Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Black Bengal Kids (Capra hircus) Supplemented with Home Made Concentrate Mixture Reared Under Extensive System of Management

Forty Black Bengal kids (3–4 m, BW=5.76 kg) were selected from the villages of Pulintola and Sankartola of Diara land area of Malda district of West Bengal and divided into two groups of 20 animals each in a completely randomized design. Goats in control group (CON) were reared under extensive system of management with 8–10 h grazing/day only whereas those in treatment group (SUP) were supplemented with home-made concentrate mixture (50g/animal/day) in evening in addition to grazing for a period of 3 months (March-June). An increase in average daily gain (55.62 vs. 39.73 g) was observed in supplemented goats, which resulted in extra income of 339.80 per goat. Apart from increased body growth, hot carcass weight (4.81 vs. 3.96 kg), dressing percentage (43.51 vs. 41.62%) as well as body conditions improved in SUP kids. Supplementation of concentrate mixture (50 g/head/day) to Black Bengal kids maintained under farm conditions improved their growth rate and carcass traits while fetching more profit to the farmers.