Management Practices of Goats Followed by Ahirs in Heavy Rainfall Zone of Gujarat

An attempt was made to document goat management practices (n=300) followed by Ahir community in Valsad and Navsari districts of Gujarat. It was found that the majority of goat houses (88.00%) were located near or attached to the owners ’dwellings. They mostly used roofed semiopen goat sheds with (33.59%) or without (66.41%) separate enclosures. The grazing of goats was looked mutually whereas some were hiring the labourers in the absence of regular grazier. The wages of person hired for grazing were higher than agriculture labourers. Concentrate was fed regularly to kids and adults by 56.66% and 70.67% of respondents, respectively. Wheat and sorghum as concentrate and dry fodder as supplements were provided to goats by 62.00 and 26.67% of respondents, respectively. The majority of them (60%) were not supplementing concentrate to bucks during breeding season. Bucks were changed after one year of use by 67.33% respondents. Milking of goats was mostly looked by owner or his wife (73.33%). Deworming and vaccination practices were not adopted by 53.33% and 69.33% respondents, respectively. The study concluded that traditional practices of goat rearing were followed by Ahir community. They may be educated and trained in scientific rearing practices to improve overall productivity of goats.