.7 g/week as compared to the requirement of 180.0 g. This estimate has been made as per the ICMR norms of 90g meat per head twice in a week to about 40% of the human population under assumption that 58% of the population is non-vegetarian out of which 15% are only eggtarian. Meat consumed by about 3% of the non-vegetarian population is saved by becoming them forced vegetarian due to some religious causes in the different months of the year. There was shortage of more than 70% of the nutritional requirement of meat in the yr. 2003 (Singh and Mondal 2005).

Since, the meat products industry in India is largely in the hand of un-organized sector, in order to exploit the full potential of the meat products industry, facilities for slaughterhouses, meat processing and packing units, storage facilities are being provided in addition to modern technologies and appropriate investments. This has resulted in increasing the demand for domestic and export market, particularly to the Gulf and West Asia and neighboring countries. As per an estimate (1999-2000) by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Bihar, around 574000 goats are slaughtered annually in recognized slaughterhouses in Bihar, which accounts for some percentage of the total production as most of the goat meat production industry is under unorganized sector. However, monthly per capita consumption of goat meat/ mutton is limited only to 0.04 kg, consumption is limited to 16.6% of households in rural Bihar. In urban areas, 25.6% households reported consumption of goat meat/ mutton of 0.08 kg per month per capita (NSSO 2001).

Importance of goat milk

Although no recognized milch type goat breed is available in the state, goat contributes 10.85% of total annual milk production in the state amounting 345 thousand tonnes annually. However, the contribution of goat milk in India is only 4.21%. It indicates that in Bihar goat has major contribution in household nutrition of the economically weaker section.
 

Village goat production system

Goat rearing is not well accepted by all classes of people in Bihar. Poor and socially disadvantaged households tend to own low quality livestock (goat) rather than cow or buffalo. Consistent with this pattern, households of upper caste and backward agricultural castes tend to own cows and buffalo rather than goats (World Bank 2005). It is mostly confined to backward classes and landless laborers who are unable to rear large animals. As a result, goat rearing has not been developed as an industry. Moreover, Bihar is frequently affected by draught and flood. As per an estimate, 4.26 million hectares area is liable to flood in undivided Bihar whereas 19 districts out of 38 districts are liable to draught where there is tremendous scope for goat production.

Holding size

Holding size is a generally 1-3 goat per family depending on availability of surplus labor in the family. As per NSSO (1997), it is revealed that 74 sheep and goats were owned by 100 households in undivided Bihar. However, after reorganization of states, goat/sheep is owned by 331 per 1000 households in rural Bihar and most of the numbers are owned by households holding <0.002 ha to 0.005 - 0.040 ha size classes (342 and 353 per 1000 households) (NSSO 2006). Holding size also differ as per the agro-climatic zone of the state. Flood and draught prone rainfed areas have the highest holding size.

Breed

Village goat is mostly of Bengal breed. However, crosses with other breeds like Jamunapari, Barberi, Sirohi and Jakharna are also available. Even though, there is no definite government policy to improve the breed of goat but due to non-systemic and unscientific crossing has been done at farmer's level. Sometime, crossbred goat with Jamnapari or Jakhrana has been the pride of the farmer, which tends them to go for non-systemic breeding. Male goat having higher growth and adult body weight is preferred. As a result crosses with improved Indian breeds are mostly in the adjacent districts of U.P. However, mostly Bengal breed of goats are found in North Bihar. Natural breeding is followed with the available buck in all most all the villages.

Feeding practices

Since goat is confined to only downtrodden people no scientific feeding practices is followed. Female or child of the family mainly rears goat. Feed requirement is met up mostly by grazing for 6-8 hours a day on common property resources on the bunds of canals, rivers, and ponds or nearby forest. Goat is also kept on grazing after the crop is harvested. In flood prone and waterlogged areas, after the floodwater is subsided. During other seasons it is stall fed with local grasses collected from bunds or grazing area or fodder trees available in the villages. Very little concentrate like broken rice or maize or wheat or pulse chunnies is given along with rice bran and mustard cake. Some farmers who have land either own or taken on lease, occasionally offer green fodder like Sudan or Berseem.

Production performances

Production performances of Bengal goat under field condition has been depicted in Table 3.

It is revealed that female Bengal breed comes in puberty at the age of 8-9 months where as the age of 1^st kidding is on an average 422 days. Bengal breed is known for high quality meat production. Lactation length of this breed of goat at farmer's field has been recorded as 80-120 days and kidding interval at 250 days. This breed is highly prolific and twining percentage has been recorded as 44.5.

Disease

Little care is taken to prevent diseases of goat in smallholder production system. No vaccination of FMD or PPR is given. The main limitations to effective livestock health management are an inadequate focus on preventive measures, lack of medicines and equipment in rural veterinary clinics, and ignorance among the farmers. This is reflected in the frequent occurrence of many of these diseases in most parts of the country. However, toxemia and diarrhea due to parasitic infestation were found to be most common diseases at farmers field especially during onset of monsoon. Since the goat is under hand of the poor farmers and being less important animal for the big farmer, the information on goat diseases is mostly reported to quack. Sometime in serious condition, emergency slaughter is practiced to recover certain percentage of cost.
 

Goat production as per agro-ecosystems in Bihar

Administratively Bihar has been divided into two halves by the river Ganges namely North and south Bihar. On the basis of agro-ecosystem and crop production system, the state can be divided into two parts i.e. Irrigated and Rain-fed agro-ecosystem. According to criteria of Saxena et al (2001), the districts of Araria, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Jamui, Katihar, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Sahasha, Samastipur, Seohar, Sitamarhi, Supaul, Vaishali and West Champaran may be classified under rainfed agro-ecosystem as less than 40% of area of these districts are covered by irrigation. Goat population and population density as per agro-ecosystem has been depicted in Table 4.

It is revealed that goat has tremendous importance in rain-fed system where due to lack of round the year employment or income small and marginal farmers and landless laborers opt for small-scale goat farming for income generation. Approximately 60% of goat population of Bihar is concentrated in the primarily rainfed districts. Moreover, when crop is harvested farmers get the land open for grazing of goats.
 

Marketing

Marketing of goat is under the hand of unorganized sector and middleman oriented. Goats from villages are sold to middleman or butcher or in the local goat market that go to the slaughterhouses of organized or unorganized sector. Male goat is sold at the age of 12-15 months and at higher prices. However, farmer grows the male goat to sell in festive season for more profit. Intact male goat is sacrificed before God in many places. During Bakri Id, male goat is sold even at the cost of 30-35 thousand. Female goats are sold to market for slaughter at the end of their productive life (Spent goat), which forms a substantial quantity of goat meat in the state. Now private companies have come forward in West Bengal and Jharkhand to promote and market goat meat by establishing goat meat processing unit.
 

Conclusions

Despite the least attention paid, goat population has been increased at a steady rate among all major livestock species during last two decades. Planning Commission of India (Working Group 2001) has given stress on the productivity per animal, organized marketing, prevention of emerging and new diseases and credit system to landless and marginal farmers for development of goat. In respect of goat production in Bihar, following issues may be considered:

Conservation of native breeds

• Bihar is inhabited by Bengal breed of goat, which needs to be conserved. Selection should be practiced for improvement. Inbreeding needs to be checked.
• Indiscriminate crossbreeding with other breeds should be resisted.
• However, nucleus stock of superior breed like Jamunapari, Barbari, Beetal should be maintained.
• State breeding policy on goat should be developed and breed improvement may be done following nucleus breeding policy in the villages.

Change of management practices

• Stall-feeding should be encouraged due to shrinkage of pastureland. Goats are often blamed of destroying natural resources which could be changed by adopting manage mental practices.
• Fodder trees should be planted around the house. Scientific lopping practices should be practiced.
• Household available feed resources should be utilized for goat production.

Health care

• Anti-parasitic drug before and after monsoon should be administered specially in flood-affected areas.
• Vaccination of emerging and new diseases like PPR and FMD should be given.
• Kid mortality (0-3m age) should be reduced.

Marketing

• Slaughtering of young animal (before the age of 10 months) should be stopped.
• Organized marketing facilities should be developed.

References

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying 2005 Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India.  http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/BAHS2006%20web%20web.pdf

FAO 2005 Livestock Sector Brief: India. Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome. http://www.fao.org/AG/AGAInfo/resources/en/publications/sector_briefs/lsb_IND.pdf

Government of Bihar 2005 Bihar through figures. www.bihar.nic.in

ICAR-RCER 2006 ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar, India.

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NSSO 1998 Ownership of livestock, cultivation of selected crops and consumption levels. Report No. 424 5^th quinquennial survey of consumer expenditure, NSS 50^th Round National Sample Survey Organization, Department of Statistics, GOI.

NSSO 2001 Consumption of some important commodities in India 1999 - 2000, Report No. 461, NSS 55^th Round, National Sample Survey Organization, Department of Statistics, GOI.

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Press Information Bureau 2005 www.pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0798/PIBF2907981.html

Saxena R, Pal S and Joshi P K 2001 Delineation and characterization of agro-ecoregions, NCAP, New Delhi

Singh S R and Mondal K G 2005 Animal Husbandry in Bihar (Perspective Proposition 2025), Bihar Veterinary College, Patna.

Working Group 2001 Report Of The Working Group On Agricultural Development In Eastern & North Eastern India For The Formulation Of The Tenth Five Year Plan (TYFP Working Group Sr. No. 40/2001), Planning Commission, Government Of India.

World Bank 2005 Bihar: Towards a Development Strategy, World Bank Report, June 2005 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTINDIA/Resources/Bihar_report_final_June2005.pdf

Received 23 March 2007; Accepted 9 July 2007; Published 4 September 2007

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