Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur - 6.
The habitat and distribution of Berari goats were surveyed in the three districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Data on body weights (n= 900) were recorded in Berari Goats of varying age groups in both sexes from farmers’ herd. The study revealed that they are distributed in Nagpur, Wardha and Akola districts of Vidarbha region. These are tall animals. Berari goats from Wardha district weighed heavier than the goats from other two districts. The over all pooled body weights of male and female Berari goats at different age group were highly significant (P<0.01) and averaged to 17.94±0.29 (158♂) and 17.07±0.26 (191♀), 25.38±0.31 (146♂) and 23.72±0.31(141♀) and 32.95±0.41(107♂) and 28.58±0.34 (157♀) kg for 3–6, 6–12 months and 1 year and above age groups, respectively. The overall body weights of Berari goats (pooled for sexes and districts) were 17.50±0.20, 24.55±0.22, and 3.77±0.27 kg for 3–6, 6–12 months and 1 year and above age groups, respectively. The district wise variations in body weights were significant. Varying ago-climatic conditions, differential goat management practices, socio-cultural variations between the farmers of the district were some of the reasons contributing significant variation amongst the districts. Significant differences (P<0.05) with respect to sexes were observed in all the age groups. The mean body weights of goats at 1 year and above age groups from Nagpur, Wardha and Akola districts averaged 29.252±0.45, 32.912±0.46 and 30.162±0.47 kg, respectively.
Berari goats, Body weights, Farmers field, Genetic resources
