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

BARBARI

Distribution

• District of Rajasthan, Etah, Agra and Aligarh districts of Uttar Pradesh, and Bharatpur. The total goat population in the Barbari distribution area, according to the 1972 census, was 0,444 m, of which 0,028 m adult males and 0,270 m adult females. Officials of the State Animal Husbandry Department state that Barbari goats true to breed number only about 30000. The breed, quite important for milk and meat, is a dwarf breed highly suited for rearing under restrained and stall-feeding conditions. In addition to being a good milkier, it is highly prolific. Considering the number of animals reported, there is serious need for undertaking conservation measures. It was observed in personal surveys that most males are castrated early in life and fattened for slaughter at religious festivals, and that a sizeable number of non-descript goats are kept for milk production by owners who maintain Barbaris, as all the milk of the latter is allowed to be suckled by their kids to ensure good growth.

Breed characteristics

	Adult males	Adult females
Body weight	37.85	22.56
Body length	70.45	58.68
Height at withers	70.67	56.18
Chest girth	75.53	64.31

Conformation

• Small animals, with compact body. The orbital bone is quite prominent, so that eyes appear bulging. There is wide variation in coat color, but white with small light brown patches, is the most typical. Ears are short, tubular, almost double) with the slit opening in front, erect, directed upward and outward. Both sexes have twisted horns, medium in length and directed upward and backward; horn length: 11.17 cm. Bucks have a large thick beard.

Reproduction

	Days
Age at first kidding	648
Kidding interval	348
Service period	70
Kidding percentage (%)	70.2
Litter size: (%)
Singles	49.64
Twins	49.32
Triplets	1.04
Quadruplets

Performance

Milk
	Lactation yield (Kg)	107.120
	Lactation length (days)	150.13
Meat (kg.)	At birth	1.739
	At weaning	6.661
	6 months	7.800
	9 months	12.566
	12 months	14.517