Production Performance and Economic Viability of Beetal Goats in Himachal Pradesh

Goat is a multipurpose animal indispensable to small and marginal farmers across the world. In the present study the production performance and economic viability of Beetal goats was assessed in agroclimatic zone-I of Himachal Pradesh. A Beetal unit with five does and one buck was established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kangra. The goats were reared in a semi-intensive system that integrated natural grazing with supplementary concentrate feeding. The surplus male and female goats were supplied as breeding stock. Over a five-year period, key production and reproductive parameters were recorded. The age at first kidding averaged 15.4±0.6 months, with kid birth weights ranging from 1.92 to 3.50 kg. The unit achieved an average kidding rate of 1.34±0.04 live kids per kidding across 23 successful kidding. Mature does and bucks weighed an average of 31.5±0.9 kg and 47.2±1.2 kg, respectively. Economic returns from sale of surplus goat varied from Rs. 26,600 to Rs. 155,450, with a total of Rs. 270,850 accrued over five years. The findings underscore the potential for Beetal goats to contribute to the diversification and sustainability of livestock farming in the region, suggesting that targeted development initiatives toward stationary and semi-intensive goat rearing could provide an effective alternative to declining traditional dairy cattle enterprises.