1Department of Livestock Production Management, N.T.R College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India
2Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, N.T.R College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: A Anitha; E-mail: dranithaalapati@gmail.com
Online Published on 17 July, 2023.
In a field study covering 240 farmers spread over 60 villages in 15 mandals, data were collected on socio-economic characteristics of goat rearing farmers. Majority of goat rearers belonged to backward castes (59.17%) followed by scheduled tribes (17.50%), other castes (12.50%) and scheduled castes (10.83%). Most of the goat keepers belonged to Hindu religion. Majority of respondents belonged to middle age (62.08%) followed by old age (20%) and young age (17.92%). Majority were illiterate (80.42%) and remaining were low literates (19.58%) with primary education. Majority of the goat rearers (51.25%) were landless people followed by marginal farmers (41.25%) possessing less than 2.5 acres of dry/rainfed land. Most of the goat rearers (61.25%) had large family size. Majority of goat rearers (53.75%) possessed medium flock size (21-40) followed by large flock i.e. 41-70 goats (31.25%) and small flock less than 20 goats (15%). The overall mean flock size was 37.16 ± 1.34 per farmer. It was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Narasaraopeta division (47.91 ± 2.62) than that in Guntur (34.73 ± 2.03) and Tenali (28.85 ± 1.70) divisions of Guntur district.
• Socio-economic profile of goat rearing farmers showed majority belonged to middle age, illiterate and landless with large family size.
• The flock size was higher in Narasaraopeta division of study area.
Socio-economic characteristics, Guntur district, Goats, Goat farmers
