AGB 211: Livestock and Poultry Breeding (2+1)

MEHSANA

Distribution

Banaskantha, Mehsana, Gandhi Nagar and Ahmedabad districts of Gujarat. The total goat population in the Mehsana distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0.736 m, of which 0.030 m adult males and 0.530 m adult females.

Breed characteristics

	Adult males	Adult females
Body weight	37.14	32.39
Body length	71.2	68
Height at withers	80.4	74.3
Chest girth	76.9	73

Conformation

Large animals. The coat is black, with white spots at the base of the ear. Nose line is straight. The hair coat is long and shaggy. Ears are white, leaf-like and drooping; ear length: 15.8 cm. Both sexes have slightly twisted horns, curved upward and backward horn length: 11 cm .The udder is well developed; the teats are large and conical. The average flock contains 54.7 individuals (range: 20 to 300), of which 0.7 adult males, 39.4 adult females and 14.6 young.

Reproduction

Kidding percentage (%)	69.5
Litter size: (%)
Singles	89.7
Twins	10.3

Breeding

Pure breeding. Males are selected primarily on body size.

Performance

Milk
Lactation yield (Kg)/day	1.32
Lactation length (days)	197
Hair (g per year) 210