See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/259382996

Commercialization of Goat Farming and Marketing of Goats in India

Book · October 2007

CITATIONS READS

2 23,034

1 author:

Shalander Kumar
International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics
76 PUBLICATIONS   310 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

ICAR funded CIP-CPRI collaborative project "Developing farmer based potato system in non-traditional seed producing areas to benefit farmers of plateau reason of
India" View project

Integrated system research on rain-fed systems in India for enhancing socio-ecological resilience and agricultural livelihoods View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Shalander Kumar on 20 December 2013.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Commercialization of Goat Farming and
Marketing of Goats in India

Shalander Kumar
Principal Investigator

Final Project Report

ICAR Ad-hoc Research Scheme
(2004-2007)

CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON GOATS

Makhdoom, Farah 281122, Mathura

INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

New Delhi

2007
Dr. N.P. Singh
Director, CIRG, Makhdoom, Mathura

FOREWORD
The goats have become steadily important in the rural economy particularly in
the arid, semi-arid and mountainous regions of the country. At present the population of
goats in India is more than 124 million. It accounts for more than 25% of the total
livestock population in the country and contributes Rs. 1,06,335 million annually to the
national economy and provides food and nutrition security to the millions of marginal
and small farmers and agricultural labourers. However, the productivity of small
ruminants is low because they are maintained under extensive system on natural
vegetation on degraded common grazing lands and tree lopping. Therefore, rearing of
goats under intensive and semi-intensive system using improved technologies will be
crucial for realizing their full potential.
Responding to the market signals the goat production system has been slowly
moving from extensive to intensive system of management. However, in the absence of
any systematic study there have been questions from the entrepreneurs, progressive
farmers and even researchers on economic viability and sustainability of commercial
goat farming under intensive system. Moreover, the efficient marketing and
remunerative prices of output are the pre-requisite for the development of any
enterprise. The marketing of goats, which is totally unorganized, has been least studied.
Hence a research Project entitled “commercialization of goat farming and marketing of
goats in India” was undertaken in this institute with funding from the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi as an ICAR Ad-hoc research scheme. The Project has
generated comprehensive information on understanding the emerging commercial goat
production system, economic viability, prospects and constraints of commercial goat
farming in the country. This information would be useful in making appropriate
developmental strategy for commercialization of goat farming as well as prioritizing
research. The information generated on marketing of goats right from the villages to
terminal markets and exports and from butchers and slaughterhouses to meat consumers
would again be very useful in formulating policy interventions for improving the goat
marketing in the country. The information generated in the Project will thus be useful to
all those engaged in the development of goat sector in the country. The project has
directly contributed in strengthening the linkages among the commercial goat farmers.
The Principal Investigator has worked successfully for accomplishment of the objectives
of the Project and deserves praise and appreciation. I wish to congratulate the research
workers for their good work and successful completion of the Project.

August 2007
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was undertaken considering the growing importance of goat
enterprise in the livestock economy of the country. The study is the result of a research
project entitled “Commercial goat framing and marketing of goats in India”, which was
sanctioned as an ICAR Ad-hoc research scheme. I am grateful to the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi for sanctioning the research project and releasing the
grant in time to execute the project. The support and guidance from Dr. J.P. Mishra,
Assistant Director General (ESM), ICAR, New Delhi during the execution of this project
is thankfully acknowledged. I feel privileged to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. N.P.
Singh, Director, CIRG, Makhdoom for his support, encouragement, guidance and
blessings at every stage of the project. I extend my sincere thanks to Dr. R.K. Vaid, who
was co-worker in the initial phase of the project, for enthusiastically participating in the
project. The contributions of Mr. A.D. Upadhyay and Mr. Surendra Singh (Research
associates) are thankfully acknowledged. I extend my thanks to Dr. R.L. Sagar for
extending cooperation as Head of the Extension education and socio-economics (EESE)
section. My thanks are also due to all the staff of the EESE section for their cooperation.
Thanks are due to Mr. Jagdish Singh for typing assistance. I acknowledge with gratitude
the help and cooperation extended by Mr. V.K. Vidyarthi, Mr. Ashok Kale, Mr.
Nimbkar, Mr. Narayan Rao Deshpandey, Mr. Kishor Arya and all commercial as well as
traditional goat farmers and the market functionaries during this study.

August 2007 Dr. Shalander Kumar

Principal Investigator
 A BRIEF ABOUT THE PROJECT
Project detail
1. Name of the ICAR Ad-hoc Commercialization of Goat Farming and
research scheme Marketing of Goats in India.
2. Sanction No. 3039021113 dated: 22-9-2004
3. Date of start 1st October 2004
4. Date of termination 31st March 2007
5. A. Name of the Institute Central Institute for Research on Goats,
Makhdoom, Farah- 281122, Mathura, U. P.
B. Division/Dept./Station Extension Education and Socio-Economics Section
6. Total grant sanctioned Rs. 8.16915 Lakhs
7. Funding agency Indian Council of Agricultural Research (AP Cess)

Principal Investigator
Name Designation
1. DR. SHALANDER KUMAR Sr. Scientist (Agricultural Economics)

Co-Investigators
Name Designation Remark
1. DR. R.K.VAID Scientist, Vet. He was associated in the project only
Public Health for the first one year and then he got
transferred to NRCE.
2. DR. V. RAJKUMAR Scientist, LPT He was associated in the project only
for the first six months and then he
proceeded on study leave. He could
not take up any work in the project.

Highlights of the Project

The project has generated comprehensive information on understanding the emerging
commercial goat production system, economic viability, prospects and constraints of
commercial goat farming in the country. The information has also been generated on
marketing system of goat and its products, right from the villages to terminal markets
and exports and from butchers and slaughterhouses to meat consumers. The project has
made an important direct contribution in strengthening the linkages among the
commercial goat farmers in the country. Due to our efforts in this project, initial linkages
were created among the commercial goat farmers of different states that in turn resulted
in creation of large demand of good quality breeding goats of commercial farmers for
breeding purpose. Consequently the farmers who were earlier getting market rate of Rs.
55 to Rs. 65 per kg of live body weight for their goats started getting a price of Rs. 110
to Rs. 150 per kg of live body weight and started earning good profit. At the same time
the traders do not pay premium price even for the pure breed goats. The increased
prices of breeding goats due to strengthened linkages have not only created large
opportunities and interest for private investment in commercial goat farming projects but
have also encouraged the existing commercial goat farmers to produce good quality
pure breed animals (germ plasm) of different goat breeds, which would be critically
important for the development of goat enterprise in the country.
 CONTENT
Number Title Page No.
i. Foreword
ii. Acknowledgements
iii. A brief of the Project
iv. Acronyms
1. INTRODUCTION 1-2
2. METHODOLOGY 3-5
2.1 Traditional goat farmers: 3
2.2 Commercial goat farmers: 4
2.3 Market functionaries 5
2.4 Other information from the selected markets 5
2.5 Organization of workshop 5
3. COMMERCIAL GOAT FARMING 6-33
3.1 Growth and Distribution 6
3.2 Contribution at National Level 6
3.3 Preliminary Information on Commercial Goat Farms 7
3.3.1 Distribution goat breeds and flock size 9
3.3.2 Marketing of goats 9
3.3.3 Constraints and diseases 10
3.4 Commercial Goat Farming 11
3.4.1 Socio-economic status 11
3.4.2 Flock size, breed and investment pattern 14
3.4.3 Feed and fodder 17
3.4.4 Miscellaneous expenditure 19
3.4.5 Production of kids 19
3.4.6 Level of awareness and adoption of improved technologies by commercial goat 20
farmers
3.4.7 Mortality and morbidity losses due to diseases 24
3.4.8 Economics of commercial goat farming 25
3.4.8.1 Returns 28
3.4.8.2 Income from other sources 30
3.4.9 Constraints in commercial goat farming 30
4. MARKETING OF GOATS AND THEIR PRODUCTS 34-79
4.1 Scenario 34
4.1.1 Psychology of the farmer 34
4.1.2 Marketing channels 35
4.1.3 Middlemen 36
4.2 MARKETING OF GOATS IN UTTAR PRADESH 37
4.2.1 Socio-economic profile of traditional goat farmers 37
4.2.2 Composition of sale of live goats 38
4.2.3 Marketing channels 39
4.24 Reasons and purpose of sale of live goats 42
4.2.5 System of price fixation in village 42
4.2.6 Village to nearby weekly market 43
4.2.7 Goat Milk 44
4.2.8 Live goat markets and market functionaries in Uttar Pradesh 45
4.29 Market functionaries 48
4.2.10 Purchase and sale of goats by traders 49
4.2.11 Marketing cost incurred by petty traders 50
4.2.12 Trade of males for Eid festival 50
4.2.13 Pricing of live-goats in the livestock market 50
4.2.14 Seasonal variation in price of goats 52
4.2.15 Traders’ perception on market conditions 52
4.2.16 Farmer’s behavior in weekly markets 53
4.2.17 Constraints faced by farmers in goat market 53
4.3 MARKETING OF GOATS IN RAJASTHAN 54
4.3.1 Socio-economic profile of traditional goat keepers 54
4.3.2 Composition of sale of live goats 55
4.3.3 Marketing Channels 57
4.3.4 Reasons and purpose of sale of live goats 59
4.3.5 System of Price fixation in village 60
4.3.6 Village to nearby weekly market 61
4.3.7 Goat Milk 62
4.3.8 Live goat markets and market functionaries in Rajasthan 63
3.4.9 Market functionaries 65
3.4.10 Purchase and sale of goats by traders 66
3.4.11 Marketing cost incurred by petty traders 67
3.4.12 Trading of males for Eid festival 67
3.4.13 Pricing of live goats in the livestock market 68
3.4.14 Constraints faced by farmers in the goat market 69
4.4 MARKETING OF GOATS BY COMMERCIAL FARMERS 69
4.4.1 Type of sales 70
4.4.2 Marketing Channels 71
4.4.3 Advertisement, publicity and marketing strategy 72
4.4.4 Reasons and purpose of sale 72
4.4.5 System of sale 73
4.4.5 Weekly markets to city slaughterhouses 73
4.6 MARKETING OF GOATS IN TERMINAL MARKET 74
4.6.1 A case of trading of live goats in Deonar livestock market, Mumbai 74
4.6.1.1 Market charges 74
4.6.1.2 Pricing of animals 74
4.6.1.2 Constraints and malpractices 75
4.7 Inter state movement of animals 75
4.7.1 Trade in Small Kids 75
4.7.2 Trading of breeding goats 76
4.8 Trading of goat and its meat by the butchers 77
4.8.1 Trading of goat skins 79
4.8.2 Market for intestine 79
5. EXPORT OF GOATS AND ITS PRODUCTS 80-85
5.1 Export of goat and sheep meat 80
5.2 Demand scenario 81
5.3 Export of live goats and sheep 82
5.3.1 Type of animals demanded by importers 82
5.3.2 System of export of live goat and sheep 82
5.4 Competitors in the international market 83
5.5 Constraints and issues in export of live goats and sheep and their meat 83
5.6 Suggestions for improvement in export performance of live goat and sheep and 85
their meat
6. EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES FOR STRENGTHENING LINKAGES AMONG THE 86-95
6.1 Impact of strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers 95
7. CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS 96-105
References 105
Annexure 106-107
 LIST OF TABLES
Number Title Page No.
2.1 Selected districts, blocks, villages and number of Goat keepers 3
2.2 Commercial goat farms covered under the study 4
Commercial goat farming
3.1 Population growth rate of major livestock species in India 6
3.2 Contribution of small ruminants to the Indian Economy 7
3.3 Distribution of goat farms in to flock size categories 11
3.4 Experience in commercial goat farming 12
3.5 Size of operational land holding 12
3.6 Farmers’ access to training on goat farming 12
3.7 Size and composition of the goat flock 14
3.8 Composition of goats on commercial farms 15
3.9 Farmers’ perception on size of flock 15
3.10 Level and pattern of capital Investment 16
3.11 Type of labour engaged on goat farms 16
3.12 Source of Concentrate Feed 17
3.13 Source of Fodder 17
3.14 Feeding of concentrate mixture 17
3.15 Concentrate available in different categories 17
3.16 Storage of feed and fodder on goat farms 18
3.17 Feed cost on commercial goat farms 18
3.18 Miscellaneous expenditure on commercial goat farms 19
3.19 Number of kid born per farm 20
3.20 Details of kids born and reared 20
3.21 Body weight of goat at different age as recorded by farmers 20
3.22 Adoption of technology of direction of goat shed 20
3.23 Availability of floor space per goat 21
3.24 Type of material used in the goat shed 21
3.25 Adoption of housing management practices 21
3.26 Use of recommended feeding and watering devices 21
3.27 Source of breeding stock 22
3.28 Awareness and use of mineral mixture 22
3.29 Awareness level of farmers about annual preventive goat health schedule 22
3.30 Farmers’ adoption level of annual preventive goat health schedule 22
3.31 Age of breeding buck on goat farms 22
3.32 Details of breeding of goats 22
3.33 Breeding performance of goats 23
3.34 Level of adoption of different management practices 23
3.35 Status of use of farm records on commercial farms 23
3.36 Status and losses due to disease/ ailments in goat Per farm 24
3.37 Category wise status and losses due to disease in goat Per farm 25
3.38 Mortality and production losses due to diseases 25
3.39 Cost and returns from goat farming on different categories of commercial farms 26
3.40 Cost of goat rearing 27
3.41 Returns from goat farming 29
3.42 Annual net returns per goat and related indicators 29
3.43 Income from other sources 30
3.44 Major constraints faced by commercial goat farmers 31
3.45 Constraints related to feed 32
3.46 Constraints related to fodder 32
3.47 Constraints related to veterinary service 32
3.48 Constraints related to breeding stock 33
3.49 Constraints related to marketing 33
3.50 Constraints related to credit 33
3.51 Credit facilities availed from institutional sources 33
Marketing of goats in Uttar Pradesh
4.1 Composition and flock size of goats 37
4.2 Farmers’ educational status 38
4.3 Size of operational land holding 38
4.4 Composition of sale of goats 38
4.5 Reasons for sale of early-age kids 39
4.6 Market Channels adopted by the farmers for sale of goats in different categories 40
4.7 Reasons for selling of goat in the village itself 41
4.8 Farmers’ perception on low price of their goats 41
4.9 Reasons for sale of goats 42
4.10 Purpose of sale of adult animals 42
4.11 Method of price fixation 43
4.12 Criteria of price fixation 43
4.13 Age-group wise price of goats in Uttar Pradesh 43
4.14 Transportation of goats by farmer for marketing 44
4.15 Detail of transporting goats to market 44
4.16 Farmers’ perception on existing goat marketing system 44
4.17 Demand and destination for farmers’ goat milk 45
4.18 Goat milk production in farmers’ flock 45
4.19 Access to Veterinarian’s Services 45
4.20 Credit availed by farmers for goat rearing 45
4.21 Profile of livestock markets of Uttar Pradesh 46
4.22 Number of arrival of goats per market day 46
4.23 Volume of trade of goats 46
4.24 Infrastructure in livestock markets 47
4.25 Transportation facilities 47
4.26 Annual income of the markets 47
4.27 Support system available at the market 47
4.28 Market functionaries and their participation 48
4.29 Experience of marketing functionary 48
4.30 Distribution of marketing functionaries in social groups 48
4.31 Educational status of marketing functionary 48
4.32 Reasons for selecting a market by farmer seller 49
4.33 Purchase of goats 49
4.34 Sale of goats by traders 49
4.35 Marketing margin of middlemen 49
4.36 Destination of sale of live goats by traders 50
4.37 Purchase and sale of males for festivals 50
4.38 Unit of sale of goats 51
4.39 Method of price fixation of live goats 51
4.40 Basis of price fixation 51
4.41 Season wise average price of farmers’ goats 52
4.42 Price of male /female goat during last year 52
4.43 Change in goat trade during last five years 53
4.44 Farmers’ behaviour while selling goats in weekly market 53
4.45 Constraints faced by farmers in goat markets 54
Marketing of goats in Rajasthan
4.46 Composition and flock size of goats 54
4.47 Farmers’ educational status 55
4.48 Size of operational land holdings 55
4.49 Distribution of goat keepers as per land ownership 55
4.50 Composition of sale of goats 56
4.51 Reasons for sale of early-age kids 56
4.52 Market Channels adopted by the farmers for sale of goats in different categories 57
4.53 Reasons for selling of goat in the village itself 59
4.54 Farmers’ perception on low price of their goats 59
4.55 Reasons for sale of goats 59
4.56 Purpose of sale of adult animals 60
4.57 Unit of sale and purchase of goats 60
4.58 Criteria of price fixation 60
4.59 Age-group wise price of goats in Rajasthan 61
4.60 Farmers’ preferred season of sale of goats 61
4.61 Farmers’ perception on existing price level of goats 61
4.62 Access to Veterinarian’s Service 62
4.63 Demand and destination for farmers’ goat milk 62
4.64 Goat milk production in farmers flock 62
4.65 Profile of livestock markets Rajasthan 63
4.66 Number of arrival of goats per market day 63
4.67 Marketing infrastructure 63
4.68 Volume of trade of goats 64
4.69 Transportation facilities 64
4.70 Annual income of the markets 65
4.71 Support system available at the market 65
4.72 Market functionaries and their participation 65
4.73 Experience of marketing functionary 65
4.74 Distribution of marketing functionaries in social groups 66
4.75 Educational status of marketing functionary 66
4.76 Purchase of goats 66
4.77 Sale of goats 67
4.78 Marketing margin of the middlemen 67
4.79 Destination of sale of live goats by traders 67
4.80 Purchase and sale of males for festivals 68
4.81 Unit of sale and purchase of goats 68
4.82 Method of price fixation 68
4.83 Basis of price fixation (percent traders) 68
4.84 Constraints faced by farmers in goat markets 69
Marketing of goats by commercial farmers
4.85 Type of goat and its product sold by commercial farmers 70
4.86 Traits of goat having bearing on its price 70
4.87 Place of sale of live goats 71
4.88 Marketing channels adopted in sale of live goat 71
4.89 Agencies of sale of live goats 71
4.90 Reasons for sale of goats at farm 71
4.91 Advertisement and publicity methods adopted by the commercial farmers 72
4.92 Reason for sale of goats 72
4.93 Purpose of sale of goats 72
4.94 Method of sale/purchase 73
4.95 Price and composition of purchase of goats by butchers 78
4.96 Butchers/ meat-seller’s cost and returns from a goat of 30 kg body weight 78
5.1 Export of goat and sheep meat from India 81
5.2 Preferences of exporters of live goats 82
5.3 Export of live goat and sheep from India 83
6.1 Commercial goat farms in India 86
6.2 Linkages of farmers with other goat farmers 93
 LIST OF FIGURES
Number Title Page No.
Figure 3.1: Educational status of commercial goat farmers 8
Figure 3.2: Distribution of commercial goat farms according to size 8
Figure 3.3: Distribution of goat population across the goat keepers 9
Figure 3.4: Major constraints faced by commercial goat farmers 9
Figure 3.5: Health related problems in Commercial goat rearing 10
Figure 3.6: Level of prophylaxis on commercial goat farms 10
Figure 3.7: Main occupations of commercial goat farmers 13
Figure 3.8: System of management of commercial goat farms 13
Figure 3.9: Distribution of entrepreneurs in social groups 13
Figure 3.10: Educational status of commercial goat farmers 14
Figure 3.11: Distribution of goat breeds on commercial farms in different states 15
Figure 3.12: Composition of different cost on goat farms 26
Figure 3.13: Annual cost of rearing a goat on commercial farms 26
Figure 3.14: Source of annual returns on commercial goat farms 27
Figure 3.15: Annual net returns per goat on commercial farms 27
Figure 3.16: Annual net returns per doe and related indicators 30
Figure 4.1: Marketing channels of goats 36
Figure 4.2: Share of different age groups in total sale of goats in Uttar Pradesh 39
Figure 4.3: Channels of goat marketing adopted by traditional farmers in Uttar 41
Pradesh
Figure 4.4: Percentage of goats sold through different marketing channels in Uttar 41
Pradesh
Figure 4.5: Methods of price fixation of live goats in the market 51
Figure 4.6: Share of different age groups in total sale of goats in Rajasthan 56
Figure 4.7: Channels of goat marketing adopted by traditional farmers in Rajasthan 58
Figure 4.8: Percentage of goats sold through different marketing channels in 58
Rajasthan
Figure 6.1: State-wise distribution of identified commercial goat farms 86

ACRONYMS
AI Artificial insemination
APEDA Agricultural and processed food products export development authority
CIRG Central Institute for Research on Goats
ET Enterotoxaemia
FMD Foot and mouth disease
HS Hemorrhagic septicemia
ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural research
NGO Non Governmental Organization
PPR Peste des Petits ruminants (a viral goat disease)
SWSAZSouthwestern semiarid zone (of Uttar Pradesh)
ESAZ Eastern semiarid zone (of Rajasthan)
Doe Female breeding goat
1. INTRODUCTION

Goats play an important role in the rural economy at national level. More than
70 percent of the landless agricultural labourers and marginal and small farmers of the
rural India rear them. The socio-economic value of goat rearing as compared to other
livestock species has been immense, for the poor farmers. The low input, high
fecundity, easy marketing and unprejudiced social acceptance of their products are few
of many advantages of this enterprise that provides assured higher income. Goats are
also among the main meat-producing animals in India, whose meat (chevon) is readily
preferred irrespective of caste, creed and religion. They produce a variety of products,
mainly meat, milk, skin, fiber and manure. The goats are particularly useful in the
semiarid, arid and mountainous regions, where they can sustain on sparse vegetation
and extreme climatic conditions. Further, wherever irrigation facilities are poor, one can
generally find large areas of waste and other common property land; on which the small
ruminants of rural resource-poor households can survive. A major part of their fodder
requirement is met through such waste and other common property lands. It has been
argued that these rural households have often developed highly efficient agricultural and
livelihood systems that make the most rational and conservative use of the scarce
resources available to them (Barbier, 1989). The rural poor who cannot afford to
maintain a cow or a buffalo find goat/ sheep as the best alternative source of
supplementary income and milk. This is one reason why poor rural households maintain
a few number of goats. Unlike a cow or buffalo, a few goats can be maintained easily
and can be easily sold in the years of drought. Therefore this sector assumes critical
importance in rain fed areas, high altitudes as well as in wasteland and fragile zones
having low agricultural productivity. However the productivity of goats under the
prevailing extensive production system is very low. It is mainly because the animals are
reared on natural vegetation on degraded common grazing lands, wastelands, stubbles
and tree lopping. Even these degraded grazing resources are shrinking continuously.
Moreover the adoption of improved production technologies/ management practices in
the farmers’ flock is very low. Therefore, rearing of goats under intensive and semi-
intensive system using improved production and processing technologies for
commercial production will be needed for realizing their full potential. Responding to
market signals the goat production system is slowly but surely moving from extensive to
semi-intensive and intensive system of management. However, in the absence of any
systematic study, there have been questions from the entrepreneurs, progressive farmers
and even researchers on economic viability and sustainability of commercial goat
farming under intensive system.
Marketing plays an important role in the development of any sector including
goats. An efficient marketing system can ensure a reasonable price to producer and
minimize unnecessary costs and margins and benefits all sections of the society. A study
of marketing system is necessary to understand the complexities involved and
identification of bottlenecks with a view to provide efficient services in the transfer of
goods from producers to consumers. However marketing of goats and their products is
one of the most neglected areas in India. As a result it suffers from many drawbacks such
as multiplicity of middlemen adding very little utility and their very high margins,
avoidable marketing costs, unnecessary transportation and mortality of animals during
transit and hindrance in exports on account of poor quality and lack of information.
 Understanding of the marketing system adopted by the emerging commercial
goat farmers is also important. To maintain the tempo and pace of increased goat
production through technological interventions, an assurance of remunerative prices to
the goat farmers is a pre-requisite. This assurance can be given by developing an
efficient marketing system. Availability of marketing services to the producers further
affects the transactions cost. Therefore understanding the process of commercialization
of goat production, which is currently on, would play a crucial role in attracting the
entrepreneurs for the development of goat enterprise in the country. It has been
observed that some entrepreneurs have been successful in commercial goat farming
while some other fails. Success in commercial goat farming by some entrepreneurs
could be due to their better marketing strategies and better management of their flock
using scientific knowledge. Study of constraints in marketing and commercialization of
goat production and success stories there in, would provide very useful information for
guiding the development of this sector. Socio-economic aspects in general and
marketing of goats in particular are one of the least studied areas. Further no information
was available on socio-economic aspects of commercial goat farming under semi
intensive and intensive system of production in the country. This study was planned to
address some of the issues related to marketing of goat and its products from farmers’
level to terminal markets and commercialization of goat farming in the country and to
evolve a suitable policy framework for this otherwise neglected sector of the livestock
economy. The present study initiated in response to these concerns. The focus of the
study was on: (i) The status, economics and prospects of commercialization of goat
production and constraints therein. (ii) Understanding the complete marketing system of
goats and their products including marketing services and exports and its constraints. (iii)
The possibilities for evolving linkages among the commercial goat farmers and other
stakeholders and to suggest suitable development strategy for commercialization and
marketing of goats.
The outline of this report is as follow: Chapter 1 gives the background and need
of the study on commercial goat farming and marketing of goats in the country. Chapter
2 describes the design and sampling of the surveys undertaken for this study. Chapter 3
presents the status of commercial goat farming in the country. Prevailing production
systems, economic viability and constraints of commercial goat production have been
analyzed in this chapter. Chapter 4 presents analyses of marketing system of goats and
their products. Goat marketing from villages to terminal markets; from butchers and
slaughterhouses to meat consumers; by traditional as well as commercial goat farmers
and its constraints are part of this chapter. Chapter 5 presents the analysis of prospects of
exports of goat and its products. Chapter 6 documents the efforts made for strengthening
the linkages among commercial goat farmers and other stakeholders and its impact on
commercialization of goat production. Finally conclusions and policy implications are
discussed in chapter 7. Some tables of data related to commercial goat farming and
marketing of goats is available in the annexure to this report.
2. METHODOLOGY

The study in its sample has covered traditional goat farmers, commercial goat
farmers, butchers, traders, processors, and marketers (exporters) for primary survey.
Moreover, the data pertaining to various aspects of goat marketing was also collected
from secondary sources like website of Food and Agriculture organization (FAO),
statistics on foreign trade, APEDA etc.
2.1 Traditional goat farmers:
To understand the marketing of goats at village level, the traditional goat farmers
were covered under the study. More than two third area of the country comes under
semiarid regions. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh being the first and third largest goat
keeping states were selected for the village level study. Southwestern semiarid zone of
Uttar Pradesh and Eastern semiarid zone of Rajasthan were selected randomly from the
two states. Two districts from the each selected zone and two development blocks from
each selected district were selected at random. Further one cluster of three villages from
each selected block was selected randomly. A random sample of 30 goat-keeping
households from each cluster was taken up on the basis of flock size. Thus a total of 240
goat keeping households selecting 120 households each from Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh were covered in the study. Information from the traditional goat farmers were
collected on the following aspects:
• Socio - economic information of the goat keepers.
• Objectives and purpose of marketing, agencies of destinations.
• Marketing behavior and pattern
• Marketing opportunities and status of marketing services
• Marketing costs and prices of live animals their products and by products
• Constraints, incentives and support and options for improvements
The details of selected districts, villages and number of goat farmers covered
under survey in the selected zones have been given in Table- 2.1. Survey of the
traditional goat keepers of Eastern Semiarid Zone (ESZ) of Rajasthan was completed this
year. Using stratified random sampling, two districts viz Ajmer and Jaipur districts in
eastern semiarid zone of Rajasthan, were selected. Further, two tehsils based on goat
population from each district were selected and then a cluster of villages with relatively
large population of goat was identified and selected from each selected tehsil with the
help of local officials. A sample of 30 goat-keeping households was taken from each
selected cluster of villages. Thus a total of 240 traditional goat keepers from 33 villages
from both the states, were covered for data collection. The data were collected using
personal interview method.
Table 2.1: Selected districts, blocks, villages and number of Goat keepers
No. of
Zone District Blocks/Tehsil No. of respondents
Villages
Mathura Baldev 4 30
South Western Semiarid Sahpau 4 30
Zone of UP Agra Etmadpur 4 30
Fatehpur Sikari 5 30
Jaipur Choumu 3 30
Eastern Semiarid Zone of Sanbhar 4 30
Rajasthan Ajmer Puskar 4 30
Pisagarh 5 30
Total 33 240
2.2 Commercial goat farmers:
In the last couple of years, a number of Commercial goat farms have come up in
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and
Bihar. Some of these commercial farms seemed to have adopted certain innovative
ways of marketing and created niche markets for themselves. Some others are still
searching better market for their goats. However the system of marketing adopted by
these goat farmers was studied.
Initially the efforts were made to identify commercial goat farms operating in
above-mentioned states and rapport was developed with these farms. Information on
extent and process of commercialization, marketing and constraints thereof were
solicited from all the identified farms through questionnaire. The questionnaire
responses were collected from 61 commercial goat farmers. Based on the preliminary
analysis of data of these 61 farms an initial view on commercial goat farming in the
country was formed. Finally a total of 18 Commercial goat farms from different states
were selected randomly for in-depth study (Table 2.2). The information from the
commercial goat farmers were collected on the following aspects:
• Socio - economic information
• Source of information for commercial goat farming
• Incentives in commercial goat farming, level of technology adoption
• Type of business - production / trader
• Supports, constraints and opportunities in the process of commercialization
• Marketing behavior and pattern and marketing strategy
• Source of market information and type of competition
• Price structure of live goats, products and by products in different seasons,
marketing costs and value addition
• Type of market demand for goats & its products
• Status of marketing services
• Type of support needed for commercialization of goat farming
• Constraints and opportunities in marketing of goats and their products
Table 2.2: Commercial goat farms covered under the study
Sl. Name of farmer State No. of Production
No. does system
1 Kundan Singh Goat Farm Rajasthan 21 Semi-intensive
2 Vikash goat farm Uttar Pradesh 40 Semi-intensive
3 Neeraj Katiyar goat farm Uttar Pradesh 25 Semi-intensive
4 Adarsh Sheli Palan Prakalp Maharashtra 17 Intensive
5 Pragati Agro Enterprizes Maharashtra 85 Semi-intensive
6 Boar Goat Farm Maharashtra 160 Intensive
7 Jagdhani Goat farm Maharashtra 50 Intensive
8 Dhan Raj Shiva Ji Rao Jakhtan, Dhakele, Baramati Maharashtra 78 Intensive
9 Van Sheti & Stall fed Goat farming Maharashtra 46 Intensive
10 Mani Agro Goat Farm Maharashtra 520 Intensive
11 Osmanabadi Goat Farm Maharashtra 60 Semi-intensive
12 National Agro and Livestock Farm M. P. 36 Semi-intensive
13 Ekta Agronomic and Livstock M. P. 32 Intensive
14 Bhende Goat Farm Maharashtra 205 Semi-intensive
15 Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra, Kedgaon Ahmed Nagar Maharashtra 275 Intensive
16 Madhu Farm, Jaipur Rajasthan 700 Intensive
17 N. K. Dubey farm Uttar Pradesh 20 Semi-intensive
18 CARE Livestock breeding farm M.P. 43 Semi-intensive
2.3 Market functionaries
2.3.1 Butchers
To collect data on marketing cost, margins and price spread 10 butchers were
selected at random from block level and district level markets.

2.3.2 Traders / Commission agents/ Market functionaries

For in depth study of marketing system, a total of 35 traders involved in goat
marketing through different channels in the markets of different sizes and 2 traders
involved in goatskin trading were selected randomly. The traders were selected from the
following markets:
¾ Edgah (Agra), Etah, Jaswant nagar, Behnai, Mathura, Choura (Kalpi) in Uttar
Pradesh
¾ Ajmer, Jaipur and Balaheri in Rajasthan
¾ Terminal market: Delhi Bakra mandi was visited to collect data on goat
trading. In formation were also collected from another terminal market of
Deonar livestock market, Mumbai.
2.3.3 Processors and marketers (Exporters)
To study the institutional arrangements and marketing constraints further, the
one goat meat processor and 2 meat exporters and 2 live goats’ exporters were
contacted and interviewed.

2.4 Other information from the selected markets

• Buyers, sellers, commission agents etc.
• Animal characteristics, prices, method of sale, purpose of buying and selling.
• Information from slaughterhouses and industries based on goats.
• Marketing infrastructure
• Regulatory requirements for selling goat products in domestic and
international market.

2.5 Organization of workshop

The possibilities were explored for evolving linkages among the various
stakeholders involved in the development of goat enterprise including traditional
farmers, commercial goat farmers, processors, marketers and researchers. In that order
the commercial goat farmers spread over different parts of the country were identified
and contacted. A National Workshop was also organized to deliberate and plan on the
issue of integration and linkages in marketing and commercialization of goat
production.
3. COMMERCIAL GOAT FARMING

The rural poor who cannot afford to maintain a cow or a buffalo find goat as the
best alternative source of supplementary income and milk. This is one reason why poor
rural households maintain a few number of goats. Unlike a cow or buffalo, a few goats
can be maintained easily and can be easily sold in the years of drought. Therefore this
sector assumes critical importance in rain-fed areas, high altitudes as well as in
wasteland and fragile zones having low agricultural productivity. However the
productivity of goats under the prevailing extensive production system is very low. It is
mainly because the animals are reared on natural vegetation on degraded common
grazing lands, wastelands, stubbles and tree lopping. Even these degraded grazing
resources are shrinking continuously. Moreover the improved production technologies/
management practices in the farmers’ flock are very low. Therefore, rearing of goats
under intensive and semi-intensive system using improved production and processing
technologies for commercial production has become imperative for realizing their full
potential.

3.1 Growths and Distribution

The goats during the last few decades have become steadily important in the
rural economy, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions. In 1951, the total number
of livestock in the country was 292.80 million. The goats constituted 16.12% of the total
livestock population. By 2003, there had been a big change. The total livestock
population had increased to 485 million. The number of goats, interestingly, had
increased to 124.36 million, forming 25.66 per cent of the total livestock population
(Table 3.1).

Table 3.1: Population growth rate of major livestock species in India

Species Population (million) Annual compound growth rate (%)
1951 2003 1972-82 1982-92 1992-2003 1971-03
Cattle 155.3 185.18 0.76 0.61 - 0.99 0.13
(53.04) (38.18)
Buffalo 43.40 96.62 1.96 1.89 1.38 1.73
(14.82) (19.92)
Sheep 39.10 61.47 2.01 0.40 1.93 1.43
(13.35) (12.67)
Goat 47.20 124.36 3.50 1.93 0.78 2.04
(16.12) (25.66)
Livestock 292.80 485.00 1.73 1.44 0.31 1.05
Source: Livestock Census, Govt. of India
Note: The figures in parentheses indicate percent to total livestock population

The number of goats has increased at the fastest rate among the major livestock
species. The increase in goat population from 47.2 million in 1951-52 to 124.36 million
in 2003 gave a mean rate of increment of 1.51 million per annum and annual
compound growth rate of 1.92 percent. Combining the annual growth rate with mean
slaughter rate of around 40 percent and mortality rate of about 15 percent, goats have
shown the potential of population growth of about 57 percent per year. This is the single
most important factor that makes goat as most desired species of animal for meat
production in the country.

3.2 Contribution at National Level

 The goats contribute significantly to the Indian economy by providing
sustenance to rural resource poor especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. The
contribution of goats to the national economy has been estimated and presented in
Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Contribution of goats to the Indian Economy 2005-06
Items Quantity (000’ tones) Value (Crore Rs.)
Meat1 521.00 5210.00
Milk2 3790.00 3032.00
Pashmina3 0.041 6.15
Offals4 379.23 738.75
Manure5 17211.00 1032.66
Blood6 54.18 24.63
Skin7 129.60 518.40
Increment in stock8 0.83 70.90
Total 10633.49
Note: The estimates are based on National Accounts Statistics (CSO), 2006.
1 Estimated @ Rs. 100 / kg.
2 Estimated @ Rs. 8 / kg.
3 Estimated @ Rs. 2000 / kg.
4 Since figures are not available, it is estimated as 35 % of live weight and valued @ Rs. 150 / animal slaughtered.
5 Since the information on manure produced is not available, the average yield of manure has been estimated @ 500
g/adult and 200 g/young/day and valued @ Rs.600/tonne. Ratio for adult and kids is 60:40.
6 Estimated @ 5 % of live weight and valued @ Rs. 5/goat slaughtered.
7 Estimated @ Rs. 40/kg.
8 The incremental stock has been valued considering the period of last one decade. It is assumed that 50 % kids are
born in February-March-April and 50 % in September – October. In the incremental stock the 50% kids has been
valued at 8-9 months age @ Rs.1200/ animal and another 50% kids of 3-4 months age @ Rs. 500/ animal.

The goats and their products contribute Rs 10633.49 Crore annually to the national
economy accounting for around 8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from
livestock sector, which contribute more than 30 percent of GDP from agricultural sector.

3.3 Preliminary Information on Commercial Goat Farms

The goat rearing using improved management practices undertaken for
maximization of returns from the enterprise was considered as ‘commercial goat
farming’ in the present context. Based on the data collected through questionnaire from
61 commercial goat farms from 11 states of the country, the information on status and
constraints in commercial goat farming were analyzed. These goat farms were operating
for last 5-10 years and few of them for more than 20 years.
It was found that about 68 percent commercial goat farmers are of age groups
between 25-40 years. The educational status of the commercial goat farmers is analyzed
and found that majority of commercial goat keepers were educated (Figure 3.1). Less
than 10% of total goat keepers were illiterate or educated up to primary. However the
commercial goat keepers passed graduate was 36% and passed High school,
intermediate, and postgraduate were 17, 22 and 17 percent, respectively. This indicates
that commercial goat rearing is now becoming popular among the educated section of
the society. It was also observed that caste is also not a barrier in commercial farming of
the goat. Majority of the goat farmers involved in rearing of goats sold their farm
produce at their farm itself. Twelve percent of the commercial goat farmers were also
involved in the marketing/trading of goats.
 Illiterate
40

30

Postgraduate 20 Primary

10

Graduate High school

Intermediate

Figure 3.1: Educational status of commercial goat farmers

The commercial farms were categorizes based on their flock-size into <50, 51-
100, 101-200, 201-500 and >500 goats. The flock size varied from less than 50 goats
to more than 500 goats. The maximum farms (44%) were having less than 50 goats and
46% commercial farmers had flock size between 51 to 200 goats. Only 10%
commercial farmers were having flock size of above 200 goats. One successful farm of
more than 1000 goats in Kolhapur is also operating. It was observed that newly
established goat farms keep smaller flock size mainly due to higher risk of mortality in
the initial years, low risk bearing ability and resource constraints. The distribution of
goat population across the commercial farms was also analyzed and presented in
Figures 3.2 and 3.3. It can be seen from the figure that 90 % farms were possessing less
than 50 % of total goat population. The skewed distribution of goat resources among the
commercial goat farmers was mainly due to fact that a few successful commercial
farmers had quite large flock size (>500 goats).
50
45
40
35
% farmers

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
<50 50-100 101-200 201-500 >500
Flock size

Figure 3.2: Distribution of commercial goat farms according to size

3.3.1 Distribution goat breeds and flock size
The Barbari, Jamunapari and Sirohi are the important breeds reared in UP, MP,
Rajasthan Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattishgarh. Black Bengal is common in West Bengal,
Jharkhand and Chattishgarh and Osmanabadi is exclusively reared in Maharashtra state.
However it was observed that non-descript breeds were also reared by most of the
commercial farmers. Reasons behind it might be the better survivability of local goats
and non-availability of pure breeding stock. Few farms in Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh also had Boer cross, but the performance of Boer-cross goats did not appear to
be better than the local breeds.
3.3.2 Marketing of goats
Most of the commercial goat keepers reported that they had been selling their
goats and their produce on farm it self to the local traders (including butchers from local
areas and agent of the slaughterhouses). It was found that the goat keepers received
average price of Rs. 1462/goat when the price was fixed per goat basis whereas they
received lower price of Rs 1143/goat when prices was fixed on flock basis. The sale of
goats was mostly done on per animal basis through out the country and farmers did not
get the right price. Pricing the animal on per kg live weight basis must be the criteria for
selling the animals.
100 98 100
90
80
72 73
% farmer/goat
60
49
45
40
30
20
13

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6
% Farmer/goat
Lineof equality Percent farmers Percent goat population

Figure 3.3: Distribution of goat population across the goat keepers

Goatshed

Credit

Purebreeds
Constraints

Feed and Fodder scarcity

Lack of scientific knowhow

Lower price

Diseases

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
% Farmer facing constraints

Figure 3.4: Major constraints faced by commercial goat farmers

3.3.3 Constraints and diseases
The farmers did mention major constraints in marketing and commercialization
of goat production. For majority of the goat farmers (56 %) losses due to
diseases/parasites was the most limiting factor. The other major constraints were the
non-availability of critical inputs like, vaccines and cost effective complete feeds, and
un-remunerative prices for goat and its products, seasonal scarcity of feed resources,
lack of practical knowledge of scientific goat rearing, non-availability of breeding
animals and institutional credit (Figure 3.4). The pattern of occurrence of different
diseases/ailments shows that the highest numbers of farms (35%) were affected by
Pneumonia, followed by non-specific diarrhea, FMD, abortion, HS, PPR, afara, liver
fluke, pox anthrax and irritation (Figure 3.5). Mortality rate on commercial farms was
registered about 23 percent per annum. Higher mortality rate in kids might be due to
poor health related infrastructure, lack of awareness of diseases and parasites and poor
management of the goat farm. Some farmers were using prophylaxis against diseases
like FMD, ET, HS and PPR, and parasites. All the farmers did not adopt the preventive
schedule in totality. The farmers in Maharashtra had better awareness and followed the
prophylaxis. However certain vaccines like PPR were not available in the market.
 40
35

% of Farms affected
30

25
20

15
10

5
0

Pne umonia

D iarrhea

Afara
Abor tion

Ir ritation
PPR
HS
FMD

Liver fluke

G oat pox
Causes

Figure 3.5: Health related problems in Commercial goat rearing

Trio back

Goat pox
Prophylaxis measures

PPR

HS

ET

FMD

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
% of farmers

Figure 3.6: Level of prophylaxis on commercial goat farms

3.4 Commercial Goat Farming
Owing to its good economic prospects, goat rearing under intensive and semi-
intensive system for commercial production is gaining momentum in the last couple of
years. High demand for goat and its products and potential of good economic returns
are deriving many progressive farmers, businessmen, professionals, ex-servicemen and
educated youth to take up the goat enterprise on commercial scale. This trend of
commercialisation has especially been prominent in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where availability of grazing resources is relatively
better. Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Mathura is providing practical
training on commercial goat farming to the aspirant entrepreneurs, where large number
of aspirant commercial goat farmers has been trained. We have already collected
information on 150 persons who got trained at CIRG, have started goat farming on
commercial scale under semi-intensive/intensive system of management. Even there
were numbers of commercial goat farms doing well, who got knowledge of scientific
goat rearing from other institutions. All these commercial farmers are well educated and
have better access to technical and market information contrary to the traditional goat
farmers who in majority are illiterate (Kumar et al, 2002) and belong to the poor section
of rural population.
To have an in-depth understanding of the process and prospects of commercial
goat farming in the country, 18 commercial goat farms of different sizes spread over
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were selected. These farms
were classified into three categories; viz., category I (<100 goats), category II (100 to
500 goats) and category III (>500 goats) and had an average flock size of 63, 273 and
1169 goats, respectively (Table 3.3). The detail list of the goat farms has been indicated
in the previous chapter. Traditionally goat rearing has been a subsistence activity of
resource poor rural people, its commercialization has taken place only recently as
depicted in Table 3.4. Seventy five percent of these farms started operating in the last six
years. Besides the good economic potential of this species, the emerging favourable
market conditions and easy accessibility to improved goat technologies might have
played a major role in catching the attention of entrepreneurs.

Table 3.3: Distribution of goat farms in to flock size categories

Category Flock size group No. of breeding goats Flock size (All goats) No. of farms
I < 100 goats 33 63 10
II 100 – 500 goats 144 273 6
III > 500 goats 610 1169 2

3.4.1 Socio-economic status

Goat rearing hitherto has been an economic activity of rural landless households
and marginal and small farmers (Kumar and Deoghare, 2002). But the size of
operational land holding of commercial farmers in all the categories was large, which
ranged from 26.0 to 78.5 acres (Table 3.5). The entry of large farmers, who have better
access to knowledge, resources and market, into this activity would help in realizing the
potential of goat enterprise.
The occupational structure of the commercial goat farmers was quite diversified,
which is depicted in the Figure 3.7. Goat rearing was the main occupation for only 42
percent farmers and for the rest 58 percent; agriculture, business, service and others
were the main occupations. Interestingly the people having major income from the
Business and salaried jobs (33 % of the total farmers) had taken up commercial goat
farming as their subsidiary occupation. These people might be able to better arrange
required capital and skills for semi-intensive and intensive system of goat production.
The popular opinion is that the goats can be economically maintained only under semi-
intensive and extensive system with a provision of grazing in commons. However
contrary to that, the goats were successfully reared and economically viable under
intensive system of management on 46 percent of the commercial goat farms (Figure
3.8). In the large category all the farms were maintaining their goats under intensive
system. This finding would help in establishing the fact that the goat farming for
commercial production could be taken up under intensive system of management and
would encourage the aspirant commercial goat farmers who do not have access to
grazing resources.

Table 3.4: Experience in commercial goat farming

Category Year of start of the goat farm (in %)
After 2000 1995-2000 Before 1995
I 33.33 4.17 4.17
II 33.33 8.33 8.33
III 8.33 - -
Total 75.00 12.50 12.50

Table 3.5: Size of operational land holding

Category Owned Land, acre Leased in Operational holding,
Irrigated Un irrigated Waste land Irrigated acre
I 28.78 1.25 2.00 - 32.04
II 12.83 34.00 31.67 - 78.50
III 5.50 - - 20.5 26.00
Pooled 20.88 12.03 11.67 2.28 46.85
Traditionally rural people of higher social and economic status have shown
inhibitions in undertaking the goat keeping activity due to social stigma (Kumar, 2007).
However it was observed that caste was not a barrier in commercial farming of goats.
Seventy one percent of the commercial goat farmers belonged to the general caste
(Figure 3.9). Figure 3.10 depicts the educational status of the farmers. All the
commercial farmers were educated, with 50 percent of them as postgraduate. The
involvement of well-educated entrepreneurs is surely a positive sign for the
development of commercial goat farming in the country. Majority of these farmers (83
%) also underwent some training programme for 3-10 days duration. Fifty percent of the
farmers took training on commercial goat farming from Central Institute for Research on
Goats (Table 3.6).

Table 3.6: Farmers’ access to training on goat farming

Institution Duration, days Farmers in % Purpose
Central Institute for Research 10 50 Commercial goat farming
on Goats
KVK 5 4 Commercial goat farming
NGOs 3 8 Commercial goat farming/ A.I.
Agricultural University 5 13 Commercial goat farming
Central Sheep & Wool 7 8 Commercial goat farming
Research Institute
Not trained - 17
8%

12%

42%

21%

17%
Goat rearing Agriculture Business Service Others

Figure 3.7: Main occupations of commercial goat farmers (% farmers)

120 Intensive
Semi-intensive
100

80
% Farmers

60

40

20

0
I II III overall
Category

Figure 3.8: System of management of commercial goat farms (% farm)

80

70

60
% Farmers

50

40

30

20

10

0
General Backw ard caste
Social groups

Figure 3.9: Distribution of entrepreneurs in social groups

 60

50

40

% Farmers
30

20

10

0
X to XII Graduate Post Graduate
Educational qualifica tion

Figure 3.10: Educational status of commercial goat farmers

3.4.2 Flock size, breed and investment pattern

The size of initial flock of goats for the new entrepreneurs was observed to be an
important factor influencing the success of a commercial goat-farming project. The
initial flock size of goat in the category I, II and III was 39, 53 and 300 goats,
respectively. From this initial size, the flocks’ current strength has increased to 63, 271
and 1169 goats per farm in the three categories respectively (Table 3.7). It was observed
that the new entrepreneurs, who started with large flock of over 100 goats in the very
beginning with out gaining experience from a small flock, were mostly failed and
suffered losses and some of them went out of the business. The exceptions were only
those farmers who started with very big goat unit (>500 goats) and managed to hire an
experienced professional/ or veterinary doctor to look after and supervise the
management of the farm. Quite a few farmers (44%) wanted to further increase the size
their goat flock to 218, 400 and 3500 goats in the category I, II and III respectively. In
order they sought support in terms of easy access to low cost credit, technical
knowledge, market information and remunerative prices for their products (Table 3.9).
The breeding females constituted 55 percent of the total flock. The average
number of breeding females in the category I was only 33, which was a smaller size in
economic sense. The minimum number of breeding goats in a commercial unit should
be at least 50 or more to make it a self sustaining unit that can provide livelihood to at
least one family. Having gained some experience, the farmers in category I were,
however, interested to increase the flock size. The ratio of breeding males to breeding
females was not less than recommended, which is 1:25. Proportionately higher number
of adult males in category III as presented in Table 3.8 is due to the fact that a farmer in
that category was rearing 200 one year plus males for festive sale during Eid.
Table 3.7: Size and composition of the goat flock
Category Initial Current flock size
flock Adult Goats 6-12 month goat <6 month goats Total
size Male Female Male Female Male Female
I 39.10 3.30 33.00 2.80 7.50 6.20 10.60 63.40
II 53.33 6.42 155.67 14.08 14.00 40.67 40.17 271.00
III 300 109.00 610.00 75.00 75.00 125.00 175.00 1169.00
Pooled 72.83 16.08 138.00 14.58 17.17 30.89 38.72 255.44
Table 3.8: Composition of goats on commercial farms (in percent)
Category Adult Goats 6-12 month goat <6 month goats Total
Male Female Total Male Female Male Female kids
I 5.21 52.05 57.26 4.42 11.83 9.78 16.72 42.74
II 2.37 57.44 59.81 5.20 5.17 15.01 14.82 40.19
III 9.32 52.18 61.51 6.42 6.42 10.69 14.97 38.49
 Pooled 5.27 54.92 60.19 5.58 6.32 12.85 15.07 39.81

Table 3.9: Farmers’ perception on size of flock

Category Farmers’ perception (% farmer) Targeted Support needed for increasing flock
Satisfied Want to increase the flock size,
flock size No.
I 80 20 218 Easy access to low cost finance, Technical
II 17 83 400 knowledge and training, Technology for
III 50 50 3500 meat processing, Technology for low cost
Pooled 56 44 643 complete feed, Market information,
Remunerative pricing

100

90
Share of differant goat breeds (%)

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Haryana MP MS Raj T.N. UP W. B. C.G Bihar

Barbari Jamunapari Sirohi Osmonabadi Boer Cross

Jakharana Black Bengal ND Kannaiadu Ganjam

Figure 3.11: Distribution of goat breeds on commercial farms in different states

100

90 Ganjam

80 Kannaiadu
share of differant goat breeds (%)

70 ND

60 Black Bengal
50
Jakharana
40
Boer Cross
30
Figure 3.11 depicts the distribution of goat breeds on commercialOsmonabadi farms in
different
20 states. The Sirohi, Barbari, Osmanabadi and Black Bengal were the important

breeds10 of goats reared by the commercial goat farmers. Sirohi and Barbari breeds were
Sirohi

most widely spread. Osmanabadi was exclusively reared in Maharashtra, butJamunapari now have
0
started spreading to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Sirohi remained
a P S aj . P . r
the most yan sought
M after
M breed
R particularly
T .N U in
W
. B semi
C arid
.G
Bi
haand arid parts of thBarbari
e country.
ar
ConsideH rable number of goats of commercial farms in Madhya Pradesh (78%),
Chhattisgarh (40%) and Uttar Pradesh (36%) were non-descript. These farmers need to
switch over to some suitable breeds such as Sirohi, Osmanabadi and Barbari to make
the business more productive and profitable. Some commercial farms in Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu also reared South African Boer-cross goats.
The Boer, which has been promoted by Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute,
Phaltan, was crossed with Osmanabadi, Sirohi breeds and non descript goats. It was
 observed that the cross of Boer and Osmanabadi gained a body weight of 24 to 30 kg at
the age of 6 month, which is higher than the average Osmanabadi. However, a well-
maintained pure Osmanabadi kid obtained from good quality parents on the
commercial goat farms also gained a body weight of 21 to 25 kg at the age of six
months. The farmers informed that colour and meat of local breeds was preferred over
the Boer-cross by the domestic consumers. Moreover the Boer-cross is not good grazer.
Therefore the local pure breed animals should not be crossed with the Boer breed for
such a small gain. Such crossing may only be experimented with the non-descript
animals.
The major initial investment was incurred on purchase of breeding stock and
construction of sheds and structures, which accounted for 47 percent and 48 percent of
the total capital investment respectively. However in traditional flocks 75-80 percent of
the total investment is made in acquiring the breeding stock (Kumar and Deoghare,
2000). The total investment per breeding goat in category I, II and III was estimated to
be Rs.5083, Rs.3419, Rs.6015, respectively. The investment in category II was made
appropriately. However the reason for comparatively higher investment per goat in
category I was lower capacity utilization and in category III one farmer made unduly
heavy investment on huge sheds and structures. It may be mentioned that an efficient
unit of commercial goat farming should not make very heavy investment on the sheds
and structures. Total investment per breeding goat at current prices should not possibly
exceed Rs. 3,500.
Table 3.10: Level and pattern of capital Investment
Category Capital investment (Rs. in lakh) Investment/ adult goat,
Value of Sheds and Equipments Total investment Rs in 000
animals structure
I 0.649 0.967 0.229 1.845 5083
II 2.800 2.542 0.197 5.539 3419
III 21.000 21.000 1.250 43.250 6015
Pooled 3.630 3.720 0.33 7.68 4632

Labour Use
The major activities regularly carried out by labour on the commercial goat
farms were, cleaning, milking, heat detection and breeding, management and feeding of
kids, feeding adults, grazing and watering of goats, treatment of animals and security. All
the commercial goat farms had hired unskilled and semi skilled labourers. Thirty three
percent in category II and all the farms in category III had engaged a hired manager, rest
of the farms were self-managed by the farmers. The type of labour, their magnitude and
wages are indicated in the Table 3.11. The number of goats managed by a labour varied
from 33 in category I to 97 in category III. The commercial farms in category III used the
labour most efficiently. Labour inefficiency in category I was mainly due to the sub
optimal size of the flock. Moreover the daily involvement of the owner in the
management of goats increased the efficiency of hired labour.
Table 3.11: Type of labour engaged on goat farms
Category Hired Livestock supervisor/ Semi-skilled labour Un-skilled labour Goats /
manager skilled labour labour
% Farm % Farm Wage No. Wage No. Wage
/month /month /month
I Self 20 1716 3 1333 9 1233 33
 II 33 33 5000 13 1523 12 1550 53
II 100 100 5000 7 2286 20 1300 97
Overall 28 44 3176 7 1730 11 1359 47
3.4.3 Feed and fodder
All the commercial goat farms had access to home grown green fodder through
out the year except one farm in Rajasthan, which could grow green fodder in winter and
rainy season only. Seventy to ninety percent requirement of the dry fodder of goat farms
was met through purchased dry fodder from the market. The average price of dry fodder
consisting of straw of gram, groundnut, pigeon pea, other pulses and wheat, and Stover
of bajra and maize, was Rs. 89 to Rs. 137 per quintal in different categories. The actual
market price paid for feed and fodder by the farmer was comparatively lower in large
category. This may be on account of economies of scale due to bulk purchase at the
time of harvesting of grains.
Type of roughages used by goat farmers:
Green fodder: Berseem, cowpea, maize, Bajra, Lucerne, sorghum, Guar, Sesbania
sisben, and leaves of Babul, Neem, Peepal, Khejari, Subabool, sheveri etc.
Dry fodder: Wheat and pulse straw, Bajra and sorghum Stover, lentil, dry pod, Soybean
and groundnut husk, other crop residues.
Concentrate Feeding
Provision of concentrate feed to the animals as per their maintenance and
production requirement is a pre-condition under intensive and semi intensive system of
management. All the farmers except one farmer in category I, were feeding concentrate,
mineral mixture and salt to their goats. The details of concentrate fed to different types
of goat and per farm, its prices, storages practices are presented in Tables 3.12 to 3.16.
Table 3.12: Source of Concentrate Feed
Category Source of Feed (farmer in %) Distance
Home Market Home and market both km
I 50 40 10 8
II 33 33 34 10
III - 100 - 25
Pooled 39 44 17 11.64
Table 3.13: Source of Fodder
Category Source of Feed (farmer in %) Distance km
Home produced Home and market both
I 80 20 2-5
II 67 33 10
III 100 - -
Pooled 78 22 2-10
Table 3.14: Feeding of concentrate mixture
Adoption, Amount of concentrate mixture provided (g/day)
Category % farmer Milking goat Pregnant goat Dry goat Kids
I 90 216.7 191 113 113
II 100 300 250 150 133
III 100 325 150 50 75
Total 94 258.8 208.1 125.4 115.6
Table 3.15: Concentrate available in different categories (per farm/ annum)
Category Concentrate Mineral Mixture Salt
Quantity, Price Value Quantity, Price Value Quantity, Value
kg Rs./kg Rs. kg Rs./kg Rs. kg Rs.
 I 1928 5.97 11516 24.2 31.07 752 22.0 75
II 13594 5.58 75861 114.16 37.0 4225 96.67 387
III 88485 5.88 520612 717.5 32.43 23275 800 2750
Pooled 15434 5.80 89530 131.2 33.62 4412 133 476
Composition of concentrate: Different 9 compositions of concentrate feed used by the
farmers were as follows:
i. Cake + Bajra, cake + Barley,
ii. Maize40%+Jowar20%+ Oilcake-20%+15 Pulses + Minerals 2%,
iii. Maize + Barley + Bajra,
iv. Groundnut Cake +Maize grinded +Gram,
v. GN Cake + Jwar + Bajra,
vi. Barley+ Cake,
vii. Oil Cake+ Maize,
viii. Cotton Seed + Oil Cake+ Singhadi,
ix. Cake: DORB: Maize: Molasses: Mineral mixture: Urea -7: 1:40:10:1:1
Interestingly at one farm urea formed 1% part of its concentrate feed. Besides these
feeds, the farmers were also using the wastage/ residues from the Bakery and Beer
producing units subject to its availability. Like any other commercial venture, these goat
farmers also maintained an advance stock of dry fodder and concentrate equivalent to
the requirement of 2-4 months.
Table 3.16: Storage of feed and fodder on goat farms
Category Make storage of dry fodder and Duration of storage
concentrate (% farmers)
I 70 3.5 month
II 100 2 month
III 100 4 month
Unlike the tradition flocks the expenditure on feed and fodder was the major
component of the cost on the commercial goat farms and it accounted for 59 percent of
the total variable cost. Further, the concentrate feed and dry fodder accounted for 58
and 25 percent of the total feed cost (Table 3.17). It was therefore prudent on part of the
farmers to economize the feed cost in order to enhance profitability.
Table 3.17: Feed cost on commercial goat farms (Rs./ annum)
Sl. No Green Fodder Dry Fodder Concentrate Mineral Mixture Salt Total Feed cost
1 1000 12750 7200 0 0 20950
2 2000 17250 15000 1800 200 36250
3 1500 7625 8125 0 0 17250
4 4000 4680 4725 200 36 13641
5 4500 28200 5500 2400 0 40600
6 40000 72000 137500 12000 1000 262500
7 1000 15000 15562.5 480 100 32143
8 7500 17400 26000 1000 120 52020
9 3750 13000 23694 2800 210 43454
10 100000 84000 404525 24500 2500 615525
11 750 4000 13000 0 17750
12 750 7000 7200 1400 120 16470
13 3750 14800 12600 840 84 32074
14 2000 3000 32500 1200 200 38900
15 32000 74400 154000 8750 1000 270150
16 100000 220000 497860 22050 3000 842910
17 1750 5700 7200 600 0 15250
 18 2000 4800 16800 0 0 23600
Overall 17125 33645 77166 4446 504 132858
As % of feed 12.89 25.32 58.08 3.35 0.38 100.00
cost
Feed was observed to be highly scarce in Rajasthan particularly in summer
season and became and very costly (Rs. 4-5 per kg of dry fodder) marking the goat
production under intensive system unsustainable. Therefore, in such situations, it will be
imperative to follow these steps; (i) Efforts to acquire low cost feed through efficient
purchases, (ii) The number of animals in the farm may be reduced during the summer
season through pre summer bulk sale of meat animals on Eid and Holi. The flock size
may further be increased during the rainy season. (iii) As the Sirohi breed of Rajasthan is
in high demand in different states for breeding purpose, the sale of pure breed animals
to the breeders (farmers) at the age of 6-7 months would be a way out to reduce the cost
of feeding feed in scare regions such as Rajasthan.

3.4.4 Miscellaneous expenditure

The commercial goat farmers also made expenditure on electricity, insurance
prophylaxis and treatment of animal (Table 3.18). The expenditure on electricity on
large farms was quite high and needed to be economized. The average expenditure on
the above heads was estimated to be Rs.28237 per farm and Rs. 183 per doe per
annum.

Table 3.18: Miscellaneous expenditure on commercial goat farms (Rs./ annum)

Category Miscellaneous expenditure Total Expenditure,
Electricity Treatment Insurance Prophylaxis Rs./doe
I 960 1730 1250 744 4684 130
II 1983 3417 5500 5636 16536 102
III 100000 5000 50500 25600 181100 252
Pooled 12306 2656 8139 5136 28237 183

3.4.5 Production of kids

Kids born from the goats were the major output of the commercial goat farms.
There were mainly two kidding seasons, namely, February-April and October-
November. However some goats on few farms also kidded in other months too (Table
3.19 and Table 3.20). The mortality in kids was estimated and found to be ranged from
5.64 percent in category III to 12.28 percent in category I. Thus contrary to the popular
belief, the mortality rate in kids was negatively associated with the flock size. This may
be mainly due to better management, feeding and prophylaxis provided by the large
farmers. The mortality rate in kids was well under the permissible limits except 3
commercial farms, which were not able to spare sufficient time to look after their farms.
Besides, their farm produced kids, few commercial farmers in category I and III were
also rearing male kids purchased from the market for fattening and sale them during the
festival of Eid. Such males prepared for Eid fetched much higher price as compared to
the kids sold for meat purpose. In inter-breed comparisons the mortality rate was lower
in Sirohi and Osmanabadi as compared to Barbari and Black Bengal. Body weights of
goat at different ages as recorded by the farmers are shown in Table 3.21. The body
weights at birth and subsequently at 3,6,9 and 12 months were quite promising. The
body weight of kids up to six month on large farms (category III) were close to the
potential weights of the reared breeds such as Sirohi and Osmanabadi and were higher
 than the other two categories. Based on empirical evidences, it has been suggested that
the medium and large size of goats reared under intensive system for commercial
production should attain more than 25 kg body weight at the age of 6-7 months for
achieving their fuel economic potential (Singh, 2006). Therefore the farmers need to
make efforts to further improve the weight gain of their animals through better
management and technological interventions.
Table 3.19: Number of kid born per farm
Category Number of kid born Number of kid died Total %
Feb - October- Other Total February October Other died Mortality
April Nov. month born -April –Nov. month
I 34.0 19.0 4.0 57.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 7.0 12.28
II 115.0 56.7 12.7 184.3 7.2 9.5 1.8 18.5 10.03
III 230.0 352.5 82.0 664.5 14.5 19.5 3.5 37.5 5.64
Pooled 82.6 68.8 15.7 167.0 6.4 6.2 1.4 14.0 8.38

Table 3.20: Details of kids born and reared

Category Number of kid live Male for Value of kids in year end (Rs.) Male Total
February October- Other Fattening February October- Other for Eid value
-April Nov. month -April Nov. month (Rs.) (Rs.)
I 29.2 17.8 3.5 8.5 59620 13950 6200 29750 109520
II 107.83 47.17 10.83 0.00 269292 59983 21333 0.00 350608
III 215.5 333 78.5 100 646500 832500 170500 450000 2099500
Pooled 76.11 62.61 14.28 15.83 194719 120244 29500 66528 410992

Table 3.21: Body weight of goat at different age as recorded by farmers (in kg)
Category On birth 3 month 6 month 9 month 12 month
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
I 2.17 1.83 9.0 7.40 14.25 14.0 19.75 19.50 33.2 30.2
II 2.17 2.00 9.5 9.67 17.50 16.33 29.5 27.0 42.5 37.5
III 1.88 1.75 10.5 10.0 20.0 18.00 24.5 22.0 30.0 28.0
Pooled 2.09 1.83 9.40 8.44 16.77 15.83 24.60 23.0 35.13 31.75

3.4.6 Level of awareness and adoption of improved technologies by commercial goat

farmers
A number of technologies are available for productivity improvement of goats.
Technological and management options are the only alternatives to accelerate the
growth in productivity of goats, which is low in the traditional system of production.
The level of farmers’ awareness and adoption of improved technologies and
management practices was ascertained and is shown in Table 3.22 to Table 3.35.
The farmers had very high level of awareness of improved technologies. The
direction of goat shed and floor space was as recommended, except two farmers who
had housed the goats in some old structure. Structure and material of sheds was also
proper. But 17% farmer had made heavy investment on shed that threatened the
economic sustainability of the farms. A few small farmers could not arrange separate
space for male, female and kids due to limited availability of land. Majority of the
farmers (83%) were using appropriate feeding and watering devices, however, the
devices are modified by the farmers’ using locally available resources.

Table 3.22: Adoption of technology of direction of goat shed (farmers in %)

Category Farmers aware Direction of shed Constraints
East-West North-South
 I 100 80 20 Old structure: costly to
II 100 100 - be modified
III 100 100 -
Pooled 100 89 11

Table 3.23: Availability of floor space per goat

Category Covered Shed area /goat (M2 ) Open space/ goat (M2 )
I 2.63 3.58
II 1.41 2.12
III 1.43 2.31
Pooled 1.59 2.42

Table 3.24: Type of material used in the goat shed (% farmer)

Category Type of material used in the goat shed
Brick walls + Thatch GI sheet Wooden poles + Concrete +
asbestos sheet (whole) Asbestos sheet Asbestos sheet
I 80 20 - - -
II 50 - 17 17 16
III - - - 50 50
Overall 61 11 6 11 11

Table 3.25: Adoption of housing management practices (% farmer)

Category Ventilation Separate shed for male, female and kids
Aware adopted Constraint Aware Adopted Constraint
I 100 80 Limited land 100 80 High unit for small
near home number of goats
II 100 100 - 100 67 Lack of space
III 100 100 - 100 100 -
Total 100 89 - 100 78 -

Table 3.26: Use of recommended feeding and watering devices (% farmer)

Category Use of appropriate feeding and watering devices
Awareness Adoption Material used
Cemented Iron Wooden and other
I 90 90 30 30 50
II 100 67 33 67 17
III 100 100 50 100 -
Total 94 83 33 50 33
Most of the breeding stock was sourced from the local market or goat keepers.
Farmers also sourced the breeding animals from distant market, research institutes and
NGOs. Farmers well understood the importance of mineral mixture and 94 percent of
them fed it to their goats. Level of awareness of farmers about prophylaxis was also high
but the adoption rate was not very high. The use of vaccines such as PPR, HS and FMD
and ecto-parasiticidal need to be increased to prevent the diseases and further reducing
the losses due to diseases and improve productivity. On many occasions farmers could
not use vaccines on account of its non-availability. The average age of doe at first mating
was 10.08 months and that of the breeding male was 19.50 months which is considered
appropriate. All the farmers used natural mating for servicing the goats; however, 11
percent of the farms also used A.I. The twinning percentage (ability to produce two kids
in one kidding) was 60, which was quite high. The commercial goat farmers were
improving the breed of their goats through continuous selection and by bringing in good
germ plasm from outside. The farmers were ready to pay even the double price of the
market rate for good quality breeding animals. Recommended daily management
practices such as cleaning, lime spray, tagging, colostrum feeding, castration of male
kids, etc. were practiced by the farmers (Table 3.34). Moreover, 56 and 78 percent of
the farmers followed labour calendar and work distribution, respectively. For smooth
management of the goat farm, 50 percent of the farmers maintained different types of
farm records.
Table 3.27: Source of breeding stock (% farmer)
Category Local Market/ Distant CIRG CSWRI Other
Farmer Markets
I 80 20 10 -- -
II 100 100 33 17 17 (Embryo from South
Africa)
III 50 100 - - -
Pooled 83 56 17 6 -

Table 3.28: Awareness and use of mineral mixture (% farmer)

Category Awareness Adoption Adoption of recommended mineral mixture
Bricks Agrimin-Godrej Other mineral Calcium
mix
I 100 100 - 40 60 10
II 100 83 17 50 33 17
III 100 100 - 100 - -
Total 100 94 6 50 44 11

Table 3.29: Awareness level of farmers about annual preventive goat health schedule (% farmer)
Category Vaccines Other preventive measures
PPR ET HS FMD Coccidia-state De-worming Ecto-parasite
I 80 90 70 90 50 100* 70
II 50 83 100 83 50 100 50
III 100 100 50 50 100 100** 50
Total 72 89 78 83 56 100 61
* Twice March and December **after 3 month and 4 month

Table 3.30: Farmers’ adoption level of annual preventive goat health schedule
Category Vaccines Other preventive measures
PPR ET HS FMD Coccidia-state De-worming Ecto-parasite
I 30 50 30 30 10 70 10
II 33 83 83 83 0 83 50
III 50 50 0 0 0 100 50
Total 33 61 44 44 6 78 28
Table 3.31: Age of breeding buck on goat farms
Category Age of the breeding male (months)
I 15.60
II 19.33
III 19.50
Overall 19.50
 Table 3.32: Details of breeding of goats
Category Age of doe at first Type of breeding, in % Frequency/ Timing of service
mating (months) Natural AI Conception M -E Whole day
I 10.50 100 - 2.6 2 2
II 9.40 100 17 2.5 - 1
II 10.50 100 50 2.0 2
Pooled 10.08 100 11 2.5
Table 3.33: Breeding performance of goats
Category Service period (M) Age of doe at first Twinning % Age at weaning,
kidding (month) month
I 1.97 14.67 61.20 2.93
II 2.38 12.50 56.17 2.13
II 1.25 17.5 61.92 2.70
Pooled 2.03 14.42 59.94 2.73

Traditional farmers who rear more than 99 percent of the goat population of the
country hardly use any improved goat production technologies except de-worming and
few vaccines by a small proportion of farmers. In this background the level of adoption
of different technologies by commercial goat farmers, who have got some training on
scientific goat farming may be said to be encouraging. However an increased level of
adoption of technologies would be essential in order to establish commercial goat
farming under intensive system as an economically sustainable enterprise. Greater
adoption of prophylaxis and good quality breeding stock would be of particular
importance. Most of the farmers were eager to adopt the improved technologies,
however absence of any support system to get quick access to latest information and
technologies and weak input delivery system resulted in poor adoption.
Table 3.34: Level of adoption of different management practices (No. / %)
Practices Category Overall
I II II
Cleaning daily 100 100 100 100
Lime spray 20 33 100 33
Hoof cutting 10 0 0 6
Frequency of water daily 2.4 2.83 3 2.61
Cleaning before milking 90 83 50 78
Milking daily 40 33 100 44
Tagging 50 83 100 67
Colostrum feeding 90 100 100 94
Time of colostrum feeding, hrs 3.4 2.9 2.7 3.1
Castration of male kid 50 17 100 44
Age of castration, month 1.29 0.67 2.5 1.33
Extent of kids castrated 70 65 60 62
Prepare labour calendar 40 67 100 56
Follow work distribution 60 100 100 78
Table 3.35: Status of use of farm records on commercial farms (% farmer)
Category Awareness Adoption Records maintained
I 70 30 Inventory, livestock breeding, birth record, health and medical
records, record of kids, labour calendar, work distribution
schedule etc.
 II 67 67 Kidding record, Pedigree record, Feed record, Health record,
prophylaxis record, mortality record, sale record, feeding
record, labour calendar, work distribution schedule etc.
III 100 100 Stock register, birth record, mortality record, medicine record,
weighing record, vaccination record, goat productivity register,
health record, breeding records, labour calendar, work
distribution schedule etc.
Overall 72 50
3.4.7 Mortality and morbidity losses due to diseases
Mortality and morbidity losses due to diseases in goats have been a major
constraint in the tradition flocks (Kumar et al., 2003). The risk of certain diseases is
considered to increase in the large flocks maintained under intensive system. Therefore,
losses due diseases in goats on commercial farm were estimated. The estimated details
are shown in Table 3.36 to 3.38. The major diseases that affected goats on commercial
farms were, PPR, Enterotoxaemia (ET), POX, FMD, Diarrhea and Pneumonia. The other
health ailments were abortion, tympani, gidd, external parasites, etc. The overall
mortality in kids in different categories ranged from 5.64 to 12.28 percent and in that of
adult it was 4.89 percent. However few individual farms suffered high mortality. The
four farms, which suffered with high mortality in does and or kids, were making loss
from the goat farming activity as such (Table 3.42). Non-specific diarrhea caused highest
mortality in kids as well as adult, followed by PPR, Pneumonia and ET. However in
terms of monetary loss, PPR ranked first followed by diarrhea and pneumonia (Table
3.36). Table 3.37 depicts category wise mortality status and losses due to diseases in
goats. The mortality and production losses together were estimated to be Rs.8845,
Rs.20183 and Rs.124708 per farm per annum in the category I, II and III, respectively.
On overall farms, the estimated losses due to diseased in goats were equivalent to 23.22
percent of net returns and 5.21 percent of gross returns of the goat farm. These returns
would have increased to such extent if the diseases were prevented. The farmers’
perception on pre-disposing factors of major diseases such as PPR, ET, Diarrhea,
Pneumonia and abortion in goats was ascertained (Annexure). New purchase and
transportation from long distance for PPR, changes in feed for ET, acute winter and
summer for diarrhea, untimely heavy rains and acute winter for pneumonia, and hence
transportation over long distance, summer months and new purchase were the major
pre-disposing factors. The Table 3.38 gives detailed account of losses due to diseases on
each farm. There was a large variation in the magnitude of losses due diseases across the
farms. The losses significantly affected the net returns of the individual farms. It has been
considered even by the goat health scientists that larger goat flocks are vulnerable to
high disease incidence and losses. However, there was no relation found between the
magnitude of losses due to diseases and the flock size of goat. Since the diseases and
parasites in goats and resultant losses, directly threatens the profitability and
sustainability of commercial goat production, therefore a multi pronged strategy to
strengthen the research efforts, educating farmers, transfer of technology and input
delivery system particularly related to goat health would be necessary for making the
commercial goat production under intensive and semi-intensive system economically
viable and sustainable.
Table 3.36: Status and losses due to disease/ ailments in goat Per farm
Disease No of No. of goat No. of goat Mortality Production Total Ranking of
farm affected per died per loss, Rs Losses, Rs. losses importance
affected farm farm due to of disease
 (%) Adults Kids Adults Kids disease
PPR 16.7 1.8 2.8 1.0 2.4 5611 151 5762 I
ET 5.6 2.2 0.0 0.7 0.0 1944 0.0 1944 IV
Pox 11.1 6.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 278 0.0 278 X
FMD 5.6 0.0 5.0 0.0 0.8 389 444 833 VII
Diarrhea 33.3 2.7 7.9 1.8 4.5 5567 72 5639 II
Pneumonia 38.9 1.8 3.3 1.0 1.2 2678 83 2761 III
External 44.4 8.4 10.9 0.5 0.8 1211 0.0 1211 V
Parasite
Abortion 33.3 4.1 0.0 0.2 0.0 372 814 1186 VI
Gidd 16.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 467 0.0 467 IX
Tympani 16.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 594 0.0 594 VIII
Blindness 5.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 -
Infertility 38.9 4.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 -
Other 33.3 0.9 1.3 0.7 1.3 2017 0.0 2017
Table 3.37: Category wise status and losses due to disease in goat Per farm
Category No. Affected No. Died Total Mortality loss Rs. Production Total
Adult Kids Kids Kids Animal Kids Adults losses loss
died
I 6.5 5.4 3.70 3.80 7.50 1720 6850 275 8845
II 28.0 33.0 6.5 13.0 19.5 6833 11817 1533 20183
III 190.5 155.0 21 41.0 62.0 44950 52500 27258 124708
Pooled 34.11 31.22 6.56 11.00 17.56 8228 13578 1414 23220
Table 3.38: Mortality and production losses due to diseases (Rs./farm/annum)
Sr. No. No. Value of Value of Production Total loss due Disease loss/
Breeding adult died kid died loss to disease doe
goat
1 21 6100 1800 300 8200 390
2 40 10400 3000 2200 15600 390
3 25 43700 9000 250 52950 2118
4 17 0 0 0 0 0
5 85 8000 7000 0 15000 176
6 160 6000 0 0 6000 38
7 50 1700 500 0 2200 44
8 78 28900 10000 0 38900 499
9 46 0 0 0 0 0
10 520 0 16000 1000 17000 33
11 60 2100 4600 0 6700 112
12 36 3200 1100 0 4300 119
13 32 3400 1800 0 5200 163
14 205 2700 7000 8000 17700 86
15 275 23200 12400 1200 36800 134
16 700 105000 73900 12500 191400 273
17 20 0 0 0 0 0
18 43 6100 0 0 6100 142
Overall 134 13917 8228 1414 23558 262

3.4.8 Economics of commercial goat farming

Like any other commercial venture the prime objective of a commercial goat
farmer is to earn best returns on his resources. The cost and returns from goat farming
were worked out in detail for each category as well as for each commercial goat farm.
Unlike the traditional flocks, where fixed cost comes to 10-15 percent of the total cost,
the fixed cost and variable cost constituted 35.36 and 64.64 percent of the total cost of
goat farming, respectively. Since mortality of breeding goats is a permanent loss of
productive asset (100% depreciation), therefore the value of adult goats died was taken
as part of the fixed cost, besides interest on capital and depreciation. The value of adult
goats died accounted for 11.38 percent of the total fixed cost. Such cost may be
minimized through available technological and management interventions. Under the
intensive and semi intensive system of management of goats, the expenditure on feed
and fodder was the major component of the cost of goat rearing and accounted for 59
percent of the total variable cost of goat farming. The total cost per doe per annum in
different categories was worked out to be Rs.2137 to Rs.2527 (Table 3.39). However, an
analysis of cost of rearing of goat on the individual farms as depicted in Figure 3.13 and
Table 3.40 shows large variations in its magnitude across the farms. On one third of the
commercial goat farms, the total annual cost of rearing a goat was between Rs.1124 Rs.
1753 and on the other one-third goat farms, it was much above the average and ranged
from Rs.2628 to Rs.4311. These one-third goat farms running with high cost of
production must reduce their cost of goat rearing to remain in business. The cost could
be reduced by, (i) reducing the fixed cost through expansion and minimizing mortality
of goats; (ii) Reducing feed cost through identifying cheaper sources of feeds and their
efficient purchases.
Table 3.39: Cost and returns from goat farming on different categories of commercial farms (Rs/
annum)
Category Fixed Variable Total cost Cost Returns Value of Value Gross Net Net
cost Cost per from kids manures milk returns returns/ return/
goat farm Goat
I 35181 50568 85749 2354 115460 7475 12969 135904 50155 371
II 91417 211552 302969 2137 383942 31400 17167 432508 129540 652
III 650593 1124332 1774925 2527 1888400 117000 30000 2035400 260475 494

400

350

300
Rs. in thousand

250

200

150

100

50

0
Total cost Variable cost Feed cost Fixed cost
Cost/ goat farm/ annum

Figure 3.12: Composition of different cost on goat farms

5000
Total cost/goat/ annum, Rs.

4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
Commercial goat farms
 Figure 3.13: Annual cost of rearing a goat on commercial farms

450
400
350
300

Rs. in 000
250
200
150
100
50
0
Sale of animals Sale of manure Sale of milk

Figure 3.14: Source of annual returns on commercial goat farms

3000

2000
Net returns in Rs.

1000

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

-1000

-2000

-3000
Distribution of goa t farms

Figure 3.15: Annual net returns per goat on commercial farms

Table 3.40: Cost of goat rearing (Rs./ flock/annum)

S. No Total Fixed Recurring Interest on working Total Variable Total cost Cost per
cost Cost capital Cost goat

1 27976 38950 1948 40898 68874 3280

2 44751 50325 2516 52841 97593 2440
3 77006 29300 1465 30765 107771 4311
4 6807 14305 715 15020 21827 1284
5 64596 79400 3970 83370 147966 1741
6 79229 332945 16647 349592 428821 2680
7 61023 76963 3848 80811 141833 2837
8 91614 120242 6012 126254 217868 2793
9 25031 74444 3722 78166 103198 2243
10 470000 853725 42686 896411 1366411 2628
11 39171 79670 3984 83654 122824 2047
12 13237 45050 2253 47303 60540 1682
13 25706 45800 2290 48090 73796 2306
14 66351 156300 7815 164115 230466 1124
15 207541 440310 22016 462326 669866 2436
16 831186 1287860 64393 1352253 2183439 2426
17 4512 29100 1455 30555 35067 1753
18 65760 77360 3868 81228 146988 1400
 Overal
l 122305 212892 10645 223536 345842 2301

3.4.8.1 Returns
The major source of returns of commercial goat farms was the sale of kids and
adults for breeding, meat and sacrifice purposes. The sale of animals constituted more
90 percent of the gross returns from goat farming (Figure 3.14) the next important source
of returns was sale of manure followed by milk. The value of milk, which constituted
about 25 percent of the gross returns on traditional goat flocks, was only a minuscule
part of the returns of commercial farms. The value of milk produced per goat per annum
was Rs.331, Rs.119 and Rs.49 in category I, II and III, respectively. The commercial
farmers, particularly the large flock owners were not interested in milking the goats
because, (i) the hand milking of large number of goats required lots of labourers that
increased the labour cost and affected the timeliness of other farm operations; (ii) they
wanted to make available more milk for the kids up to 3 months for attaining proper
growth. The annual net returns per farm and per doe were worked out category wise as
well as for individual farm which are presented in Table 3.39 and 3.41 and Figure 3.15
the annual net returns per goat in three categories ranged from Rs.371 to Rs.652,
however the category wise analysis did not reveal the real picture. The analysis of
individual farm revealed that on the 39 percent of goat farms, the annual net returns per
goat were quite satisfactory which ranged from Rs.968 to Rs.2069. on the other hand,
the net returns on 28 percent of the goat farms were negative. The main reasons for
negative net returns on these farms were, the higher cost of rearing per doe and
realization of low prices for their market surplus. Rest of the 33 percent of the goat farms
also had positive net returns but need to increase them in order to make their business
economically viable and sustainable. Since majority of the commercial farms have come
up only in the last few years, they were learning from their experiences and some of
them need to increase the flock size for proper capacity utilization of fixed capital and
labour. Most of the farms with below average performance are likely to improve in the
next 1-2 years. The Figure 3.16 shows the annual net returns per doe and some possibly
related indicators. The net returns per goat did not appear to have any relationship with
the flock size. However, fixed cost and disease losses per doe appeared to have affected
the net returns negatively.
It is evident from the above analysis that majority of commercial goat farms were
operating with positive net returns with 39 percent of them earning good profit. Goat
rearing as an enterprise was found equally rewarding under both intensive and semi
intensive system of management. Among the farms under intensive system, 22 percent
were in loss, whereas among the farms under semi-intensive system 33 percent were in
loss. The commercial goat farming under intensive and semi intensive system of
management may therefore be declared as profitable and promising enterprise.
However, the technological intervention particularly prophylaxis, superior germ plasm,
low cost feeds and fodders and innovative marketing of the produce would be the pre-
conditions for successful commercial goat production.
Table 3.41: Returns from goat farming (Rs./ annum)
Sl. No. Returns Value of Value Gross Net returns/ Net return
from kids manures milk returns farm /Goat
1 28500 5200 22950 56650 -12224 -582
2 65000 7800 24300 97100 -493 -12
 3 23000 4550 15000 42550 -65221 -2609
4 45500 6500 5000 57000 35173 2069
5 189700 28600 16000 234300 86334 1016
6 534700 39000 20000 593700 164879 1030
7 95000 9750 7500 112250 -29583 -592
8 134850 20800 9000 164650 -53218 -682
9 273900 11050 7000 291950 188752 2052
174280
10 0 117000 10000 1869800 503389 968
11 296400 13000 8000 317400 194576 1145
12 49000 6500 15300 70800 10260 285
13 78000 9100 7000 94100 20304 634
14 175200 35000 22000 232200 1734 8
15 972800 52000 28000 1052800 382934 1392
203400
16 0 117000 50000 2201000 17561 20
17 35200 6500 8640 50340 15273 764
18 461500 7800 17000 486300 339312 1697
Overall 401947 27619 16261 445827 99986 478
Table 3.42: Annual net returns per goat and related indicators
Sr. No. Breeding Fixed Variable Value of adult Value kid Net return
No. goat cost/doe cost/doe died/ doe died/ doe /Goat
1 21 1332 1948 290 86 -582
2 40 1119 1321 260 75 -12
3 25 3080 1231 1748 360 -2609
4 17 400 884 0 0 2069
5 85 760 981 94 82 1016
6 160 495 2185 38 0 1030
7 50 1220 1616 34 10 -592
8 78 1175 1619 371 128 -682
9 46 544 1699 0 0 2052
10 520 904 1724 0 31 968
11 60 653 1394 35 77 1145
12 36 368 1314 89 31 285
13 32 803 1503 106 56 634
14 205 324 801 13 34 8
15 275 755 1681 84 45 1392
16 700 1187 1932 150 106 20
17 20 226 1528 0 0 764
18 43 1332 1948 142 0 1697
 4000

3000

2000

Value in rupees
1000

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

-1000

-2000
Distribution of goat farms
-3000
No. does Fixed cost/ doe Disease loss/ doe Annual net return/ doe

Figure 3.16: Annual net returns per doe and related indicators

3.4.8.2 Income from other sources

Goat rearing was not the major source of income for majority of the commercial
farmers. It was a new subsidiary activity of people already earning from other sources.
The average net income from commercial goat farming in category I, II and III was
Rs.51000, Rs.130000 and Rs.260000 respectively, which accounted for 11.53, 7.51 and
0.74 percent of the total income of the commercial farmer (Table 3.43). In the first 2-3
years the goat-farming project do not give much amount of net returns. The other source
of income of the farmer is an advantage for successfully passing through the initial
phase.

Table 3.43: Income from other sources (Rs. in lakh)

Source of income I II III Pooled
Agriculture 1.90 2.50 - 1.89
Service 0.49 0.33 - 0.38
Business/ Industry 1.50 4.00 350.00 41.06
Other 0.10 9.17 - 3.11
Goat rearing 0.51 1.30 2.60 0.99
Total 4.5 17.3 352.6 47.43
% share of goat rearing 11.33 7.51 0.74 2.09

3.4.9 Constraints in commercial goat farming

Commercial goat farming under intensive and semi-intensive system of
management has been picking up in the last couple of years. Only less then one percent
of the goat population of the country yet has come under such production system. There
has been no organized effort to develop this sector and hence hardly any support system
and required infrastructure is available for encouraging the commercial goat farming in
the country. There have only been some efforts by individual entrepreneurs to develop
this enterprise besides R&D efforts of Central Institute for Research on Goats and few
NGOs. Of late some state governments have started making efforts to promote goats
rearing. In this backdrop, the commercial goat farmers do face a number of constraints
particularly in the initial phase of the goat-farming project. The major constraints faced
by the commercial goat farmers of different categories have been depicted in Table
3.44.

Table 3.44: Major constraints faced by commercial goat farmers (Farmer in %)

Constraints Category
I II III
Transportation Harassment by police in the name of animal
10 33 50
welfare
Illegal payments during transit 10 33 50
Disease High mortality in the beginning due to PPR,
50 33 50
diarrhea, tetanus, FMD, cold and pneumonia
High mortality in kids and poor growth 30 50 --
Breeding Difficulty in identifying pure breed animals 70 33 --
stock and its Difficulty in getting good quality animals 60 67 100
breeding Lack of cost effective method of synchronization 20 -- --
Availability of Vaccines are not available- especially PPR & ET 40 50 100
inputs and Low cost complete feed not available 30 50 50
services Non availability of cost effective appropriate
50 67 50
tagging material
Non availability of veterinary doctor 30 33 --
Veterinary doctor has limited knowledge about
60 50 --
goats
Marketing Before building up reputation as producer of
quality animals, the Butchers purchase animals on 60 83 50
very low price

In the absence of proper standards for transporting the live goats, the officials in
collision with police harass the farmers in the name of welfare of the animals during
transportation of the breeding stock from long distances. Considerable amount of illegal
payments e.g. Rs.2000-Rs.3000 per truck from Rajasthan to Maharashtra, Rs.500- Rs.700
from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, need to be made to the concerned officials and police
during the transit of the animals.
High mortality in the goats due to PPR, Diarrhea, Pneumonia, tetanus etc. in the
beginning of the project was the major concern of the farmers. This resulted in closure
of number of farms in the beginning itself. Such a high mortality in goats was mainly
due lack of knowledge of package of practices of improved goat farming, poor
prophylaxis, non-availability of vaccines etc., poor preparedness of the farmers, lack of
personal attention of the entrepreneurs and poor access to veterinary doctor with
experience of small ruminants. High mortality and poor growth in kids was a major
constraints for 30 percent farmers in category I and 50 percent in category II.
Due to lack of knowledge, 70 percent farmers in category I had difficulty in
identifying pure breed animals. Difficulty in getting good quality breeding animals was a
major constraint. The best animals (Particularly males) from the traditional flocks were
sold for slaughter to the trader/butchers. That results into scarcity of good quality
breeding animals. The absence of any organized efforts for breed improvement of goats
has been compounding this problem. Since large goat flocks of different breed under
commercial production are only few, the entrepreneurs had to select the breeding
animals from the available traditional flocks mostly through middlemen. The lack of cost
effective method of synchronization of goat was also a constraint for 20 percent farmers
in category I. The farmers wanted to synchronize their goats in order to supply certain
number of kids of a certain age at a specified time and to increase the labour efficiency.
The non-availability of vaccines especially PPR was a major constraint in all the
categories. Even the ET vaccine, which has been produced for decades, was not
available in time in many states including U.P., Orissa, Chahattisgarh and Bihar. Non-
availability of veterinary doctor and limited knowledge of available veterinarians about
goats was a constraints in category I and II. The large flock owner in category III had
hired a specialized veterinarian. The low cost complete feed was not available. All the
commercial farmers required identification tags for their goats, however they did not
have access to a cost effective appropriate tagging materials.
Another major constraint was realization of low prices for the surplus live goats.
The trade of live goats, which is unorganized and in the hands of large number of
middlemen, traders and butchers, does not favour the goat farmers. The live goats were
sold not on the basis of their body weight in the livestock markets. That resulted into
under estimation of the value of the live animals. Before building up reputation as
producer of quality breeding goats, the goat farmers got very low price for their animals.
However, with the increased awareness and linkages the commercial farmers now insist
to decide the price of their live goats on body weight basis. Different constraints in
commercial goat farming were further analyzed according to their severity, which is
presented in Tables 3.45 to 3.50. In this analysis, poor access to good quality breeding
animals and veterinary services, were the more severe constraints. The availability of
institutional credit was relatively easy for the large goat farming projects. Twenty eight
percent of the commercial farmers availed credit from the banks (Table 3.51). However
it was a major constraint for the small entrepreneurs submitting small projects of 50-100
goats and had limited capital for collateral security.
Table 3.45: Constraints related to feed (% farmer)
More
Constraints Severe Not Severe Pooled
Severe
Lack of knowledge of appropriate 6 22 39 67
composition
High cost 6 22 22 50
Non availability of complete feed 6 44 6 56
Lack of knowledge and availability of suitable - 33 11 44
mineral mixture
Table 3.46: Constraints related to fodder (% farmer)
Constraints More Severe Severe Not Severe Pooled
Seasonal Scarcity 17 33 11 61
High cost 11 6 11 28
Scarcity of grazing land 11 6 17 33
Table 3.47: Constraints related to veterinary service (% farmer)
Constraints More Severe Severe Not Severe
Non availability of veterinary doctor 11 11 22
Undue charge for their services 6 11 17
Non availability of vaccine 22 6 50
Lack of awareness about preventive care 11 6 28
High cost of treatment 28 0.0 33
Table 3.48: Constraints related to breeding stock (% farmer)
Constraints More Severe Severe Not Severe
Lack of awareness about appropriate breeds - 17 17
Non available of pure breed animals 50 6 61
Unawareness of sources of good animals 28 11 39
Table 3.49: Constraints related to marketing
Constraints More Severe Severe Not Severe
Non remunerative price 11 11 33
Undue market charge 11 - 33
Difficulty in transport of goat to distant market 11 - 17
Poor access to market information 11 - 22
Monopoly of traders in the market 11 6 39
No transparency in the trade 28 11 56

Table 3.50: Constraints related to credit

Constraints More Severe Severe Not Severe
Poor access to bank’s loan 17 6 33
Private loan at very high cost - 17 2

Table 3.51: Credit facilities availed from institutional sources

Category No of farmers Purpose Total amount Interest rate
I 3 Goat rearing 226000 10.67
II 1 Goat rearing 800000 12
III 1 Goat rearing 9800000 12

Farmers’ suggestions for encouraging commercialization of goat farming

• Develop linkages between goat farmers,
• Vet services should be provided
• Easy availability of bank loan for goat,
• Development of market for goat and goat product,
• Training of goat rearing to females also,
• Demonstration and exhibition of goats,
• Ensure availability good quality breeding stock
• Financial scheme for supporting goat enterprise
• Vaccines should be made available, Technology for efficient stall-fed goat rearing,
• Development of marketing system, Marketing of goat at live weight basis
• Fodder land development, up gradation in breeds for body wt gain
• Disease free animal for farmer
4. MARKETING OF GOATS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
4.1 Scenario
The marketing of small ruminants hardly attracted the interest of State except
collecting revenue on their inter-state or intra-state movements despite them being the
major source of meat. Within small ruminants sheep was better attended in terms of
their breed improvement and health and goats got neglected at all fronts. Yet the growth
of goat population has been comparatively to be higher. Marketing of livestock is a
neglected area both by the state and researchers. It is mainly because market
information is grossly inadequate and arrangements for marketing are unsatisfactory.
Also the nature of market varies by type of livestock. The purchase and sale of bovine,
horse, camel, i.e. all large animals, have been through traditional animal fairs organized
at conventional places at fixed time and also linked to social aspects. On the contrary,
for small ruminants there are very few markets. Marketing of these animals is both at
doorstep and to some extent in weekly markets or in case of migratory flocks, on the
route of migration.
Marketing deals with two aspects, first, the supply of the livestock products and
second, demand for the products. The nature of livestock marketing is quite different
than industrial product marketing. On supply side there are large numbers of
unorganized producer. On demand side there are large numbers of buyers and their
consumption behaviour is governed by income besides social and religious factors,
particularly in case of meat. Live goats have good demand in the domestic as well as
international market and so also their products such as meat, skins and manure.
Marketing of livestock products is much different than the sale of live animals.
As the products are of different nature varying from liquid milk to hide and skins, the
marketing practices and the nature of market also vary accordingly. Despite livestock
and their products contributing significantly to household and national economy, the
issues are under-researched. Also no systematic effort to generate information or data
set, on time series basis, to facilitate researchers has been attempted at State or National
level. The neglect of marketing has resulted into strong and pervasive prejudice of
involvement of middlemen and intermediaries in the market. The marketing of goats
particularly suffers from many drawbacks such as involvement of middlemen garnering
high margins, avoidable marketing costs, unnecessary transportation, mortality of
animals during transit leading to exploitation of both producers and the consumers. The
poor farmers are not in a position to objectively monitor the sale of produce to take
advantage of better prices. Majority of the goat keepers have not developed any
commercial orientation in marketing their produce. However in last couple of years a
number of entrepreneurs have taken up commercial goat farming under intensive and
semi-intensive system of management as an enterprise. Besides use of improved
technologies, the adoption of innovative marketing strategy has been the key driver for
the success of commercial goat farming projects.
In this backdrop the efforts were made to comprehend the goat marketing
system in the country through study of goat marketing by traditional goat keepers,
traders and butchers in southwestern semiarid zone of Uttar Pradesh and eastern
semiarid zone of Rajasthan and its further extension to terminal markets such as Delhi
and Mumbai, and port exporting the live goats. To cover the whole goat sector, the
marketing of goats by commercial farmers was also studied.

4.1.1 Psychology of the farmer

 Generally farmers sell male kids in early age to meet urgent cash needs and
sometime even female kids are also sold. The reason for selling early age kids was to
reduce the number in flock for better management and to avoid risk. In the absence of
prophylaxis there is always risk of heavy kid mortality and hence the poor farmers do
not want to take risk. The farmers do sell adult female goats mainly to reduce the flock-
size and cull the unproductive and weak animal. Few farmers having commercial
orientation and high risk bearing ability sale their male goats on achieving a desired
weight and age as per the market demand and get better returns. It is realized that goats
thrive on agriculture and household wastes and barren lands in India. The traditional
farmers do not want to increase the flock size due to decreasing grazing area in the
villages and other management problems in goat rearing. Major sales of the adult male
goats were effected before festivals like Id, Dashara, Sankranti, Durga Puja, Holi etc.
Because of higher market demand farmers get better prices for their animals (sometimes
many fold the normal market price) during the festivals.

4.1.2 Marketing channels

The animals pass through different channels before they reach the butcher/
retailer/ consumers. Figure 4.1 indicates the major marketing channels of goats. This
figure has been drawn based on the data collected from traditional farmers and weekly
markets from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and also from commercial farmers and
terminals markets. The direction of arrow in the figure shows the movement of goats
from selling agency to the buying agency.
The most prominent channel of goat marketing was; the movement of live goats
from farmers to the trader/ butchers in the village itself. The goat generally moves from
the farmers to traders/butchers the village or to the butcher/ trader in weekly market,
then to retailers directly or through distributors (big traders) and finally to the consumers
in the urban and semi urban centers.
There were two types of markets viz. (i) distribution markets and (ii) weekly
markets. Distribution Markets were located in big cities and in some towns in the
country. They were located adjacent to or within the slaughterhouse campuses, which
are popularly known as “livestock/ Bakra mandies.” They were held daily in the early
hours to coincide with the slaughter timings. The buyers were urban butchers and big
traders while the sellers are outside traders and commission agents. Weekly markets/
hats were held in urban and semi-urban centers and few large villages on a specific day
in a week. Weekly markets were under the control of Panchayats/ municipalities and in
many cases they were owned and controlled by the private parties. These private
operators managed the market and collected the market fee from the sellers/ buyers. The
fee varied from market to market ranging from Rs. 10 to Rs. 75 per goat and Rs. 50-150
per cow or buffalo. Most of these markets were held in open areas without proper
shelter and drinking water facilities. Animals were kept waiting in the scorching sun
until the transactions were over. The unsold animals many times were taken back to the
villages and again brought back to the market on next market day.
 Figure 4.1: Marketing channels of goats

4.1.3 Middlemen
Middlemen play very important role at different stages of marketing of meat
animals. They perform various marketing functions such as purchase, transportation and
sale of animals. Two types of middlemen viz. “merchant middlemen” and “agent
middlemen” were involved in the marketing of meat animals. The merchant middlemen
are those who buy and sell the animals for their gains; petty traders, big traders and
wholesale meat dealers-cum-butchers come under this category. They get their income
from a margin between selling and buying price. However, there is an element of risk of
incurring loss at times. On the other hand the “agent middlemen” do not buy or sell
animals, but they arrange or put the buyer and the seller together, for which they get
commission. They are popularly known as “commission agents”. They operate both in
weekly markets and also in the distribution markets. The agents operating in weekly
markets bring buyer and seller together and negotiate the price for which they charge
Rs. 50-100 per animal from the buyer depending on the number and age of animals.
However, the commission agents operating in the distribution markets, put the buyer
(butcher) and the seller together, and bargain and settle the price. For these services, the
commission agents charge as a fixed percent of the total value of the animal from sellers.
That ranges between 3 - 4 percent of total value of the animal. The number of market
intermediaries involved in assembling and distribution of goats mainly depends on the
distance between the production centers and the place of slaughter. In general, longer
the distance, the more number of intermediaries involved
Goats produce a variety of products such as meat, skins, milk, manure and fiber
and some by-products. For farmers, however mainly surplus kids and adults and to some
extent milk and manure were sold in the market. The sales of live goats constituted about
60 to 80 percent of the gross returns from goats. Market for goat milk is yet to be
developed. Therefore, the farmers’ major marketed surplus from goat was live goat (kids
and adult).
The detailed analysis was carried out of goat marketing system followed by
traditional farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan (from villages to terminal markets) and
so also by the commercial goat farmers in the country. The information on goat marketing
system in U.P., Rajasthan and of commercial farmers is presented separately in the next
section.

4.2 MARKETING OF GOATS IN UTTAR PRADESH

4.2.1 Socio-economic profile of traditional goat farmers
The goat rearing under extensive system on common feed resources was a
traditional actively of the farmers. The goat farmers were classified into four categories,
namely, category I having 1-5 breeding goats, II (6-15 goats), III (16-30 goats) and category
IV having >30 goats. Majority of the farmers (71.66%) belonged to the category I and II
and had owned small flocks. The average flock size of breeding goats in different category
ranged from 2.75 to 49.09 goats (Table 4.1). However, goat rearing was the main
occupation of 67 percent of the goat keepers. Among the goat farmers, 35 percent do
reared sheep and 50 percent also had buffaloes for milk production. However, the
average size of sheep flock was higher then the size of goat flock. The goat farmers had
very low level of education with 71 percent of them as illiterate (Table 4.2). The goat
keepers were mostly the rural landless, and marginal and small farmers. The average size
of land holding was less than one hectare except category IV, where a few medium
farmers also had goats (Table 4.3). The socio economic profile of the traditional goat
farmers in U.P. clearly reflected their poor ability to bargain in the market while selling
goats (Table 4.1 to 4.3).

Table 4.1: Composition and flock size of goats

Category No. of Adult Adult 6-12 6-12 6 6 Total
farmers female male month month month month
male female male female
I (1-5 goats) 44 2.75 0.39 0.45 0.27 0.48 1.09 5.43
II (6-15 goats) 42 10.31 0.64 0.60 0.90 0.86 1.83 15.14
III (16- 30 23 23.70 0.61 0.70 2.26 2.91 5.13 35.30
goats)
IV (>30 goats) 11 49.09 2.45 2.27 1.36 1.09 4.55 60.82
Pooled 120 13.66 0.71 0.72 0.98 1.13 2.44 19.63

Table 4.2: Farmers’ educational status

Category Education of farmers (%)
Illiterate Primary 6-10th Std. >10th Std. Graduate and above
I 59.09 11.36 27.27 - 2.27
II 76.19 9.52 11.90 2.38 -
III 86.96 13.04 - - -
IV 63.64 9.09 27.27 63.64 9.09
Overall 70.83 10.83 16.67 0.83 0.83

Table 4.3: Size of operational land holding (acre)

Category Owned land Leased in Total operational
Irrigated Un Irrigated Irrigated holding
I 1.27 0.00 0.35 1.62
II 1.18 0.08 0.38 1.64
III 1.23 0.07 0.05 1.35
IV 5.87 0.31 0.00 6.18
Overall 1.65 0.07 0.27 1.99

4.2.2 Composition of sale of live goats

The farmers periodically sold culled adult goats, young males and kids for
slaughter and few for rearing. To harness the potential of meat production and achieve
economic efficiency, the slaughter of goat is recommended at the age of 7 to 10 months
in different breeds. However majority of farmers preferred to sale their goat kids below 6
months age. The kids below 6 months age formed the major share of the total sale of live
goats by the farmers (Table 4.4 and Figure 4.2). The kids of <3-month age constituted
highest share (24 percent) in the total annual sale of live goats in a year. It was observed
that the share of <3 months kids in total sale of live animals was higher in large flock
size categories reaching up to 48 percent of the total sale. Another major sale category
was 3-6 months kids. These kids were mostly sold to traders/ butcher or and then to
butcher. As a result of slaughter of underage small kids the economy of goat rearing and
potential of meat production from goat is undermined, which is a direct loss to the goat
sector and economy of the country.

Table 4.4: Composition of sale of goats (in percent)

Category Category I Category II Category III Category IV Overall
< 3 month 5.50 18.50 47.62 30.91 23.61
3 - 6 months 46.93 14.19 7.04 11.97 20.87
6 - 12 months male 24.30 9.59 5.24 6.07 12.18
6-12 month female 2.94 8.44 9.85 11.85 7.84
>12 month male 4.09 32.41 19.39 14.97 19.07
>12 month female 16.24 16.87 10.87 24.22 16.43
 >12 month
female
16% < 3 month
24%

>12 month
male
19 %

3 - 6 months
21%
6-12 month
female 6 -12 month
8% male
12%

Figure 4.2: Share of different age groups in total sale of goats in Uttar Pradesh

The traditional farmers preferred to maintain a constant flock size of goats to make
it manageable flock in view of scarcity of grazing land and feed resources. The farmers
resorted to the sale of kids at early age mainly because of their urgent cash needs (53
percent farmers) and fear of mortality in kids due to diseases coupled with low risk bear
ability (Table 4.5). Some farmers mentioned that it was more beneficial to sell kids at early
age. The large flock owners were producing goat milk for sale. In the absence of separate
housing for kids and does and their grazing together made it impossible for the farmers to
wean the kids particularly in large flocks. Hence continued suckling of milk by kids for 4-
5 months results into direct loss of milk output and the longer period of suckling also
delayed next servicing/conception of the doe. That again reduces the production of
number of kids per goat per unit time. Therefore, the large flock owners mostly sold their
kids at an early age. The lack of sufficient housing space in most cases was also a
constraint in retaining the grown up kids.
Table 4.5: Reasons for sale of early-age kids
Reasons Percent farmers
Urgent cash needs 53.33
Risk of mortality/disease 47.50
Pressure of money lender 14.17
Unaware of optimum age of sale 9.17
Comparatively higher income in selling at early age 8.33
Difficulty in managing grown up male kids 4.17
Others 1.67

4.2.3 Marketing channels

The marketing of live goats was totally unorganized and controlled by petty
traders and butchers. Having low level of awareness, the farmers mostly preferred to sale
their goats in the village itself. Mainly five channels were used by the farmers to market
their goats. These channels were, Channel I: Farmer to Farmer in the village; Channel II:
Farmer to Butcher/ trader in the village; Channel III: Farmers to Other agencies in the
village; Channel IV: Farmer to Butcher/Trader in weekly market; Channel V: Farmer to
Trader in distant markets. The maximum trading of live goats was carried out through
channel II. Fifty three percent farmers used this channel and sold their 44 percent of
surplus live goats. Farmers - Butcher /trader in the village as well weekly market together
accounted for 70 percent of the total trade of live goats done by farmers (Table 4.6 and
Figure 4.3 and 4.4).
Table 4.6: Market Channels adopted by the farmers for sale of goats in different categories (in
percent)
Market Place of Category I Category II Category III Category IV
channels transaction Farmer Goats Farmer Goats Farmer Goats Farmer Goats
Farmers - At farmers’
Farmer village 27.27 26.98 33.33 15.07 52.17 13.96 18.18 8.61
Farmer – At farmers’
Butcher/ village
trader 54.55 45.71 45.24 42.69 69.57 50.32 36.36 34.93
Farmer – At farmers’
Other village
agencies 4.55 1.27 0.00 0.00 13.04 4.55 9.09 7.18
Farmer – At local
Butcher/ weekly
trader market 31.82 19.05 26.19 35.84 43.48 16.88 36.36 29.19
Farmer - At distant
Trader market in 4.55 6.98 7.14 6.39 13.04 14.29 18.18 20.10

Many times the butcher was also involved in trading of goats. The petty/ rural
traders and butchers regularly visit the villages under their area of operation. At any
moment of time these traders have very correct information on of different types of goats
available for sale with the farmers in their area of operation. To some extent the channel
IV (Farmer - trader/butcher in weekly market) was also important. However the large
flock owners followed this channel more. The large farmers also sold there 20% of the
marketed goats to the traders in the distant markets in and around the distinct. It is
evident that majority of farmers sold their goats in the village itself. The small number of
traders/butchers visiting the village tried not to compete among them. Moreover there
was lack of access to the correct market information. In this situation the prices of
farmers’ goats was not fixed as per the play of demand and supply forces and remained
towards lower side.
The reasons for selling goats in the village itself are indicated in Table 4.7. In
farmers perception it was uneconomic to take small number of goats to the market. The
farmers’ marketed surplus at a time was 1-2 to 3-4 goats. Almost whole day was required
to sale the goats in the weekly market. Many times the farmers was forced to sale his
goats at low price to avoid return of the animals. There was fear of lack of transparency in
the weekly markets. As the traders most of the time had some understanding among
themselves and the farmer was an individual small player and had low bargaining power
in the market. Seventy one percent of the farmers felt that they get lower price for their
goats then the actual market value by about 13 percent. The most prominent reason for
low price was the lack of bargaining power and distress sale followed by poor health of
animals and lack of market information (Table4.8). In fact the lack of market information
was a much bigger constraint. Most of the farmers did not know that what to do, if
trader/butcher in the village were not ready to pay the reasonable price. Moreover these
goat farmers did not prepare their animals as per the requirement of the market. In the
rainy season, farmers wanted to reduce the number of goats due to fear of diseases. That
increases the supply but at the same time of demand was low as compared to winter
season, which eventually resulted into lower price of farmers’ live goats.

8.33

33.33

32.5

Farmer – Farmer in village

Farmer –Butcher/ trader in village
5 Farmer – Other agencies in village
Farmer – Butcher/ trader in weekly market

52.5 Farmer -Trader in distant market

Figure 4.3: Channels of goat marketing adopted by traditional farmers in U.P. (% farmers)

Farmer – Farmer in village

10.71
16.69 Farmer –Butcher/ trader in village
Farmer – Other agencies in village
Farmer – Butcher/ trader in weekly market
Farmer -Trader in distant market
25.98

2.6 44.02

Figure 4.4: Percentage of goats sold through different marketing channels in U.P.

Table 4.7: Reasons for selling of goat in the village itself

Reasons Percent farmer
Un-economic to take small numbers to the market 46.67
Non-availability of time 42.50
More time required for marketing in weekly markets 34.17
No facility for animals in the market (shed, water, etc.) 11.67
Forced sale at very low price to avoid return of animals 25.83
Fearing lack of transparency in trading in livestock markets 13.33

Table 4.8: Farmers’ perception on low price of their goats

Reasons Percent farmer
 Distress sale 58.33
Poor health 29.17
Lack of market information 22.50
4.24 Reasons and purpose of sale of live goats
The reasons and purpose of sale of goats by the farmers are depicted in Table 4.9
and 4.10. The major component of sale was the surplus males followed by culled goats
(old, unproductive and diseased). The majority of the farmers sold their males and kids
during the winter season because of scarcity of common feed resources and favourable
prices in this season. The goats were also sold to restrict the flock size the flock size as
traditional goat keepers hardly have sufficient space particularly in Uttar Pradesh. The
returns from sale of goats were mainly utilized to fulfill family needs including food,
followed by meeting social obligations, repayment of loans, emergencies like illness,
input for crop and animals etc. Hence goat was not only important for the food and
nutrition security of the family but also an easy liquidity option for meeting emergency
expanses on medical treatment, education, repayment and inputs.

Table 4.9: Reasons for sale of goats

Reasons Percent farmer
Decline in grazing resources (in winter) 51.67
To restrict the flock size 33.33
Surplus males 57.50
Culling of old and unproductive animals 19.17
Non-availability of family labour 16.67
Cull diseased goats 16.67
Decrease in earning from goat rearing (binding up) 7.50

Table 4.10: Purpose of sale of adult animals

Purpose Percent farmers
To fulfill family needs including food 55.83
To meet social obligations 42.50
Repayment of loan 22.50
To meet unforeseen expenses like illness 16.67
Purchase of seed, fertilizer, diesel etc. for crops 12.50
Children’s education 10.83
Replacement of goats by purchasing substitute goats 9.17
Purchase of feed fodder for dairy animals 6.67
Lending money to fellow farmers 6.67
Repair of house 1.67
Others 3.33

4.2.5 System of price fixation in village

For fixing price of live goats, three unit of sale were followed by the buyers. They
were ‘per head’, ‘per pair’ and ‘per group’. While purchasing goats most of the farmers
(80%) adopted ‘per head’ method, however the traders/butchers also purchased
considerably in ‘group’ and in ‘pairs’ (Table 4.11). The common method for price
fixation of live goats in the villages at the doorstep of the goat farmer was through mutual
bargain and open sale system. Different criteria were used by different agencies for price
fixation of live goats. The priority of farmer’s buyer was health; breed and age of the
animals, while trader/butchers prime criteria were body weight, health and breed. The
priority of NGOs and government agencies was breed of goat together with its health and
age. The farmers and traders also considered the look of the animal (Table 4.12). The
buyers had all these criteria in their mind but the farmer’s goat’s price was decided on
‘per head’, ‘per pair’ and ‘per group’ basis, not on the basis of weight of the animal etc.
Forty eight percent of the farmers had kept certain reserve price for their animals and the
rest did not have any idea about the realistic price of their goats. The basis of keeping a
reserve price was the existing market price and last year’s price. The farmers did not have
any idea about the total value that accrues from a goat through its products and by
products after it gets slaughtered. Prevailing price of different types of goats of different
age groups are given in Table4.13. The large value of standard error indicates the large
variations in price goats in the same category and same age group. Besides difference in
the quality of animals, the large variation in price might be due to variation in the margin
of the middlemen.

Table 4.11: Method of price fixation

Methods Purchasing agencies (in percent)
Farmer Butcher/ trader
Per animal 80 55.21
Per pair 12 11.46
Per groups 8 33.33

Table 4.12: Criteria of price fixation

Criteria Purchasing agencies (in %)
Farmer Trader Butcher/ trader Govt./ NGOs
Body weight 27.50 85.10 100.00 66.60
Health 50.00 51.06 50.77 83.30
Breed 27.50 42.55 9.23 100.00
Age 20.00 21.28 13.85 50.00
Look 12.50 12.50 - 33.33

Table 4.13: Age-group wise price of goats in Uttar Pradesh

Category Particulars Average sale price of goats of different age groups, in Rs.
Up to 3 m 3 to 6 6 to 12 m 6 to 12 m >12 m >12 m
m male female male female
I Price 303 787 1747 1500 2528 1251
(SE) (21.55) (28.11) (47.57) (12.31) (104.99) (80.51)
II Price 377 720 1349 1116 1760 1107
(SE) (17.53) (16.59) (85.06) (82.98) (107.78) (58.51)
III Price 393 839 1256 1213 2265 1280
(SE) (17.39) (12.15) (89.72) (122.88) (130.67) (59.40)
IV Price 419 856 1342 1115 1779 1352
(SE) (27.52) (12.61) (249.18) (125.53) (172.72) (64.26)
Overall Price 395 800 1398 1178 2025 1232
(SE) (9.51) (10.38) (46.19) (44.31) (59.78) (37.21)

4.2.6 Village to nearby weekly market

In general, most of the animal’s feet drive from villages to the nearest markets.
Different modes of transport were in vogue depending on the distance and number of
animals to be transported at a time. If the distance from village to weekly market is more
than 6-8 km, cycles, Tonga, tempo, make shift engine driven 4 wheelers and truck were
used for transport of goats (Table4.14). The transport charges per animal per trip were
Rs.11 and the average market fee was Rs.17 per goat. The farmer had to cover a distance
of 8 km to participate in the weekly goat market (Table4.15). The petty traders/middlemen
often made use of the vacant Lorries, mini trucks proceeding towards the weekly market
by paying a nominal amount. With a very small magnitude of marketed surplus, low
education and awareness level, lack of market information and having almost no voice in
the society, the traditional goat farmers had to continue with the present system of
marketing but majority of than (three fourth) were not satisfied with the goat marketing
system (Table4.16).

Table 4.14: Transportation of goats by farmer for marketing

Particulars Percent farmers
Farmers using transport for marketing the goat 51
Means of transport: Truck 28
Tempo 28
Tonga 3
Other 41

Table 4.15: Detail of transporting goats to market

Category Transport charge Rs./ Animal Market fee, Distance (km) Range (km)
Rs./ animal
I 22.0 17.02 8.67 5-18
II 7.0 14.83 10.0 3-25
III 8.8 24.58 7.0 6-8
IV 14.67 12.0 7.67 5-12
Pooled 10.91 16.73 7.90 3 - 25

Table 4.16: Farmers’ perception on existing goat marketing system (% farmer)

Category Satisfied Not satisfied
I 25.00 75.00
II 34.09 65.91
III 29.55 70.45
IV 11.36 88.64

4.2.7 Goat Milk

Though the sale of kids and surplus adults was the major source of income for the
goat farmers, but producing milk for home consumption as well as for sale was the prime
objective of most of the traditional goat keepers. Among them 63 percent mentioned that
there exists a demand for goat milk, however most of it (86 percent) was purchased by
milk vendors as adulterant in buffalo/ cow milk. Few farmers also sold milk to local
consumers, patients and dairy plants (Table 4.17). The goat milk was sold @ Rs.8.21 per
liter, which was 20-25 percent less than the prevailing price of buffalo milk (Table 4.18).
The medicinal properties and advantages of goat milk over buffalo milk have been well
documented; but the market for goat milk as such has not yet emerged mainly due to its
association with poor people and unhygienic methods of production. Even the particular
smell of goat milk could be minimized if proper hygiene and management practices are
followed. Creation of market for goat milk would surely boost the goat economy.
The farmers’ access to veterinarian’s services and other critical inputs was not
satisfactory. The farmers had to travel 2-35 km and average of 6 km to get his goats
treated. As the women of household were mostly responsible for taking care of goats, they
could hardly avail the services of the veterinarians (Table 4.19). The expenditure on
visiting veterinarian on each occasion was Rs.40. A very few number of farmers (12.05
percent) availed credit for goat rearing. The rate of interest of institutional sources was 10-
12 percent per annum and 30-36 percent per annum was charged by non-institutional
agencies (Table 4.20).
Table 4.17: Demand and destination for farmers’ goat milk
Particulars Response of farmers
Number Percent
Demand for goat milk exist 76 63
Milk vendors 65 86
Local consumer 8 11
Dairy plant 7 9
Patient 3 4
Other 1 1

Table 4.18: Goat milk production in farmers’ flock

Category Milk production Prices, Value of milk
kg/ year Rs. / liter
I 187.92 8.10 1660
II 1066.61 8.19 8737
III 2894.38 8.16 23629
IV 3500.00 8.27 28970
Overall 1745.22 8.21 15540

Table 4.19: Access to Veterinarian’s Services

Category Distance (km) Charge/ occasion, Rs.
I 5.76 (3-12) 31
II 6.55 (2-35) 46
III 4.16 (1.5-15) 30
IV 5.57 (3-10) 60
Overall 5.74 (2-35) 40

Table 4.20: Credit availed by farmers for goat rearing

Category Percent farmers Amount, Duration Rate of Interest
availed credit Rs. years Institutional Non-institutional
I 6.82 12167 3.33 10-12 -
II 4.76 25000 1.50 10 36
III 30.43 33428 2.40 10-12 36
IV 27.27 41667 1.75 - 30-36
Total 12.05 29700 2.59 10-12 30-36

4.2.8 Live goat markets and market functionaries in Uttar Pradesh

The livestock markets play an important role in assembling and distribution of
goats/sheep in most parts of the country. Five livestock markets of U.P. including Kalpi,
which is the biggest live goats’ market in north India, were part of the study (Table 4.21).
To start a new market it was required to get registration and permission from the office of
the district magistrate, if market was located in rural areas. The municipality gave the
permission if the market was located in urban area. These markets pay a nominal fee
every year and their registration gets renewed routinely. However, there was no
monitoring at all of functioning of the livestock markets by the above agencies. The
market owners /societies set their own rules for functioning of the markets. Half of the
markets were owned and controlled by private individuals and other half by societies.
Even the society belonged to 1-2 families. There was no involvement of the government.
The daily arrivals of goats ranged from 100 in Mathura 12000 in Kalpi, which reached to
1000 to 30000 per day in peak period in winter season during festivals. Among the
arrivals 60 percent were males and 40 percent females. The market fee per goat was
Rs.10 to Rs.25, with exception of one market having fee as 4% of the value of goat sold,
which was too high (Table 4.22). The buyers normally paid the fee, but it all depended on
the agreement between buyer and seller.

Table 4.21: Profile of livestock markets of Uttar Pradesh

Name of Ownership/ Day of Area Type of animal Registering agency Registration
market control operation (m2) traded of animals
Idgah Society Friday 4000 Goat and sheep Municipality No
Etah Society Monday 8000 Large and small No
ruminants District Magistrate
Jaswant Society Wednesday 25000 Goat and sheep No
Nagar District Magistrate
Kalpi Private Tuesday 10000 Goat and sheep Municipality No
Mathura Private Saturday 11400 Large and small No
ruminants Municipality
Bainayee Private Tuesday 5400 Large and small
ruminants District Magistrate No

Table 4.22: Number of arrival of goats per market day

Name of Arrivals/ Arrivals/ market day Market fee per animal, Who pay the
market market day in peak period Rs. market fee
Idgah 300 4500 4% of value of animal Seller
Etah 200 4000 15 Buyer
Jaswant Nagar 8000 20000 12 Seller/ Buyer
Kalpi 12000 30000 10 Seller/ Buyer
Mathura 150 1000 15 Buyer
Bainayee 500 2000 25 Buyer/ seller

Table 4.23: Volume of trade of goats

Name of market No. of goats brought for sale Trade in peak % Animal
Per day Per annum period/ market day sold
Idgah 300 76800 Id, holi, 4500 90
Etah 200 66400 Id, holi, 4000 60
Jaswant Nagar 7000 619000 Id, holi, 30000 70
Kalpi 8000 658000 Id, holi, 30000 88
Mathura 100 47700 Id, holi, 1000 30
Overall 3120 293580 Id, holi, 13900 68

The livestock markets had poor infrastructure (Table 4.24). The office and drinking
water was mostly available but the sheds and fodder for animals and transit
accommodation for traders were available only in 1/3rd of the markets. The veterinary aid
was not available except one market. The transport facilities and their charges varied
according to the distance of travel (Table 4.25). Buffalo and cows were also traded in
these markets. Though the government has no interest in the livestock markets but the
private individuals and societies controlling them have huge financial stakes. The
livestock goat markets had huge income, which ranged from Rs.10.22 lakh to Rs.59.02
Lakhs per annum (Table 4.26). In spite of the huge income, the markets had very poor
infrastructure. Therefore, there is need to rationalize the market fee structure and make it
mandatory for the market owners/societies to create minimum facilities to get their
registration renewed.
Table 4.24: Infrastructure in livestock markets
Infrastructure Percent market having facility
Office 83
Shed for animal 33
Building for protection of buyer/seller from rain 33
Ramp to load and unload the animal 67
Availability of drinking water for animal 83
Availability of drinking water for human beings 100
Availability of fodder 33
Availability of veterinary aid 17
Note: The sources of water were hand pump, ponds, tube-well, etc. and fodder was dry straw.

Table 4.25: Transportation facilities

Distance /place Mode
Short Distance Place, Local Auto, tempo, makeshift vehicle
(10 – 50 km) Type of animal Goat, sheep, cow, buff low, others
Charge Rs. 5 to 10 / goat and sheep
Long Distance All UP, MP and Rajasthan Truck
(100 – 150 km) Type of animal Goat, sheep and other animal
Number of animal/trip 237
Charge/trip Rs 4750 and Rs. 20 per goat

Table 4.26: Annual income of the markets

Name of market Income from commission/ market fee per annum, Rs. lakh
Trade of goats Other animals Total livestock trade
Idgah 30.72 3.14 33.86
Etah 5.98 4.68 10.66
Jaswant Nagar 48.28 0.05 48.33
Kalpi 57.90 1.12 59.02
Mathura 3.58 6.64 10.22
Overall 29.29 3.13 32.42
None of the markets had any agency to check the mal practices in trading. In case
of controversy the secretary or owner mediated occasionally. All the transactions were
made in cash except a few selective buyers for whom credit guaranty was given by the
market owner or commission agents (Table 4.27). Neither any livestock extension agency
was active in the market nor the veterinarian for any infections disease inspected the
animals brought to market.

Table 4.27: Support system available at the market

Name of Agency for Mediation in case of Transactions Credit support/ No of
market checking the controversy in the are made in guaranty goat die /
malpractices trade cash or credit month
Idgah No Secretary Cash and credit Commission 1
Agent
Etah No Secretary Cash - 1
Jaswant No Secretary Cash and credit Market owner 3
Nagar
Kalpi No Market owner Cash 15
Mathura No Market owner Cash - 1
4.29 Market functionaries
A range of market functionaries were involved in the marketing of goats. For
majority of them (70 percent) trading of goats was a part time activity. Petty/small traders,
butchers, farmer seller, farmer and other buyers and big traders were operating in all the
livestock markets and two major markets also had the presence of commission agents
(Table 4.28). None of the functionaries was required to be formally registered, nor to pay
any fee for operating in the livestock market. Since goat trading was a traditional family
activity continuing over the generations, the functionaries (traders/butchers) having
different levels of experience were evenly spread (Table 4.29). Most of them belonged to
the Muslim community and backward casts (Table 4.30). The educational status of the
traders was very poor with 61 percent of them as illiterate. However, gathering the
knowledge over the generations, they well knew all the tricks of the trade and often
indulged in collusive activity during the trading of the animals. In Uttar Pradesh, a
number of weekly animal markets are organized in a district. However farmers in
particular location preferred a particular market. The major reasons for selecting a
particular market by the farmers were its nearness to the village of the farmer (Table 4.32).
The other basis of preference for a market was comparatively more remunerative prices,
large size of market, large number of buyers and higher level of transparency.
Table 4.28: Market functionaries and their participation
Name of Market functionaries
market Commission Big Petty/small Butchers Seller Buyers
agents traders traders (farmers) (farmers)
Idgah 10 15 25 22 10 -
Etah - 4 20 15 30 50
Jaswant - 50 40 32 400 400
Nagar
Kalpi 37 50 70 20 600 300
Mathura - 10 18 12 20 10
Average 9 26 35 20 212 152
Table 4.29: Experience of marketing functionary
Experience in years No. of market functionaries (%)
0 -5 26.09
5-10 13.04
10-15 17.39
15-20 8.70
>20 34.78
Table 4.30: Distribution of marketing functionaries in social groups
Caste/ social group No. functionary (%)
Other Backward Class 42.31
Muslim 42.31
Schedule Caste 11.53
General 3.85
Table 4.31: Educational status of marketing functionary
Education No. functionary (%)
Illiterate 60.87
I to VIII 21.74
High School 13.04
Graduate 4.35
Table 4.32: Reasons for selecting a market by farmer seller
Destination Percent Marketing functionary
Near to home 39.13
Remunerative price 21.74
Large size of market 13.04
Large number of buyers 8.70
Level of transparency 8.70

4.2.10 Purchase and sale of goats by traders

The goat traders regularly visited a number of flocks of the farmers in the villages
in their operating area and purchase goats in small numbers everyday. They sell these
goats either in the weekly markets or directly to big traders, butchers and farmers. The
purchase, sale and net margins of these traders are shown in Table 4.33and 4.34. The
purchase prices of goat were higher at the weekly market as compared to the village.
Similarly the sale price of goats also varied in the village and market. There was variation
in the net margins of goat trader (net returns to his labour) depending on the place and
season of sale. The goats for meat purpose gave more net margins if sold in the weekly
market. On the other hand the net margins of traders from the sale of breeding goats were
higher if sold to the goat keepers in the village itself. The net margins of trader per goat
were estimated to be Rs.89 in case of kids to Rs.235 for a grown-up kid or adult goat
while performing the trading in the village itself. The margins were higher when goats
purchased from villages, were sold in the weekly market, which ranged from Rs.170 to
Rs.230 per goat.
The magnitude of margin of the middlemen trader fluctuated in normal and festive
seasons (Table 4.35). The traders’ margin from the sale of one adult goat during the
normal season varied from Rs.118 to Rs.258. This range during the festive season was
Rs.227 to Rs.850 per goat. This clearly demonstrates the undue margins realized by the
trader by adding only the space utility.
Table 4.33: Purchase of goats
Particulars Numbers goat Purchase price, Rs./ goat
At Village At Market
Adult Male 31 1500 1816
Adult Female 10 1300 1340
Kids (6-12) month male 33 1150 1325
Kids (6-12) month female 2 650 800
Kids (3-6) months 45 480 595

Table 4.34: Sale of goats by traders

Particulars No. Sale price /goat, Rs. Net margin of the
of trader, Rs./animal
goat At Village At Market Sale at Sale at
Village Market
Adult Female 18 1472 1590 157 230
Kids (6-12) month male 21 1360 1550 195 205
Kids (6-12) month female 12 900 990 235 170
Kids (3-6) month 18 579 819 89 209

Table 4.35: Marketing margin of middlemen (Rs/ goat)

Season Minimum Maximum
Normal season 118 227
Festive season 258 850
The destinations of sale of live goats bought by small rural traders are shown in
Table 4.36. It was revealed that although the local weekly markets were the major
destination, but a significant share of goats was also sold to the outside traders in direct
contact, farmers in the village itself and the metropolitan markets.

Table 4.36: Destination of sale of live goats by traders

Destination Percent Marketing functionary
Local market 52.17
Outside traders in direct contact 30.43
Farmers 26.10
Metropolitan markets 8.70

4.2.11 Marketing cost incurred by petty traders

The petty traders were the strongest link in the goat-marketing network. The major
input of petty traders in the marketing activity was their labour spent on regularly
collecting information on availability of marketed surplus with the goat keepers and
collection and sale of goats. Besides labour, the cost incurred on collection and transport
of animals from villages to weekly market including the losses due to mortality during
transit was estimated to be Rs.20 per grown up goat and Rs.15 per kid. Such cost was
Rs.15 and Rs.10, if the buying and selling took place in the village itself without bringing
the goats to the weekly market.
4.2.12 Trade of males for Eid festival
Preparing males by keeping them on special feeding regime and sale them during
the festival of Eid, was a major attraction for some farmers as well as f traders. Healthy
males of over one year age with good look were in high demand for offering during the
festival of Eid and attracted almost double the price as compared to the normal season. A
large number of traders purchased such males (mostly castrated) 20-30 days before the
festival of Eid and kept them on high energy-fat ration and sold them during Eid. It was
revealed that the net margins of traders per animal ranged from Rs.326 to Rs.570 (Table
4.37). The sale price of the males during Eid was as high as Rs.125 to Rs.150 per kg of
live body weight. However the goat farmers did not have awareness and attitude to take
benefit of the lucrative Eid markets, hardly 10-12 percent farmers were preparing males
for sale during Eid. Though majority of the traditional goat farmers were aware of the
potential benefits of sale during Eid, but the lack of commercial orientation, low risk
bearing ability and lack of market information were constraining factors.
Table 4.37: Purchase and sale of males for festivals (Rs.)
Market No. of male Purchase price/ Collection & Sale price/ Net margin/
traded animal fattening cost animal animal
Market I 16 2375 305 3190 570
Market II 21 3200 350 3876 326
Market III 11 3300 305 4100 495
Market IV 23 2615 200 3250 435
4.2.13 Pricing of live-goats in the livestock market
Similar to the deals finalized in the villages, the three common units of sale of live
goats, viz. ‘per head’, ‘per pair’ and ‘per group’ were followed in the livestock markets
also. However, the first two units were more common (Table 4.38). The price of goats
were mainly (61% of deals) decided with the help of agent/middleman through under
cover system where in the agent would talk with the buyers in a coded language and on
behalf of the owner he eventually finalize and declare the deal at highest quoted price.
Many times, however farmers were skeptical about this method. ‘Open auction system’,
which is more transparent, was followed in 39 percent of the deals for fixing the price of
live goats. However, even under the ‘open auction system’ the traders frequently tried to
fix a artificially low price through collusive activity. The open auction system was more
practiced in Uttar Pradesh as compared to Rajasthan (Table 4.39 and Figure 4.5). The
extent of participation in weekly livestock markets by the goat farmers was also higher in
Uttar Pradesh as compared to Rajasthan. The basis of price fixation of live goats by traders
was mainly body weight of the animals (Table 4.40). Though there was no facility for
weighing the animals in the market, the traders judged the weight of goats through
‘Hattha system’ wherein the trader would judge the weight and potential meat yield by
holding the animal by his hand on its back. The traders have so perfected the skill of
guessing weight of goats through ‘Hattha system’ that their guess was correct with 85-90
percent accuracy. At the same time the farmer-seller did not know the weight of his
(same) animal.
Table 4.38: Unit of sale of goats
Methods of sale Percent transactions
Per goats 46.97
Per pair 51.51
Group 1.52
Table 4.39: Method of price fixation of live goats
Method of price fixation No. of deals (%)
Open action 39.13
Under cover 60.87
Table 4.40: Basis of price fixation
Particular Response Pooled
Adult female Adult male Kids
Body weight 20 (86.95) 19 (86.95) 10 (34.78) 50 (72.46)
Breed 12 (52.17) 10 (43.48) 17 (73.91) 39 (56.52)
Milk yield 13 (56.52) - - -
Age 7 (30.43) 8 (34.78) - 15 (21.74)
Total 23 23 23 69

Under cover
Open action
100
No. of deals of selling goats by

90
80
farmers in market(%)

60.9
70
60 90

50
40
30
39.1
20
10 10
0
U.P. Rajasthan
Figure 4.5: Methods of price fixation of live goats in the market
4.2.14 Seasonal variation in price of goats
Since meat is still a luxury for majority of the meat eating population of the
country, its consumption increases during the festivals. The festivals such as Eid, Dushara,
Durga Puja, Holi etc falls during the winter season hence the demand and so also the
market price of goats increased during the winter season. A number of farmers in Uttar
Pradesh sold their all kids and young ones in winters retaining only does because of lack
of grazing resource and lack of sufficient housing space during the winter. Better price
was an advantage. The price of goats (particularly meat goat) moved lower ward in
summer season because of lower demand. The arrival of large migratory flocks of goat
and sheep from Rajasthan also had dampening effect on price (by Rs.100-200 per head) of
goats in Uttar Pradesh in summer. The price of goats’ further falls in the rainy season. This
happens because of increased supply of goats. The supply increased because the farmers
wanted to reduce the size of their goat flock in rainy season due to the following reasons,
one; the fear of mortality due to diseases, two; lack of proper housing facility to protect
goats from rain and three; farmers’ feared that the goat may become weak during rainy
days as it does not graze/browse under wet conditions and farmers were not prepared to
stall fed them during such rainy days. Hence, a large number of farmers wanted to sell
their goat that increased the supply of goats. However the demand remained normal or
little suppressed because of the absence of any festival and tendency of farmers not to
start new goat units in this season. The average price of goats of different age groups and
in different seasons is given in Table 4.41.
Table 4.41: Season wise average price of farmers’ goats (in Rs.)
Particulars Season
Winter Summer Rainy
Adult male castrated 1967 1533 1400
Adult female 1450 1267 1117
Male Kids (6-12m) 1533 1100 920
Female Kids (6-12m) 967 830 780
Male Kids (3-6m) 300 500 450
Breeding Buck (>2 years) 2000 1800 1750

Table 4.42: Price of male /female goat during last year

Season Rate 60 percent male goat and 40
Winter High percent female goat arrival in the
Summer Medium market
Rainy Low

4.2.15 Traders’ perception on market conditions

In response to various factors, the market conditions in goats’ trade have also been
changing. As a result of growth in population and per capita income, urbanization and
globalization the consumers’ preference is shifting towards high value food including
meat. Hence the demand for goat has also increased as reflected through its increased
market prices. It may be mentioned that the price of goat meat over the last couple of
years has increased much faster as compared to buffalo and poultry meat. The price of
goat meat (chevon), which was about Rs. 55 to 65 per kg a decade back, has increased to
Rs. 120 to Rs.150 per kg. The market functionaries /traders in Uttar Pradesh as well as in
Rajasthan also felt that the demand for meat goat particularly in peak periods has
increased considerably over the last 5 years (Table 4.43) The level of competition in the
trade has also increased due entry of more number of people in the goats’ trading and
comparatively higher level of awareness of the farmers. The consumers’ preference for
lean meat has been increasing. The other perceptible changes in the market conditions
over the last 5 years are increased supply as well as demand for Younger animals for
meat. The demand for by products has also increased to some extent. This may be due to
increased awareness for their use for industrial and other purposes.
Table 4.43: Change in goat trade during last five years
Particular Marketing functionary (%)
Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan
Increase in demand in peak period 52.17 70
Increased competition 34.78 80
Changed consumer preference to lean meat 21.74 20
Type of animal supplied (younger) 21.74 60
Type of animal demanded (young) 17.39 50
Demand of goats by-products 8.70 30

4.2.16 Farmer’s behavior in weekly markets

It was revealed that a number of farmers (36 percent) were ready to sell their
goats in the weekly market at whatever price they get, while other tried to bargain until
the last. Some farmers (9.17 percent) even took the animals back to home if the price
was lower then their expectations. The farmers (38 percent) also made efforts to keep
them informed about the market price. But the major source of information was the
fellow farmers followed by visiting the animal market himself and the village traders
(Table 4.44). However no source of information may be relied as authentic other than
the self-visit of the market, which cannot be suggested on account of its high cost.
Table 4.44: Farmers’ behaviour while selling goats in weekly market
Particulars Number Percent farmer

Selling goats at existing market price 43 35.83

Taking goats back if price lower than expectation 11 9.17
Farmers keeping them informed of prevailing market price 46 38.33
Source of price information: Fellow farmer 52 43.33
Visit to market 24 20.00
Village trader 20 16.67
Farmers gathering price information from market 51 42.5
One market 32 26.67
More than one market 19 15.83

4.2.17 Constraints faced by farmers in goat market

Though the illiteracy and low awareness was the biggest constraint of the goat
farmers, but there were other major constraints faced by farmers while selling their goats
particularly in the livestock markets. These constraints are depicted in the Table 4.45.
Majority of farmers felt constrained because of lack of transparency in trading of goats,
poor access to market and price information and poor infrastructure in the livestock
markets, such as lack of dirking water facility, shed and veterinarian. The farmers were
highly skeptical about the ‘under cover’ method of price fixation of the goats. The poor
infrastructure facilities in the weekly livestock markets and poor access to affordable
transport resulted in poor participation of the farmers in the market. Timely access to
market information is most important for the farmers to take right decision to sale the
animals. Organized efforts are required to provide the timely market information to the
farmers. There was no monitoring agency to check and control the collusive activities of
the traders in the market. It has been well accepted that price of meat-goats should be
decided on the basis of their body weight reflecting their potential meat yield. However
no market had weighing facility. Also no livestock market committee had representation
of the goat farmers participating in those markets. Representation of farmers in the
market management committee may help in addressing their concerns. However, the
farmers’ representative must be a goat farmer himself.

Table 4.45: Constraints faced by farmers in goat markets (n=55)

Particulars Percent farmer
Poor marketing infrastructure- drinking water, shed, veterinary doctor 53
High marketing fee/ commission of the agent 33
Lack of transparency in trading (under cover) 58
Poor access to market/ price information 53
Tendency of collusive activity among traders 11
No facility for weighing the animals in the market so as to arrive at proper 7
price
Poor access to affordable transport 5
High margins of middleman 33
No representation of farmers in management of goat markets 4

4.3 MARKETING OF GOATS IN RAJASTHAN

4.3.1 Socio-economic profile of traditional goat keepers
Goat rearing in Rajasthan was the most important economic activity of the goat
farmers. The farmers were classified into four categories, namely category I (1-5 does), II
(6-15 does), III (16-30 does) and IV (>30 does). Category I and II constituted two third
of the total farmers. The average flock size in different categories varied from 3.06 does
(breeding female goats) to 46.23 does (Table 4.46). The share of kids of above six
months age in the total flock was less as compare to Uttar Pradesh. In contrast to U.P.,
majority of the goat farmers were landholders with only 10 percent of them as landless
(Table 4.48 and 4.49). The average holding size in all the categories was almost same
indicating that there was no relation between flock size and land holding size. The goat
rearing (46 percent) and agriculture (42 percent) were the main occupations of the
farmers. There was no social inhibition even in the large farmers against the goat rearing
activity like Uttar Pradesh, the farmers level of education was very low with 63 percent
of them as illiterate (Table 4.47). The comparative socio economic status of goat farmers
among the all rural groups in Rajasthan was better as compared to Uttar Pradesh.
Among the goat farmers, 20 percent owned sheep and 37 percent reared buffaloes also.

Table 4.46: Composition and flock size of goats

Category No. of Adult Adult 6-12 m 6-12 m 6m 6m Total
farmers female male male female male female
I (1-5 goats) 35 3.06 0.20 0.40 0.77 0.69 0.77 5.89
II (6-15 goats) 45 9.82 0.31 1.11 1.80 0.71 0.78 14.53
III (16- 30 goats) 27 21.59 1.30 0.85 2.22 1.00 1.59 28.56
IV (>30 goats) 13 46.23 1.92 1.77 6.00 1.62 1.54 59.23
Pooled 120 14.46 0.68 0.92 2.05 0.87 1.04 20.01
Table 4.47: Farmers’ educational status
Category Education
Illiterate Primary 6 to 10 std. >10th Std. >Graduate
I 48.57 14.29 25.71 8.57 2.86
II 62.22 13.33 20.00 2.22 2.22
III 70.37 22.22 7.41 - -
IV 84.62 7.69 7.69 - -
Pooled 62.50 15.00 17.50 3.33 1.67

Table 4.48: Size of operational land holdings (acre)

Category Owned land Leased out Operational holding
Irrigated Un Irrigated Irrigated Un Irrigated
I 2.91 3.93 0.33 0.24 6.27
II 1.85 4.72 1.17 - 5.42
III 0.89 6.20 0.17 6.92
IV - 6.00 - - 6.00
Overall 1.74 4.96 0.53 0.11 6.06

Table 4.49: Distribution of goat keepers as per land ownership (in %)

Category Landless goat keepers Land holders
I 14.29 85.71
II 6.67 93.33
III 11.11 88.89
IV 7.69 92.31
Overall 10.00 90.00

4.3.2 Composition of sale of live goats

In response to the agro-ecological and resource situations of Rajasthan, the
major objective of goat farmers was to produce more milk per goat. Most of the male
kids were sold very early much before their economic age of slaughter. Majority of the
farmers preferred to sale their goat kids at early age just after weaning (Table 4.50 and
Figure 4.6). The share of kids of <3 months age (mostly male) was highest (39 percent)
in the total sale of live goats by the farmers in a year. The share of <3 months kids in
total sale was much higher up to 44 percent in the large flock size categories. In
Rajasthan the common feed resources on which the goats depend, were highly scarce
and the feed resources available in the market were also costlier as compared to Uttar
Pradesh. Therefore, the farmers were not interested in raising the male kids up to the
economic age of slaughter. Hence they wanted to get rid of the kids just after weaning.
Moreover in the absence of separate housing, the kids continued to suck milk up to the
age of 5-6 months. This resulted not only into direct loss of milk output but created
more stress for milking goats and consequently delayed the next conception of the doe.
Therefore, farmers wanted to sale the kids particularly male at the age of 2.5 to 3
months. Under the feed scarce situation, taking more output of milk from a doe and
selling the kids at early age was more profitable. For the benefit of farmers, a new
market has been emerging for the male kids of 2-3months of Sirohi breed of Rajasthan.
These small male kids have been in demand in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal
for rearing. The traders who cater this market were buying a male kid of 2-3 months at a
price of Rs.500-700. Another major sale category was 3-6 months kids, which were
mostly sold in the local market for slaughter. The efforts should be made to encourage
farmers to rear kids up to their optimum age of slaughter (6-8 months). The emerging
trend of rearing the kids of goats from Rajasthan in the areas having better access to feed
resources looks very promising and beneficial for the farmers and the goat economy as
well. The adult males, which formed the 11 percent of the total sale of live goats, were
sold mostly either for breeding purpose or for Eid. The adult females were mostly the
culled animals.
Table 4.50: Composition of sale of goats (in percent)
Category Category I Category II Category III Category IV Overall
< 3 month 26.20 30.87 43.13 44.37 38.79
3-6 month 21.03 20.58 22.00 26.85 23.08
6-12 month male 15.87 15.07 8.03 9.58 11.09
6-12 month female 9.59 2.61 5.35 7.41 5.62
>12 month male 18.82 17.68 8.61 5.77 11.01
>12 month female 8.49 13.19 12.88 6.02 10.41
10.41

11.01

38.79

5.62

11.09

23.08

< 3 months 3-6 months 6-12 months male

6-12 months female >12 months male >12 months female

Figure 4.6: Share of different age groups in total sale of goats in Rajasthan

The reasons for sale of early age kids are shown in Table4.51. Besides feed
scarcity and comparatively higher income in early sale under feed scarce situations, the
urgent cash need was the most important reason for selling the early age kids. The
farmers were also constrained in managing the grown up male kids due to lack of
sufficient and separate housing space for males and females. Though the farmers might
have adjusted their sale of goats in response to the situation, but slaughter of the early
age kid was a direct loss to the economy of goats and the farmers as well.
Table 4.51: Reasons for sale of early-age kids
Reasons Percent
Urgent cash needs 72.5
Scarcity of feed resources 55.83
Risk of mortality/disease 52.5
Comparatively higher income in selling at early age 41.66
Unaware of optimum age of sale 15.83
Pressure of money lender 5.83
Difficulty in managing grown up male kids 3.34
Others 1.67
4.3.3 Marketing Channels
Similar to Uttar Pradesh the marketing of live goats was totally in the hands of
middlemen /traders and butchers. The farmers with very low exposure and low risk
bearing ability preferred to sale their goats in the village itself. There were mainly five
channels of marketing goats (Table 4.52). The maximum trading of live goats was
carried out through channel II (Farmers-butcher/traders in the villages). Through this
channel 61 percent goats were traded by 86 percent of the farmers. It shows that the
farmers’ participation in the livestock market was very low in Rajasthan as compared to
Uttar Pradesh. The market channels; Farmers - Butcher/traders in the village as well as in
weekly and district level market together accounted for more than 86 percent of the
total trade done by the farmers (Figure 4.7 and 4.8).

Table 4.52: Market Channels adopted by the farmers for sale of goats in different categories (in
percent)
Market Place of Category I Category II Category III Category IV
channels transaction Farmer Goats Farmer Goats Farmer Goats Farmer Goats
I-Farmers - At farmers’
37.14 21.50 37.78 14.59 18.52 3.04 15.38 4.47
Farmer village
II-Farmer – At farmers’
Butcher/ village 80.00 57.94 82.22 62.01 92.59 61.26 100.00 61.84
trader
III-Farmer – At farmers’
Other village 8.57 13.08 4.44 4.86 14.81 5.57 7.69 3.95
agencies
IV-Farmer – At local
Butcher/ weekly 5.71 7.45 22.22 14.59 29.63 18.23 30.77 14.74
trader market
V- Farmer - At distant
0.00 0.00 2.22 3.95 7.41 11.90 15.38 15.00
Trader market

In Rajasthan also, the traders and butchers regularly visited the villages for
buying the goats from the farmers. They some time also sold the goats of one farmer to
the other farmers in the village itself. Since the number of livestock/goat weekly markets
in Rajasthan was less per unit of geographical area as compared to U.P., the traders used
to cover long distances of 30-40 km for collecting goats from the villages. Farmers never
formed the price of their goats on the basis of the value of the products and by-products
of a goat. There was lack of access to correct market information for the farmers. The
butcher /traders visiting the villages rarely compete among them and always tried to fix
price of goats towards lower side.
The reasons for selling goats in the village itself are indicated in the Table 4.53.
The fear of lack of transparency in trading in the weekly markets was the biggest reason
for selling goats in the village itself. It is true that the price of goats in weekly markets
was decided through under cover method in 90 percent deals. Moreover, in farmers’
perception it was uneconomic to take small number of goats to the market for sale and
whole day was required to sell goats in weekly markets. Forced sale of goats at low
price to avoid their return from the market and lack of infrastructure facilities in the
markets were other reasons to sell the goats in the villages. The farmers had a fear of
being cheated in the weekly markets because most of the players in the livestock
markets were the traders and butchers, who mostly talk in their own unique language.
The traders many times in collusion fixed very low price for the goats of the farmers.
 8.33
30.83
20

8.33

85.83
Farmer – Farmer in village
Farmer –Butcher/ trader in village
Farmer – Other agencies in village
Farmer – Butcher/ trader in weekly market
Farmer -Trader in distant market

Figure 4.7: Channels of goat marketing adopted by traditional farmers in Rajasthan (% farmers)

9.66 8.26

15.19

5.53

61.35

Farmer – Farmer in village

Farmer –Butcher/ trader in village
Farmer – Other agencies in village
Farmer – Butcher/ trader in weekly market
Farmer -Trader in distant market

Figure 4.8: Percentage of goats sold through different marketing channels in Rajasthan

Fifty nine percent of the farmers felt that they get lower price for their goats then
the existing market by about 22 percent. In farmers perception, the distress sale and lack
of market information were the two most prominent reasons for low price of their goats
(Table 4.54). Poor health of their animals due to feed scarcity was another major reason
for low prices. In fact most of the farmers did not know that what type of goat has high
demand in the market, and what time (month) and age the animal would fetch better
price. Therefore, educating them and ensuring timely access to market information
would be the first step in enabling the farmers to get remunerative price of their goats. A
number of goat farmers in Rajasthan were migrating to the neighbouring districts (up to
150n km) and few of them to neighbouring states in search of feed. During the
migration, the farmers were forced to sale the young kids even at low price, because it
becomes difficult for kids to move long distances.

Table 4.53: Reasons for selling of goat in the village itself

Reasons Percent farmer
Fearing lack of transparency in trading in weekly/district markets. 58
Un-economic to take small numbers to the livestock market 43
Non-availability of time 40
More time required for marketing in weekly markets 37
Forced sale at very low price to avoid return of animals 26
No facility for animals in the market (shed, water, etc.) 18
Table 4.54: Farmers’ perception on low price of their goats
Reasons Percent farmer
Distress sale 59.17
Lack of market information 52.5
Poor health 19.17
Other 2.5

4.3.4 Reasons and purpose of sale of live goats

The reasons of selling of goats at a particular time and age and the purpose for
which the proceeds of sales were utilized are presented in Table 4.55 and 4.56. The
major reasons of sale of goats in order of their importance were the availability surplus
males (kids/young ones), to reduce flock size in winters due to feed scarcity, culling un-
productive animals and lack of interest of the young members of the family. Some
farmers (10 percent) were also selling animals to bind-up this activity. The proceeds
from the sale of goats were mainly utilized to purchase feed and fodder for small and
large ruminants and food for the family, to meet out expanses on children’s education,
purchase of inputs for crops, repayment of loan and to meet social obligations. Hence
the goat not only played an important role in ensuring availability of food for the family
and feed and fodder for the animals but it also contributed in meeting out all other
contingency expenditure for production and other purposes.

Table 4.55: Reasons for sale of goats

Reasons Percent farmer
Surplus males 63.33
Cull un-productive and old animals 48.33
Decline in grazing resources (in winter) 53.33
To restrict the flock size 26.67
Non-availability of family labour 23.33
Cull diseased goats 15.00
Decrease in earning from goat rearing (binding up) 10.00
Table 4.56: Purpose of sale of adult animals
Purpose Percent farmer
Purchase of feed and fodder for animals 69.17
To fulfill family needs including food 59.17
Children’s education 57.50
To meet unforeseen expenses like illness 26.67
Purchase of seed, fertilizer, diesel etc. for crops 25.83
Repayment of loan 22.50
To meet social obligations 15.00
Replacement of goats by purchasing substitute goats 15.00
Repair of house 12.50
Lending money to fellow farmers 9.17
Others 3.33

4.3.5 System of Price fixation in village

The commonly followed units of sale of live goats were ‘per head’, ;per pair’ and
‘per group’. In spite of goats being the source of high value food, their price was not
decided on body weight basis. The majority of the farmer buyers purchased goats on
‘per head’ basis, while the traders/butchers opted more for ‘per group’ as the unit of
purchase of goats (Table 4.57). The common method for price fixation of live goats in
the villages was the mutual bargain and open sale system. Different buyers used
different basis for deciding the price of live goats. The farmer buyer’s priority was health
and age of the animal. One-third of them also gave importance to the breed. The
butchers and traders’ main concern was the body weight and age of the animals,
whereas the NGOs and government agencies purchasing breeding goats looked for
breed, health and age of the animals (Table 4.58). The farmers also had formed a reserve
price for their goats. The basis of such reserve price was the existing market price of live
goats. This price was nothing but the recent sale price of goats of other farmers. But the
farmers rarely had the correct market/ price information. They also did not know the
market value of the total output of a goat after it gets slaughtered. Prevailing price of
different types of goats of different age groups are given in Table 4.59. Very large values
of standard error indicate the large variations in the price of goats of the same category
and same age group. The variation in margins of the middlemen might also be one of
the main reasons of price variations.

Table 4.57: Unit of sale and purchase of goats

Methods Purchasing agencies (in percent)
Farmer Butcher/ trader
Per animal 68 24
Per pair 18 18
Per groups 12 51

Table 4.58: Criteria of price fixation

Criteria Purchasing agencies (in %)
Farmer Trader Butcher/ trader Govt./ NGOs
Body weight 16.21 77.05 95.83 60
Health 72.97 44.26 19.80 100
Breed 32.43 19.67 - 100
Age 70.27 62.29 80.21 100
Look 16.21 18.03 - 60
Table 4.59: Age-group wise price of goats in Rajasthan
Category Particulars Average sale price of goats of different age groups
Up to 3 3 to 6 m 6 to 12 m 6 to 12 m >12 m >12 m
m male female male female
I Price 522 1025 1253 944 2236 1762
(SE) (55.54) (233.26) (290.53) (141.42) (667.08) (476.45)
II Price 542 816 1426 1238 1918 1483
(SE) (95.13) (242.10) (471.44) (573.73) (554.64) (923.42)
III Price 468 984 1657 1150 2278 1844
(SE) (96.96) (516.76) (386.39) (424.26) (744.72) (1702.29)
IV Price 475 898 1371 1185 1942 1750
(SE) (102.48) (470.43) (391.60) (354.73) (141.42) (387.20)
Overall Price 490 914 1445 1147 2069 1697 (98.13)
(SE) (10.71) (34.03) (37.84) (36.08) (56.29)
It was ascertained that the farmers most preferred time of sale of their goats was
winter season (Table 4.60). Though the preference of sale in winter was economically
right decision as the demand as well the price of meat-goats remained high during the
winter season. But the farmers’ decision of sale in winter was mostly not based on
economic principles; rather it was due to fodder scarcity and to remove young kids to
save some output of milk of goats, which otherwise would have been sucked by the
kids. The second preference of time of sale was summer and last was rains. The
availability of fodder was the major factor in the deciding the time of sale. The farmers
tended to sell goats during feed scarcity and increased their number during better
availability of feed.

Table 4.60: Farmers’ preferred season of sale of goats

Timing of sale Percent farmer
Winter 72
Summer 20
Rainy 8

4.3.6 Village to nearby weekly market

In Rajasthan, contrary to Uttar Pradesh, the number of farmers participating in
the weekly livestock markets was low. Only one-fifth of the goat farmers took their
animals to the weekly markets and that accounted for 15 percent of their total sale of
goats in a year. All the farmers, except 3.33 percent of them, feet drive the animals from
villages to the nearby livestock markets. A few farmers (3.33 percent) used tempo and
trucks for transporting their goats to the market. The petty traders/ middlemen often
made use of the vacant lorries and mini trucks proceeding towards the livestock market.
If needed two or three traders together shared a truck for transporting the goats. In the
absence of any support from the government and their own inability to organize and
innovate, the goat farmers were continuing with the present system of goat marketing,
but even one percent of them were not satisfied with the existing system of marketing.
However, twenty nine percent of the farmers considered the price realized for their
animals as remunerative (Table 4.61).

Table 4.61: Farmers’ perception on existing price level of goats (in %)

Category Farmers considering price remunerative
I 31.83
II 24.44
III 40.74
 IV 84.62
Overall 29.17
The farmers’ access to veterinarian’s services and other critical inputs was not
satisfactory. The farmers had to travel from 6 to 20 km to get his goats treated. The
expenditure on visiting veterinarian on each occasion was Rs75 to Rs.150 (Table 4.62).
Only one among the 120 goat farmers had availed institutional credit for purchasing
goats. The other major input purchased from the market was dry fodder to be used in
lean season (winter). Lopping of leaves of trees like khejari, Neem, babool etc. were the
major source of fodder for goats during the lean season. One tree of khejari, which
produces about 50-80 kg fodder (loom) costs about Rs.100-200 per cutting if purchased
from the private owner. The forest department charged Rs.11 per goat per month for
issuing grazing passes.

Table 4.62: Access to Veterinarian’s Service

Category Distance, km Charge Rs. / trip
I 7.40 (0-10) 75
II 8.20 (6-12) 76
III 12.70 (6-20) 150
IV 9.40 (0-20) 133

4.3.7 Goat Milk

In Rajasthan, the farmers’ major objective of goat rearing was to maximize the
milk production per goat per lactation. The Sirohi goats available in Rajasthan were
comparatively high yielders. The farmers (72 percent) indicated that there was demand
for goat milk. The major buyers of goat milk were cooperative dairy plants and milk
vendors. The local consumers and tea-shops were other buyers (Table 4.63). The goat
milk was sold @Rs.10 per liter. This price though was 20 percent less than the price of
buffalo milk but it was higher as compared to price of goat milk in U.P. The
acceptability of goat milk among the rural population was higher in Rajasthan as the
proportion of rural households owning goats was also higher in Rajasthan (71 percent)
as compared to Uttar Pradesh (33 percent). The production of milk per households
ranged from 297 to 2927 liter per annum (Table 4.64).

Table 4.63: Demand and destination for farmers’ goat milk

Particulars Response of farmers
Number Percent
Demand for goat milk exist 86 71.67
Milk vendors 33 50.00
Local consumer and tea-shop 10 15.15
Cooperative dairy 39 59.09
Patient 3 4.55

Table 4.64: Goat milk production in farmers flock

Category Milk production Price, Rs./liter Value of milk Rs.
(kg/ year)
I 297.00 10.00 2970
II 683.16 10.00 6832
III 1848.00 9.80 18110
IV 2927.69 10.23 29950
 Pooled 1467.26 9.98 14695
4.3.8 Live goat markets and market functionaries in Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, three major goat markets were covered in the study (Table 4.65).
Like Uttar Pradesh, there was almost no interaction between the livestock markets and
relevant government departments. The registration and permission from the district
collector /municipality was required to start a new livestock market. District collector
gives permission for the livestock markets which functions in the rural areas and the
livestock markets which function in urban areas need permission from the municipality.
These markets pay a nominal fee every year and their registration gets renewed in
routine. However there was no monitoring at all of the functioning of the livestock
markets by the above agencies. The market owners/societies set their own rules for
functioning of the market. All the three markets were owned and controlled by societies/
association. There was no involvement of the government at any stage. The daily arrivals
of goats ranged from 3200 in Jaipur to 5000 in Balaheri, which reached to 7000 to
10000 per day in peak period in winter during festivals. The market fee per goat was
Rs.40 in one market and 4-5 per cent of the value of goat in other two market, which
came out to be Rs.75 to 90 per adult goat (Table 4.66). The market fee per goat was
higher in Rajasthan as compared to Uttar Pradesh. Normally buyer paid the market fee,
but some times the seller, if agreed upon before finalizing the deal, paid it. In the
livestock market Balaheri, the buyer and the seller both paid Rs.20 per goat each as
market fee.
Table 4.65: Profile of livestock markets Rajasthan
Name of Ownership/ Day of Area Type of Registering Registration
market control operation (m2) animal authority of of animals
traded market
Balaherhi Association Tuesday 5000 Goat/sheep District Collector No
Tuesday No
Ajmer Society and 72000 Goat/sheep Municipality
Saturday
Thursday, No
Jaipur Society 3500 Goat/sheep Municipality
Saturday
Table 4.66: Number of arrival of goats per market day
Name of Arrivals/ Arrivals/ market Market fee per Who pay the market
market market day in peak period animal, Rs. fee
day
Balaherhi 5000 7000 20 + 20 Both seller and buyer
Ajmer 4000 10000 4% of value of Buyer
goat
Jaipur 3200 8000 5% of value of Buyer
goat
Table 4.67: Marketing infrastructure
S. Infrastructure Percent market having facility
No.
1. Office 100
2. Shed for animal 100
3. Building for protection of buyer/seller for rain etc. 33
4. Ramp to load and unload the animal 33
5. Availability of drinking water for animal 33
6. Availability of drinking water for human beings 100
 7. Availability of fodder 0
8. Availability of veterinary aid 0

The livestock markets had poor infrastructure (Table 4.67). The office, shed for
animals and drinking water for human beings was available in all the markets. None of
the market had facility of veterinary aid and fodder for the animals. Even the essential
facilities such as ramp to load and unload animals, drinking water for animals and transit
accommodation were available only in one-third of the markets. The transport facilities
and their charges varied according to the distance traveled by goats (Table 4.69). The
goats from all over the Rajasthan were brought to these markets. A big truck with a load
of 150-200 goats charged Rs.16000 and Rs.5000-6000 per trip each to Mumbai and
Delhi, respectively. The charges from Ajmer to Kanpur/ Bareilly were Rs.7000-8000 per
truck. The livestock/goat markets, totally controlled by private
individuals/societies/associations had invested very little in infrastructure development.
But these markets were doing a handsome business. Each year about 2 lakh goats were
brought for sale in each market and 83 percent of them were finally sold (Table 4.68).
Sale of such large number of animals created huge earnings for the livestock market
owners through collection of fee. The annual income of a livestock markets ranged from
Rs.56 Lakhs to Rs.162 Lakhs (Table 4.70). Surprisingly the government had almost no
interest in the activities and functioning of the livestock markets. It should be mandatory
for the livestock market owners to create and maintain essential facilities in the market
and also to create a transparent system of marketing by checking all the mal practices.
There is also need to rationalize the market fee structure. The markets must maintain the
minimum infrastructure and mechanism for ensuring transparency in trade to get their
registration renewed.
Table 4.68: Volume of trade of goats
Name of No. of goat brought for sale Trade in peak period/ market % Animal
market Per day Per annum day sold
Balaherhi 5000 224400 Id, holi, 7000 80
Ajmer 4000 224400 Id, holi, 10000 80
Jaipur 4000 194000 Id, holi, 8000 90
Overall 4333 189933 Id, holi, 8333 83
Table 4.69: Transportation facilities
Distance/place Mode
Short Distance Place, Local Tempo, jugad (makeshift vehicle)
Type of animal Goat and sheep
No of goat/sheep 20-25
Charge Rs. 10 to 20 / goat and sheep
Long Distance Delhi, All Rajasthan Truck
Type of animal Only goat and sheep
Number of animal/trip 187
Charge/trip Rs 5000

There was no mechanism/agency to check the mal-practices in trading of goats.

Secretary /president of the market occasionally mediated in cases of controversy in the
dealings. All the transactions were made in cash except a few selective buyers for whom
credit guaranty was given by the secretary/president/commission agents (Table 4.71).
There was no veterinarian in the market to check the animals for any infectious disease.
There was also no presence of any livestock extension agency in the market, which
could otherwise prove a good platform for extension agencies.

Table 4.70: Annual income of the markets

Name of Income from commission/ market fee per annum, Rs. lakh
market Trade of goats Trade of other animals Total livestock trade
Balaherhi 53.13 2.80 55.93
Ajmer 125.66 6.40 132.06
Jaipur 148.41 13.65 162.06
Overall 109.07 7.62 116.68
Table 4.71: Support system available at the market
Name of Agency for Mediation in case Transactions Credit No of
market checking the of controversy in are made in support/ goat die /
malpractices the trade cash or credit guaranty month
Balaherhi No No Cash - -
Ajmer No No Both C. Agent 7
Jaipur No No Both C. Agent 8

3.4.9 Market functionaries

Besides farmers range of market functionaries were involved in the marketing of
goats and for majority of them (80 percent) trading of goats was a main occupation.
Petty /small rural traders, butchers, big traders, farmers, other buyers and commission
agents were operating in all the livestock markets (Table 4.72). The commission agent
played an important role in trading in all the markets, whereas in U.P., the commission
agents were allowed only in two big markets. The level of participation of farmers in the
livestock weekly markets was very low except the market at Balaheri. Majority of the
buyers and seller farmers in Balaheri belonged to U.P. The goat farmers of Rajasthan
were highly skeptical to take their goats to market because of the fear of being cheated
in the weekly markets. Neither of the functionaries was required to be formally
registered, nor to pay any fee for operating in the livestock market. For most of the
functionaries the goat trading was their family’s traditional activity. Most of the traders
(80 percent) had more than 10 years of experience in the trade (Table 4.73). The
functionaries were evenly distributed among different social groups. The maximum
traders belonged to the schedule caste (40 percent) particularly Khatik followed by other
backward castes and Muslims (Table 4.74). The educational status of market
functionaries was poor with 40 percent of them as illiterate and 40 percent between I-
VIII standard. However they were well versed with the trade and had good knowledge
of goat marketing system. The traders were not interested in increasing the transparency
in the trade because of the fear of reduction in their margins. But the traders’ biggest
constraint was harassment by police and animal welfare department during transporting
the goats and had to make considerable illegal payments.

Table 4.72: Market functionaries and their participation

Name of Market functionaries
market Commission Big Petty/small Butchers Seller Buyers
agents traders traders farmers farmers
Balaherhi 0 30 100 20 500 500
Ajmer 37 150 350 200 20 10
Jaipur 12 27 50 50 10 15
Overall 16 69 167 90 177 175
Table 4.73: Experience of marketing functionary
Experience (in Years) No. of market functionaries (%)
0 -5 10
5-10 10
10-15 20
15-20 40
>20 20
Table 4.74: Distribution of marketing functionaries in social groups
Caste No. of market functionaries (%)
Other Backward Caste 30
Muslim 20
Schedule Caste (Khatik) 40
General 10

Table 4.75: Educational status of marketing functionary

Education No. of market functionaries (%)
Illiterate 40
I – VIII 40
High School 10
Graduate 10

3.4.10 Purchase and sale of goats by traders

The goat traders were regularly visiting a number of farmers’ goat flocks in the
villages. They made purchase deals every day but did not collect the purchased goats.
As soon as the traders completed purchase deals of goats equal to one truck load or just
one day before the weekly market, he collected the purchased goats from the farmers
and transport them in individual or shared truck depending on the numbers of goats, to
the weekly market in early hours. The traders also sold goats to the other farmers in
village itself. The purchase and sale of goats and net margins of the traders are shown in
Table 4.76 and 4.77. The prices of goats were higher in the weekly market as compared
to the village, because of the larger numbers of buyer were available in the weekly
markets. There was variation in the net margins of the goat traders depending on the
place and season of sale. The returns from meat goats’ were higher if sold in weekly
markets, whereas the net margins of traders from the sale of breeding goats were higher
if sold to the goat keepers in the village itself or to the commercial goat farmers from far
away places. The net margins of traders per kid were estimated to be Rs. 139 to Rs.204
and net margins on a grown up kid or adult goat ranged from Rs.232 to Rs.302 while
trading in the village. The net margins per adult goat were higher to Rs.252 to Rs.707
while trading in the weekly market. The net margins per rupee of investment were
higher in the trade of male goat and kids. The margins of the middlemen were
significantly higher in Rajasthan as compared to Uttar Pradesh. Further, the magnitude
of margin of the middlemen traders fluctuated in normal and festive (Dushhara, Eid,
Holi, Durga Puja) seasons (Table 4.78). The middlemen’s margin during the normal
season ranged from Rs.130-380 per goat. This range of margin during festive season was
Rs.400 to 1000. It clearly shows that the margins of the middlemen were unduly high.
In the prevailing goat marketing system, though the middlemen provide critical services
by creating space utility, but their unduly high margins should be brought dawn by
organizing and creating greater awareness among farmers.

Table 4.76: Purchase of goats

Particulars Numbers goat Price / Goat
At Village At Market
Adult Male 30 1880 2025
Adult Female 40 1500 2000
Kids (6-12) month male 67 1400 1500
Kids (6-12) month female 31 1100 1200
 Kids 2-4 months 52 350 495

Table 4.77: Sale of goats

Particulars Numbers Price / Goat, Rs. Net margin of the trader
goat At Sale at Sale at Village Sale at
Village Village Market
Adult Male 30 - 2750 - 707
Adult Female 34 1800 2500 282 482
Kids (6-12) month male 24 1650 1770 232 252
Kids (6-12) months 21 1420 1545 302 327
female
Kids 2-4 months 38 500 710 139 204

Table 4.78: Marketing margin of the middlemen (Rs./ goat)

Season Minimum Maximum
Normal season 130 380
Festive season 400 1000
The destinations of live goats bought by rural/small traders in the weekly markets
are shown in Table 4.79. It was revealed that the outside big traders in direct contact
were the major destination of live goats. The other important destinations of goats were
the local market, terminal/metropolitan markets and the goat breeders.

Table 4.79: Destination of sale of live goats by traders

Particular No. Marketing functionary %
Local market 30
Outside traders in direct contact 60
Farmers 20
Metropolitan market 30

3.4.11 Marketing cost incurred by petty traders

The petty /rural traders, who connect the goat farmers to the market, were
the most important link in the goat marketing network. As the goat traders were
regularly visiting goat farmers/flocks in the villages on daily basis, each of them
was a repository of information on the availability of goats of different type and
age with the farmers in the traders operating area. The major cost incurred by the
petty trader was his labour spent in collection and trading of the goats. Besides
labour, the cost incurred on collection and transport of animals from villages to
the weekly market including the losses due to mortality during transit was
estimated to be Rs.22 per grow up goat and Rs.16 per kid. These costs were
estimated to be Rs.12 and Rs.8, if the buying and selling took place in the
villages itself without bringing the goats to the weekly market.

3.4.12 Trading of males for Eid festival

Preparing males by keeping them on special feeding for their sale during
the festival of Eid was a usual practice adopted by few farmers and most of the
traders. Healthy males of over one year age (two teeth) with good health and
look were in high demand for offering during the festival of Eid. Such males
during Eid were sold at almost double the price as compared to the normal
season. Number of traders purchased such males (mostly castrated) 20 to 30 days
before the festival of Eid (in few cases 2 months before) and kept them on high
energy and fat ration and sold them during Eid. It was revealed that the net
margin of traders per animal was estimated to be Rs.375 to Rs.780 (Table 4.80).
The sale price of these males during Eid was as high as Rs. 125 - 150 per kg of
live body weight. However, most of the goat farmers did not have awareness and
attitude to take benefit of the lucrative Eid market, less 10 percent farmers were
hardly preparing males for sale during the Eid. Although, majority of the
traditional goat farmers were aware of the potential benefits of sale during Eid,
but the lack of commercial orientation, low risk bearing ability and lack of
market information were constraining factors.

Table 4.80: Purchase and sale of males for festivals

Market No. of male Purchase Collection & Sale price/ Net margin/
traded price/ animal, fattening cost, animal, Rs. animal, Rs.
Rs. Rs.
Market I 16 3450 275 4260 535
Market II 21 3980 390 5150 780
Market III 12 3735 310 4420 375

3.4.13 Pricing of live goats in the livestock market

Among the three units of sale of goats ‘per head’ and ‘per pair’ were commonly
used by the traders in the weekly markets (Table 4.81). The price of goats in 90 percent
deals was decided through ‘under cover’ method with the help of commission
agents/middlemen. The under cover method has been described in the previous section
of this report. Only 10 percent deals were decided through open auction method (Table
4.82). Therefore, the goat farmers did not have good opinion about the fairness in trade
in the weekly markets that resulted into low participation of farmers in livestock
markets. The traders’ basis of price fixation of live goats was mainly the body weight of
the animals (Table 4.83). But there was no facility for weighing the animals in any of the
market. The traders had the ability to judge weight of the animal through ‘Hattha
system’ but farmers remained unaware of the weights of the goats. The other bases of
valuing the animal were breed, colour and body size and milk yield in case of does.

Table 4.81: Unit of sale and purchase of goats

Methods of sale Percent transactions
Per goat 12
Per pair 58
Per group 17

Table 4.82: Method of price fixation

Methods of price fixation No. of deals (%)
Open action 10
Under cover 90

Table 4.83: Basis of price fixation (percent traders)

Particular Response
Adult female Adult male Kids
Body weight 70 90 60
Breed* 80 70 60
Age 60 70 20
Milk yield 90 - -
* Look for particular colour and body size
3.4.14 Constraints faced by farmers in the goat market
The goat farmers’ weakest point was that he did not have access to market/price
information, had no idea about the demand and supply situation. Having low education
level and exposure, he was not able to use the available information in taking right
marketing decisions. On the other hand the traders had very good knowledge of the
market, demand and supply situation. Therefore, the farmers were not in a position to
negotiate/ bargain for price with the traders/butchers. The constraints as perceived by
the farmers are depicted in Table 4.84. Majority of the farmers considered the lack of
transparency in trading of goats ‘under cover’ as the biggest constraint faced in the
livestock markets. Unduly high market fee and very poor access to market information
were other major constraints. The mal practices in the form of collusive activity of
traders also constrained the farmers from fairly participating in the markets.

Table 4.84: Constraints faced by farmers in goat markets

Particulars Percent farmer
High marketing fee/ commission: it should not be more than 1 % of value of goat 40.0
Lack of transparency in trading: under cover method 73.3
Very poor access to market/ price information 30.0
Prevalence of collusive activity of traders 20.0

4.4 MARKETING OF GOATS BY COMMERCIAL FARMERS

The commercial goat farmers, who were well educated and had better access to
market information, not only tried to effectively bargain to get the best price for their
animals, but also tried certain innovative methods to sell their animals. In fact all the
commercial goat farmers in the beginning (5-6 years back) were operating in isolation
having almost no information on commercial goat production taking place in other parts
of the country. They also faced problems in marketing their goats at remunerative prices
like traditional goat farmers have been facing. The middlemen visiting the commercial
farms or in the livestock markets were quoting very low prices of live goats. As a result
of our efforts in this project on ‘Commercialization of farming and marketing of goats in
India’, the linkages among the commercial goat farmers operating in different parts of
the country got strengthened. That created a new market for good quality breeding goats
produced by the commercial goat farmers. Strengthened linkages among the
commercial goat farmers resulted into creation of a large demand of goats for breading
purpose of Sirohi, Barbari, Osmanabadi, Jamunapari, Black Bengal and Jakhrana breeds
from the aspirants/ up-coming commercial goat farmers. Moreover the farmers got
premium price for the good quality goats sold for breeding purpose. This newly
emerged market for breeding goats not only helped the commercial farms to become
economically viable early but also encouraged the commercial goat farmers to maintain
and produce good quality breeding stock. Before the creation of this demand for
breeding goats from the new/old commercial farms, the commercial farmers were forced
to sell their goats @Rs.55 to Rs.65 per kg of live body weight. The traders/butchers did
not pay more for the quality of the animal in terms of purity of breed. But now with the
new market opportunity available, the commercial farmers have been selling their goats
@Rs.120 to Rs.150 per kg of live body weight. The premium price available for good
quality breeding goats has really made the goat enterprise highly attractive. Many
private investors (progressive farmers, businessmen, industrialists and entrepreneurs) are
coming up with investment proposals into goat enterprise.

4.4.1 Type of sales

The sale of live goats by commercial farmers may be grouped into two types: the
male goats and female goats (does). Especially prepared males (by providing them extra
feeding) were sold during the Eid festival by 67 percent of the farmers. Majority of the
farmers (78 percent) also sold males for meat purpose to the butchers, processors and
traders (Table 4.85). However their share in total sale of live goats was quite small. The
males for meat were sold during all the months but mostly in the winter season. Further
the farmers now have changed their marketing strategy and were preparing the males
either for Eid market or for breeding purpose, only the culled males were sold for
purpose. The female goats of 9 to 15 months age were sold for breeding purpose by the
83 percent of the commercial farmers. The breeding goats were mainly sold to the
newly coming up commercial goat farmers from different states of the country. These
breeding does were sold @Rs.110 to Rs.150 per kg live body weight. The new
entrepreneurs had more faith on the commercial goat farmers as compared to the traders
for sourcing the breeding stock. Besides live animals, the commercial farmers were also
selling manure to the plant nurseries as well as milk and Paneer.
Table 4.85: Type of goat and its product sold by commercial farmers
Particular Percent farmers
Male for festive sale 66.7
Male for meat at any time 77.8
Female for breeding 83.3
Milk 38.9
Paneer 11.1
Manure for nursery 44.4
The traits of animals that attracted premium price were ascertained. The major
traits of males sought after by different buyers were the age, colour, weight and
castration of the animals. The young males of 1-2 years got better price during festive
sales. The buyers (for breeding and offering purpose) mostly liked single colour of the
animals such as black, white or brown, the spotted Barbari was also liked, but not the
animals having mixed colours of many breeds. For higher weight the price was also
higher particularly of animals sold for meat purpose. The more number of farmers (56
percent) indicated that the males sold for breeding purpose got higher price whereas 39
percent farmers indicated that the price was higher for castrated males (Table 4.86). In
case of female, the age (1-2 years), colour (pure breed colour) and weight were the
major considerations of the buyers for deciding their price.
Table 4.86: Traits of goat having bearing on its price
Type and characteristics Farmers in %
Sale of male goat
Age 66.7
Colour 44.4
Weight 61.1
Breeder 55.6
Castrated 38.9
Sale of female goat
 Age 38.9
Colour 33.3
Weight 38.9
Demand of goat milk 11.1
No. of months with surplus milk 5.6
4.4.2 Marketing Channels
The major marketing channels and destinations of the goats of the commercial
farmers were different then the traditional farmers. The farmers were in touch with all
the possible buyers, but the main place of sale of live goats was their farm itself (Table
4.87). Some farmers also sold their goats in the weekly, local market and district and
regional markets. Fifty percent farmers were selling goats to the farmers of other states.
The major channels of marketing of live goats adopted by the commercial farmers are
indicated in Table 4.88. The most important channel was Farmer –Farmer at the farm
itself followed by Farmers-Traders/butchers at the farm itself. The bulk of sale of live
goats took place at the goat farm itself (Table 89). Even the farmers from other states also
picked up the purchased goats from the farm. The farmers wanted to sell their goats at
the farm itself because they had better bargaining power at the farm and got better
prices. The demand for the animals was higher at the farm because the breeder-buyers
themselves wanted to see the source of animals (Table 4.90). Therefore, it was wastage
of time and uneconomic to take the animals to the livestock markets.

Table 4.87: Place of sale of live goats

Agency Farmers in %
At farm 100
Weekly Market 33.33
District market 27.78
Regional Market 16.37
Other State (To new commercial farmers) 50.00

Table 4.88: Marketing channels adopted in sale of live goat

Agency Farmers in %
Farmer - Farmer 100
Farmer - Butcher/ trader 50
Farmer – Trader 50
Farmer – commission agent 5.56
Farmer – govt. Agency 11.11
Farmer – Exporter 5.56
Table 4.89: Agencies of sale of live goats
Agency Place of sale of live goat (% farmers)
At farm Weekly District Regional Other state
market Market Market
Farmer 100 5.56 - - 50
Butcher-trader/consumer 50 16.67 - 5.56 -
Trader 50 16.67 27.75 16.67 -
Commission agent 5.56 - - - -
Govt. agency 5.56 - - 5.56 -
Exporter 5.56 - - - -
Table 4.90: Reasons for sale of goats at farm
Reason Farmers in %
No time 11.11
Better bargaining power 61.11
Higher demand at farm itself 55.56
Uneconomic to take to market 11.11
Wastage of time 11.11
4.4.3 Advertisement, publicity and marketing strategy
A number of commercial farmers had made efforts to advertise and popularize
the goat farm and the quality of their goats through all possible means (Table 4.91). A
one fifth of the farmers had created their own websites giving details of the farm and the
type of goats available for sale. These farmers were getting most of their orders for
supplying goats though e-mails. Some farmers (33 percent) had also put hoardings at
main locations near to the farm. A few them were also giving advertisement in the local
newspaper especially for sale of males during the Eid festival. The other important
medium of publicity and extension were the publication of small pamphlets and
organization trainings for local farmers. The farmers felt that the advertisement and
publicity had increased their visibility and that resulted into increased demand and
better prices for their goats. The future strategy of the commercial goat farmers was to
produce good quality breeding animals for sale to the traditional as well as up coming
commercial goat farmers. Those who were raising meat goats, wanted to make available
the weekly fortnightly supply of goats to the processors.

Table 4.91: Advertisement and publicity methods adopted by the commercial farmers
Methods Farmers in %
News paper 22
Internet website/ email 22
Hoardings 33
Publication of pamphlets/ book 39
Publication of magazine on goat rearing 6
Organising training for local farmers 28

4.4.4 Reasons and purpose of sale

The reason and purpose of sale of goats on the commercial farms are indicated
in Table 4.92 and 4.93. The major sales were the surplus males and females. The sale of
culled goats on disease or productivity ground was another category of sale. A very few
farmers also sold their goats to reduce the flock size in summer season because of the
high cost of feed. The main purpose for which the proceeds from the sale of goats
utilized, were the purchase of inputs for goat farming and re-investment in the
enterprise. The farmers were not dependent on goat farming to fulfill their family needs.
Hence the negative net returns in the initial years did not affect the goat farming activity
adversely.

Table 4.92: Reason for sale of goats

Reason Farmers in %
Cull disease goat 50.00
Cull un-productive animals 38.89
Surplus male/female 100.00
Reduction in flock size during summer season 5.56
Heavy loss due to disease 5.56

Table 4.93: Purpose of sale of goats

Purpose Farmers in %
Family need 27.78
Repayment loan 16.67
Purchase of feed 38.89
Purchase of input 72.22
Re-investment 50.00
Investment in other enterprise 22.22
4.4.5 System of sale
Contrary to the traditional farmers, the commercial farmers sold their goats on
live body weights basis. The majority of the farmers (89 percent) sold their goats on
body weight basis that enabled them to realize remunerative price as per the actual
worth of the animal (Table 4.94). Few farmers also sold the goats on the basis of ‘per
head’, ‘per pair’ and ‘per group’. Among these three units of sale, the ‘per head’ method
was more common. Most of the farmers (61 percent) had knowledge of the market value
of the products of a goat on its slaughter. All the farmers also kept them informed about
the market/price information. After we provide a directory of addresses of all the
commercial goat farms to them, the commercial farmers spread over different states
came in touch with each other. The linkage among them also influenced the price of
goats. If a farmer in the state was charging higher prices for his goat, the farmers in other
states also started increasing their prices. Those farmers who had good business sense
and were using modern methods of popularizing their farm could get very good price
for their animals. But the farmers, those who had to sell to the traders/butcher, did not
get a fair deal. Hence, only 44% of the farmers were satisfied with the present system of
marketing. But in due course of time all the commercial goat farmers, who produce
good quality breeding goats would surely get ready market and remunerative prices.
They wanted that the monopoly of the traders in the livestock markets should be
curtailed and goats must be sold on their body weight basis in livestock market itself.
This was a genuine concern of the goat farmers.
Table 4.94: Method of sale/purchase
Methods Agencies
Farmer Trader Butcher Govt. agency Processor Meat consumer
Per animal 33.33 38.89 11.11 22.22 - 16.67
Per pair 5.56 0.00 0.00 - - -
Per group 11.11 5.56 11.11 - - -
Body wt 88.89 16.67 22.22 5.56 100 100
The marketing services such as the availability of timely, sufficient and relevant
market information (market intelligence), suitable transport facilities (specially designed
to carry goats), utilities in the market complex, provision of grading and standardization
of goats, animal examination facility for disease free status, facility of net working with
the processors, marketers and exporters, information on export requirements are
immensely important to promote commercialization of goat farming and development
of the goat sector as such. However there was no provision of any of these services for
the farmers or exporters. Moreover it has been difficult for the farmers to get financial
support for the goat projects from the institutional sources. The bankers at present in
general are reluctant to finance goat projects. They should be made aware of the
investment requirements and economic potential of goats through appropriate trainings/
interaction programmes.
4.4.6 Weekly markets to city slaughterhouses
 Meat animals were transported from weekly markets to different destinations
mostly by ordinary trucks. Depending on the number of animals to be transported, few
traders/ butchers jointly engage a truck and share the expenses. Generally, for
transporting goats to city slaughterhouse specially built two tier trucks were used. Over
loading of the trucks to minimize the transport cost is very common in all parts of the
country. As a result, few animals die (2 percent) during the transit. The time taken from
the moment animal leaves the farmer’s shed until they get slaughtered in a city
slaughterhouse depends on the distance and also the demand for meat. The loss of body
weight during transport and resting period is know as “shrinkage” which is of two types
viz. “excretory shrinkage” and “tissue shrinkage”. Both are associated with the
physiological functioning of the body. The extent of shrinkage depends on different
factors such as travel distance, mode of transport, season in which transported, age of
the animals, density of animals loaded in a truck etc. This kind of loss can be avoided, if
the animals are slaughtered close to their production centers and meat is transported to
urban centers.
4.6 MARKETING OF GOATS IN TERMINAL MARKET
4.6.1 A case of trading of live goats in Deonar livestock market, Mumbai
The Deonar livestock market is the biggest trading center of live goats in the
country. This market gets feed of live goats from all corners of the country however its
major supply of live goats arrived from northern states particularly Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and also from Gujrat, Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka.
The market operates daily through out the year and minimum daily arrival was about 8-
10 thousand live goats. On major market days, Saturday, the arrival number of goats
reached to about 30000 and about 20000 on Tuesday. During the festival of Eid (Bakra
Eid) this year on 1.1.2007, the market for 10 days had enhanced supply of goats and
total number of arrival of live goats reached to 145000 in 10 days. Thus the total arrival
of live goats to this market in a year reached to more the 4 million.
Besides buyers and sellers there are three major players who control the market.
These are, i) Commission agents, ii) Mutton dealer association and iii) Sheep and goat
breeders association. The mutton dealers, commission agents and traders are indirectly
member of the sheep and goat breeder association. Any actual sheep and goat breeder is
hardly member of the association. The members of the muslin community were the
dominant player in these associations. The labourers performing the work of loading,
unloading and handling of the animals are called ‘Gwal’. They are represented by a
committee know as ‘Bherpal kamgar sudhar samiti’.
The Gwal charge Rs. 60 per goat for unloading and handling until supplier
(trader/farmer) find place for his animals. There is an open ground of 3 hectares size in
the market compound, which is available to the sellers (traders/farmers) free of cost.
However during the Eid market, when animals are stationed for 8-10 days in the market,
the front area is captured by the local functionaries and offered at price. The temporary
sheds made of bamboo of 50X20 feet are also available on rent during Eid. The rent of
shed varies from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 25000 depending on the facilities and location of the
shed.

4.6.1.1 Market charges

Unloading and handling charges by Gwal: Rs. 60 per goat during Eid and Rs. 17/
goat during other market days. Even if the farmer/ seller has his own labour, he is forced
to take the services of Gwal.
 Fee for safety of animals: Rs. 4 per goat
Charge of commission agent from the seller: Rs. 60 per animal
Charge of commission agent from the buyer: Rs. 30 per animal
Receipts of any of the above payments are not given to the seller/ buyer.
Moreover during the transportation from Rajasthan or U.P. to Mumbai, illegal payments
of about Rs. 3000 per truck have to be made to the police men and staff of animal
welfare department.

4.6.1.2 Pricing of animals

The price of live goats was decided on weight basis by approximation. The
weighing machine is not used for the purpose. However the prices of goats depend on
demand and supply. Since the supplies of goats come from a very large area, it remains
highly fluctuating and resultant fluctuating prices. The prices of live goats during the
time of Eid ranged from Rs. 70 to Rs. 250 per kg of live body weight. Some good-
looking male goats for offerings were sold at price of Rs. 50000 to Rs. 70000 giving a
rate of Rs. 600-900 per kg live body weight. One or two male goats every year are
announced to be sold at a price of about Rs. 150000. This is mostly a market tactics of
local market functionaries to popularize the Deonar livestock/goat market. In these
celebrated deals, the seller is always a market functionary from Deonar and enters into a
secret agreement and announces a price of the sold male goat, the announced price is
much higher than the actually realized price.
4.6.1.2 Constraints and malpractices
• Local labourers/ Gwals force the outside traders/sellers to use their services for
loading/unloading and handling of the animal at very high wages.
• In the open area, where live goats are kept for sale, the local traders/ functionaries
capture the front side. Due to concentration of animals the market becomes so
congested particularly during Eid that large numbers of consumers visiting the market
are not able to enter inside the market. Hence the outside sellers, who get space only
in the rear-side of the market compound, do not get opportunity to sell their animals
directly to the consumers. The local market functionaries’ act as middlemen, they
buy from the outside traders and sale the goats to the consumers.
• The veterinary doctor is not accessible to the goat keepers/sellers in the market.
• There is no such suitable provision where animals can drink water. It has to be
managed through taps.
• In a periphery of one km, there was no shop of veterinary medicines/drug. Hence the
animal showing any symptom of illness has to be sold immediately at low price.
• There is 500-600 outside sellers/labourer etc during Eid trading. But there was no
facility for stay of these people; even minimum conveniences are not available.
• During the transportation from north to Mumbai, illegal payments of about Rs. 3000
per truckload of goats have to be made to the policemen and staff of animal welfare
department.
• There is problem of heavy traffic jam particularly in the market area. These results
into high mortality of the goats loaded in the truck.

4.7 INTER STATE MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS

A large number of goats travel long distances over different states before they are
finally slaughtered. The traders/ middlemen collect large number of goats from Jaipur,
Ajmer and other parts of Rajasthan and transport them to the livestock markets in Delhi,
Mumbai and Kalpi (Kanpur). Kolkata and Mumbai are also the major markets for goats
from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa. Goats from Uttar Pradesh are
regularly supplied to Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhana and Nepal. Supply of goats from
U.P. to other states was higher in rainy season because of lower prices in the local
market. The demand from eastern states also gets boosted during festival such as Durga
Puja and Eid. The terminal goat markets in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata besides meeting
the demand of local market and nearby areas, supply goats to nearby states and for
exports. A sizeable number of goats from Delhi are supplied to Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
4.7.1 Trade in Small Kids
An interesting marketing system for small kids has been emerging since last
couple of years. The farmers in Rajasthan want to sell their male goat kids at the earliest
possible age mainly because of scarcity of feed resources (high cost of feeding in
summer and winter season) and to save more milk of goats for selling it to the market.
On the other hand, the small and marginal farmers and landless households especially
the women in western Uttar Pradesh, west Bengal and parts of Bihar are interested in
rearing 2-3 of these male kids of larger breed particularly ‘Sirohi’ from Rajasthan under
intensive and semi intensive system. These males of Sirohi were especially raised for
their sale during the festival of Eid. Since a well fed male of Sirohi breed is large in size
and bear good look and colour, it fetched good price of Rs.3500 to Rs.5500 during the
Eid festival. In response to the market demand, the traders from Uttar Pradesh were
buying small Sirohi male kids of 2-3 months age at about Rs. 500-700 per kid and sold it
to the rearers in U.P., Bihar and West Bengal at a price of Rs.700 to Rs.1000 per kid.
These traders were also supplying kids of Jamunapari and other large non-descript
breeds of goats from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal and Bihar. Although the transfer of
young kid from Rajasthan to U.P. and W. Bengal for raising them has been an
unorganized effort, but it is surely in desirable direction. In this system, the small kids
are being shifted from feed scarce region to the area with relatively better availability of
feed resources and were raised properly on relatively low cost feeds. This not only
maximized the efficiency of resource use (feed and fodders), but also prevented the
slaughter of under-age animals, as the farmers in feed scarce regions sale surplus under
age kids of 3-5 months for slaughter. Further, this process would gear up the existing
goat production system to shift from the extensive to intensive and semi intensive
system of management. This shift is again desirable in view of scarcity and continuous
degradation/decline in common feed resources on which the goats mainly depend for
their feeding. Therefore, it would be appropriate to make same organized efforts to
encourage the farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt kid rearing for commercial chevon
production by purchasing the weaner kids (when kid stops taking mother's milk at 2.5 to
3 months age) from the traditional breeders of feed scarce regions and rear them under
intensive or semi intensive system for achieving a target finishing weight of 25-30 kg at
6-7 months of age.
4.7.2 Trading of breeding goats
There has been a high consistent demand from the goat breeders for good
quality breeding stock all over the country. High potential breeds such as Barbari and
Jamunapari of U.P., Sirohi and Jakhrana of Rajasthan, Osmanabadi of Maharashtra,
Black Bengal of West Bengal and Beetal of Punjab have not only have demand in the
home state but also in the other states. Till recently the movement of goats for breeding
purpose was mostly restricted up to the bordering areas of neighbouring states. Another
medium of spread of breeding goats of different breeds was the migratory goat flocks.
On their rout, the migratory flocks of goats from Rajasthan have been spreading
breeding animals of Sirohi, Jakhrana, Marwari and Katchhi breeds in the states of U.P.,
Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
But over the last one decade as a result of emerging commercial goat farms an
increased demand of good quality breeding goats of different breeds has been coming
from different states of the country. The commercial farmers have been experimenting
with all potential breeds of goats, even if it was available very far from their goat farm.
The Sirohi breed of goat of Rajasthan has become very popular with the commercial
goat farmers. The farmers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu,
Orissa and Karnataka are maintaining Sirohi goats, which they purchased from
Rajasthan. These animals are supplied by middlemen/merchant middle on orders. One,
Mr. Hanuman Khatik of Banwal village (Distt. Nagaur) every year supplies around 2000
goats to different parts of the country. With the experience gained over the years, this
merchant middleman supplies goats after getting them vaccinated for PPR. The basis of
price fixation was body weight and true to the breed. Barbari from Uttar Pradesh and
Osmanabadi from Maharashtra were other popular breeds in different parts of the
country. There has been demand for Barbari of Uttar Pradesh from commercial farmers
from Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab
etc. All such inter state supplies of breeding goats carried out by
middlemen/commission agents. Similarly Osmanabadi goat of Maharashtra has good
demand from goat breeders of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The
commercial goat farmers met a small portion of this demand for breeding stock from
different states. However, the limitation of the middleman is that he does not have any
record of performance of animals supplied for breeding purpose to the farmers. Forming
goat breeders’ association would be very useful in organizing the supply of pure breed
goats of different breeds with more authenticity to the breeders from any part of the
country or from other countries.
4.8 TRADING OF GOAT AND ITS MEAT BY THE BUTCHERS
Depending on the size of market, the butchers/meat traders were slaughtering 1
to 5 goats daily. Big towns/cities like Agra and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Ajmer and
Jaipur in Rajasthan had slaughterhouses for goat and sheep. The municipality maintains
the slaughterhouses. On account of insufficient space and pathetic conditions of the
slaughterhouses, only 30 percent of the butchers/meat traders were slaughtering the
goats in these slaughterhouses. Rest 70 percent butchers/meat traders were slaughtering
the meat goats either inside their shop, or behind the shop or in their home. The small
towns at block level and village did not have any slaughterhouse. The hygiene and
cleanliness at the place of slaughter was not maintained at all.
A butcher/meat shopkeeper is required to take permission from the municipality
or district magistrate for opening a meat shop or keeping required slaughtering
equipments. Meat shopkeeper had to pay Rs. 600/- per annum as shop registration fee
and one rupee per goat as slaughter fee for using the slaughterhouse, to the
municipality. But the meat shopkeepers in the small villages and towns paid no such fee
and acquired no permission for slaughter. A veterinary doctor is responsible for
monitoring the slaughter and slaughterhouses. But as such the hygiene and food safety
issues were most neglected in the slaughterhouses of the municipality. The in-charge
veterinary doctor rarely visited the slaughterhouses. The officer responsible for checking
the quality of meat on these open shops, as informed by the meat traders, do not visit
the meat shops. Hence, the quality of meat sold to the consumers was not inspected at
any stage for food quality and safety. As a result the butcher/meat-sellers slaughtered
even the diseased goats and sold their meat causing risk to the consumers’ health. The
butcher/meat traders purchased live goats from the nearby livestock markets and
villages. Requirement of live goats for 5-7 days sale of meat (7-8 to 20-25 goats) was
purchased in one lot. These animals were mainly maintained on grazing along with
some supplementation till their slaughter in next 1 to 5 days. The butcher and the meat
seller was the same person. No meat shop had refrigeration facility. The left over meat
in the shop in the evening during the summer was stored with ice in the big cities. The
meat sellers in the small towns and villages did not have proper storage of left over meat
even in summers. All the meat sellers were keeping the carcass in open in their shop
with no protection from the flies, dust and smells.
Table 4.95: Price and composition of purchase of goats by butchers
Types of goats Share in total Purchase Marketing cost of the Total cost
purchase (%) price (Rs./kg butcher/meat seller (Rs. Rs./kg live
live wt.) /kg live wt.) wt.
Weak and old 22 35 5 40
Grown up males 41 55 5 60
Kids (6-12 months) 17 60 5 65
Kids (<6 Months) 20 57 5 62
Overall 100 54 5 59
The butcher/meat shopkeeper paid different prices for the goats of different age
groups and health status. However they were selling the meat of all kinds of goats at one
price of Rs. 120 kg (Table 4.95). The body weight and expected meat yield of a goat was
the major basis for deciding the price of animals by the butcher. During the normal
sales, the butcher/meat shopkeepers paid @ Rs 54 per kg of live body weight for the
farmers’ goats. They also incurred an average marketing and processing cost of Rs 5 per
kg of live body weight on collection and purchase of goats, market fee, feed cost, cost of
selling, fixed cost and rent of shop etc. Thus the total cost incurred by the butcher/meat
seller was Rs.59 per kg of live body weight.
With average dressing percentages of 50, a goat of 30 kg body weight produces
15 kg meat (carcass) besides the by-products. The cost of acquiring a goat, gross returns
from sale of products and by-products on its slaughter, marketing costs and margins of
petty traders and butchers and share of the farmer were estimated. The details are given
in the Table 4.96.

Table 4.96: Butchers/ meat-seller’s cost and returns from a goat of 30 kg body weight
Particular Quantity/value
Body weight (kg) 30
Carcass weight (kg) 15
Purchase price @ Rs 54/ kg live body weight 1620
The amount producers get @ Rs. 49/ kg live body wt. 1470
Margin of petty trader @ Rs 5. /kg live body wt. 150
Marketing cost @ Rs 5. /kg live body wt. 150
Total cost 1770
Returns (Rs.):
Value of meat @ Rs 120/kg 1800
Value of lung and heart 50
Value of legs and head 90
Value of stomach 50
Value of liver 40
Value of intestine 10
Value of skin 120
Gross returns 2160
Average transit loss (2 % of value of goats), Rs. 35
Net margin of butcher/meat seller per goat slaughtered, Rs. 355
Producers share in consumer rupee (%) 68.05
Marketing cost as% of total value of goat slaughtered 6.95
Share of petty trader in consumer rupee (%) 6.96
Share of Butcher/ Meat-trader in consumer rupee (%) 16.44
The details of cost, returns and margins of different functionaries in the
marketing of meat goats in the normal market conditions have been shown in the Table
4.95. The goat farmers got 68 per cent share in the consumers’ rupee. The share of
rural/petty traders, butcher/meat sellers and the marketing cost in the consumers’ rupee
was 6.95, 16.44 and 6.95 percent, respectively. Share of the traders/butchers in the
consumers’ rupee during the festive sale on Eid, Holi, Dushhara etc was much higher up
to 20-25 percent of the value of goat paid by the consumer. The butchers also earned
much higher net margins in the trade of diseased goats, these animals were purchased at
through away prices and their meat was sold on the same price as that of healthy animal
@ Rs. 120 –140 per kg.
4.8.1 Trading of goat skins
In view of decentralized availability of skins in the country, the network for
collection is large and widespread. The tanners have established their own collection
agents in the major centers. There were 3 such agents in Agra. These collection agents
were also working as skin merchants. Agents purchased skins from the skin markets,
where the butchers sold raw skins. The agent received a commission of Rs. 3 to 5 per
skin from the tanner. The merchant did the salting of raw skins and it was repeated on
the 6th day in summer and 10th the day in winters. The skin merchant/agent continued to
collect skins till he completed 800-1000 pieces.
The prices of skins were determined according to size, age, breed, origin, quality
and most importantly the defects. As per the information of the skin merchants, 20-30
percent skins are rejected on account of defects due to external parasites, diseases, cuts
while grazing and improper de-skinning. The demand for skins of small kids was very
low. The price of skin of an adult goat ranged from Rs. 85 to Rs. 140 depending on the
size and quality. Besides the commission agents, the skin merchants were also engaged
in skin trading and collected goatskins from daily/weekly skin market. The merchants
either sold the raw skins directly to the tanner or they got it processed through the
tanner to the wet-blue skin on payment basis. These wet-blue skins then were sold to
the industry or exporters.
The small players (skin merchants) were vulnerable to high rejection of the skins
by the tanner and delayed payments by the tanners and exporters. The reason for high
rejection of skins is that the goat keepers give no emphasis/care for producing quality
skins. In fact the farmers neither take any care for protection of skin of their goats nor
they have any awareness of its importance.
Salt is used as the primary curing material for skins. It is washed out in the
tanning process and resulting in water and soil pollution. Green processing of skins
closed to the production centers would reduce the pollution load considerably. The goat
based leather and leather products are subject to trends in the world fashion. There is
need to present and promote goat based leather products in high profile market
segment. India should take an initiative of building an unique image for goat based
leather fashion.
4.8.2 Market for intestine
The intestine of slaughtered goats was hardly in demand in the small towns and
villages. However in the large cities such as Agra and Jaipur, an intestine of goat was
sold for Rs. 10 for edible purpose. On small scale, a few persons were also engaged in
value addition of intestine through its primary processing and supplied it to the surgical
manufacturers for making threads for surgical stitching. An intestine was purchased @
Rs. 3- 5 per piece from the slaughterhouse. After primary processing, one piece was sold
@ Rs. 25 – 30 to the wholesaler, who in turn supplies the material to the industry. One
person was able to do primary processing of 30 such intestines per day. It seemed to be
a good opportunity of value addition. However, this activity needs to be organized.
Moreover the intestine could be processed to ready to eat products such as sauces.
5. EXPORT OF GOATS AND ITS PRODUCTS

Meat is the most important marketable goat product and another important
marketable product is skin. The total meat production in the country has been estimated
to be 6.03 million tones in the year 2005-06. The contribution of goats to the total meat
production is 0.509 million tone and that of sheep is 0.239 million tone accounting for
8.44 and 3.96 percent of the total meat production, respectively. Hence, goat and sheep
together produce 12.4 percent of the total meat production. Goat and sheep meat is
acceptable to the people of all castes, creed and religions. It is one of the choicest meat
and has a huge domestic demand. Rising per capita income, growing urbanization and
unfolding globalization are further boosting the demand for high value commodities
including meat (Birthal and Joshi, 2006). As a result the market price of goat and sheep
meat over the period of last one decade has increased almost three fold from Rs. 50 –
60 per kg to Rs. 120 – 150 per kg.

5.1 Export of goat and sheep meat

The export destinations for goat/sheep meat are UAE, Oman, Bahrain, USA,
South Africa and Malaysia. The other export destinations are Germany, Bangladesh, The
Netherlands and Sri Lanka. In the Middle East, the Arab population mostly prefers sheep
meat. The major demand for Indian goats and its meat come from the ethnic South
Asian population. Though the domestic price of goat and sheep meat is quite attractive
on account of its huge demand, but it has a very good potential for exports. We have
number of strengths to our advantage as goat and sheep meat exporter.
• Goat and sheep meat produced and exported from India is lean in character and
good for fat and energy conscious people. Contrary to this, the lambs produced in
Australia and New Zealand, which are the major competitor, contains high carcass
fat. This is the reason that in future, demand for goat/sheep meat from India shall
continue to increase. The basic reason for the lean character of meat produced from
goat/sheep is mainly the extensive system of rearing the animals unlike Newzeland
and Australia where the animals are primarily reared adopting the intensive system of
management.
• Moreover, the basic regulatory requirements for meat imports by countries of the
Middle East are the “Halal” slaughter and the fitness for human consumption
certificate. These importing countries have established a system to get guarantee that
the meat produced by any Indian exporter is “Halal” slaughtered meat.
• Since our animals’ graze/browse in the pastures/range-lands hence the meat
produced is relatively safer from any feed additive residue point of view and is nearer
to organic system of meat production. Because of the closer proximity to the Gulf
countries, the meat from India reaches to the destinations in a relatively fresh
condition at a cheaper cost.
• Presence of large number of ethnic Indians through out the world particularly in the
Middle East countries provides a niche for the export of meat and meat products
especially from goat and sheep. India can enjoy the benefit its richness in spices and
condiments, which adds to flavour and taste to ethnic consumers.
• Expected huge global increase in demand for meat especially from East and
Southeast Asia (IFPRI, 1999) would be an excellent opportunity for enhancing export
of meat from India. Whereas the domestic demand for meat is expected to increase at
a slower pace.

The necessary conditions for exporting meat as set by different government orders
and rules are as follows:
1. Standards have been laid down for export of meat and meat products under Export
(Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963. The export of Raw Meat (chilled and
frozen) shall be allowed subject to the provision specified to the gazette
notification on Raw Meat (chilled and frozen) under Export (Quality Control and
Inspection) Act, 1963 in January, 1993. The notification lays down the Standards
for abattoirs, meat processing plants and the products. Offal too is subject to the
same conditions of quality control and inspection.
2. All consignments of raw meat (Chilled and Frozen) and export of canned meat
products need to accompany with a pre-shipment inspection Certificate for which
the government has designated three agencies (i) All State Directorate of Animal
Husbandry (ii) Export Inspection Agency (iii) Directorate of Marketing and
Inspection, Government of India to carry out the inspection in accordance with
either the standards prevalent in the exporting country or standards prescribed
under the Meat Food Products Order, 1973 (MFPO) under Export (Quality Control
and Inspection) Act, 1963 or orders made there under.
3. Export of meat and meat products will be allowed subject to the exporter
furnishing a certificate to the customs at the time of export that the above items
have been obtained/sourced from an abattoir/ meat processing plant registered
with APEDA.

The share of goat and sheep in the total meat production at present is 12.4 percent
however its share in total meat exports excluding poultry is only 1.54 percent in
physical terms and 3.06 percent in value terms. There are number of factors related to
quality of production, domestic price environment, investment and infrastructure and
required policy support responsible for poor export of goat and sheep meat. The details
of export of goat and sheep meat in the last couple of years have been given below in
Table 5.1.

Table 5.1: Export of goat and sheep meat from India

Year Quantity, Value, % Share to total meat
in mts Rs. Crore export
2002-03 16820 110.39 4.65
2003-04 9024.49 81.27 2.59
2004-05 7177.51 80.37 1.54
The exporters of goat and sheep meat in India, who are small players, yet in the
meat export market, are also hit hard by non-tariff and other barriers put not only by
importers but also by the other major meat exporters of the country. Suddenly since
August 2006 the government of India has banned the export of bone-in meat of goat and
sheep citing the reason that this meat poses a potential risk of Foot and Mouth Diseases
(FMD) spread in the importing countries. It seems to be a play of trade politics that has
resulted in to ban on export of bone-in meat of goat and sheep on the pretext that bone-
in meat may be a source of spread of FMD. However the scientific studies have not
confirmed this hypothesis. At the same time the export of live goats and sheep is
allowed from the ports in Gujrat, Whose trade comes under OGL (open general license)
scheme of the government. But the live animals may be more potent source of FMD
spread if they are infected.

5.2 Demand scenario

IFPRI’s International Model of Policy Analysis of Commodities and Trade
(IMPACT), 1999 projected that meat demand in developing countries will double
between 1995 and 2020 to 190 million tones and would increase by 25 per cent in
developed countries to 122 million tones. The highest increase in demand for meat is
projected to be in East and Southeast Asia. China alone is forecasted to account for two
fifths of the global increase in demand for meat. On the other hand India’s share in the
global increase in demand for meat is expected to be only one –tenth that of China.
Therefore, the future for Indian meat export looks very bright. The rate of increase in
domestic demand for meat in India is relatively low because of social-religious
inhibitions and higher preference for vegetarian diet. Expected global increase in
demand for meat would, therefore, be an excellent opportunity for enhancing export of
meat from India.
5.3 Export of live goats and sheep
The major importers of live goats from India are Arab countries like, UAE,
Oman, Bahrain etc., where the demand of live goats reach to its peak during the Eid
festival (Eid ul juha). Not only the ethnic Indians but also the local Arab Muslims prefer
Indian goats for offerings on Eid festival. On Eid, people use Indian goat/sheep for
home/self consumption after offering ceremony. Sheep from Australia and New Zealand
are purchased at low price and used for community feast. The Indian goats are preferred
because they are considered to have been reared on natural grazing without any feeding
of steroids, hormones, feed additives and animal by-products and have lean meat.
5.3.1 Type of animals demanded by importers
The major demand of live goat and sheep is for the animals of 12 to 18 months
age. The animals should weigh between 25 to 45 kg. One such animal at present
fetches a price of Rs 5000 to Rs. 7000 in the export market in Middle East. There is
another segment of the market, however small, the ethnic population from SAARC
countries living in the Middle East, prefer spring lambs/kids of 5-6 months age.
The exporters of live goats were mainly sourcing the animals from big livestock
markets such as, Kalpi (kanpur) and Jaswantnagar in U.P. and Ajmer and Jaipur in
Rajasthan, Delhi and Mumbai, besides direct purchase from villages through commission
agents. Among the selected traders in both the states, 20 percent of them were also
supplying goats to the exporters. The animals from Rajasthan, Delhi and other
northwestern states were exported through Kandla port in Gujrat to Arab countries. The
animals exported from Uttar Pradesh were going through both the Kandla port as well as
Kolkata. To satisfy the preferences of importers, the first criterion of selection of goats by
the exporters was body weight of the animals followed by breed (Uniform look and body
size), age, colour and height (Table-).
Table 5.2: Preferences of exporters of live goats
Criteria Preference (rank)
Body weight I
Breed- Uniform look and body size II
Age III
Colour IV
Height V

5.3.2 System of export of live goat and sheep

The export shipments of live goat and sheep to Middle East countries were
mainly sent from Tuna, Kandla Sea Port in Gujrat. The live goat and sheep were mainly
collected from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat and Maharashtra. It
takes animals 1 to 2 days to reach to the Kandla port. From Kandla port the ship takes 5-
7 days to reach to Dubai. The number of live goats and sheep exported from the country
during 1995 to 2005 has been given in Table 5.3. There was a ban on export of live
goats and sheep due to objections from the importing countries due to reports of
prevalence of certain diseases and other trade issues. The export of live goats has
reached to 2.36 Lakhs per annum in 2005.
Table 5.3: Export of live goat and sheep from India (in 000’)
Year Goat Sheep
1995 5.74 0.00
1996 3.26 0.63
1997 0.00 0.00
1998 0.00 20.00
1999 0.00 0.00
2000 0.00 0.00
2001 0.00 0.00
2002 1.31 0.00
2003 302.59 5.91
2004 243.34 4.12
2005 236.56 1.75
Source: FAO (2006)

5.4 Competitors in the international market

Our major competitors in the international trade of live goat and sheep and their
meat are Australia and New Zealand. They are able to supply meat and live animals at
cheaper price as compared to us mainly due to their low cost of shipping, healthy
condition of animals during transportation and high productivity. Even in the face of low
prices by our competitors, we are able capture a part of the Middle East market. It is
because the Indian goats are preferred because they are considered to have been reared
on natural grazing without any feeding of steroids, hormones, feed additives and animal
by-products and have lean meat. Moreover ethnic south Asian population has particular
preference for meat of our goats. But to remain competitive in meat export market, we
need to improve our shipping of live animals and meat, and create modern
infrastructure for meat processing.
Further the emerging exporters of live goat and sheep namely Ethiopia and
Somalia are ready to supply live animals at half the price of Indian goat and sheep. Since
the raising and feeding conditions of their animals are almost similar to ours, they may
be a major threat to our exports of live animals. In future the cheaper import of live goat
and sheep from Ethiopia and Somalia might also have the consequences for domestic
price and production. However it will depend on the amount of surplus available with
them for export.
There is possibility of cheaper imports of sheep and goat meat also from
Australia and New Zealand. However the meat from these countries may not find much
favour with the Indian consumers. As it has different type of smell because of feed
additives, hormones, animal by-products etc. fed to the animals and it has high fat
content. Moreover the typical choice of ‘hot’ meat purchased by the Indian meat eaters
shall play a decisive role in protecting Indian meat industry from frozen meat imports.
5.5 Constraints and issues in export of live goats and sheep and their meat
1. We are shipping our live goat and sheep in Country Crafts to Dubai. The
capacity of country craft is only 400-500 goats/sheep. The country craft does not
have sufficient and proper space for movement and sitting of animals. Proper
feed is not given to the animals during the journey, only dry straw is provided.
The exporter is not allowed to send his person for taking care of animals during
the journey.
2. Such stressing conditions results in to heavy mortality of animals during
transportation from India to export destinations.
3. Standards for shipping live animals are neither defined nor implemented.
4. On reaching Dubai after 5-7 days in such shipping conditions, the goats become
weak and look dull and sluggish. Consequently the market price of such animals
also gets decreased. Hence the exporter loose on account of mortality of animals
and realization of price less than it potential.
5. The cost of insurance is very high.
6. The importers place order mostly for supply of large number of animals (e.g.
4000 to 10000) of uniform weight and look (breed). But goats in India are reared
in small numbers by millions of small goat keepers. Moreover in absence of any
breeding policy and non-availability of pure breed males in the villages, all most
all the breeds of goats are getting diluted. Hence it becomes very difficult for the
exporters to arrange large number of goats of uniform weight and look as per the
demand of importers.
7. The Tuna Port (Kandla) meant for loading animals for export does not have
proper facilities such as water, feed, sheds and health care for animals and
electricity.
8. There is no mechanism in place for market intelligence. No accessibility to
market information on demands, prices, quality specifications and consumer
preferences in the international market.
9. During the chilling process, the goat meat gets blackish (dark red) and gives poor
appearance. This results in low acceptance by the consumers. However such
problem does not occur in case of sheep.
10. Availability of modern slaughterhouses for goat and sheep is a pre-condition for
boosting export of their meat. In the recent past few modern slaughterhouses
both in private and public sector have come up where the animals are
slaughtered to produce clean and wholesome meat. However the number of
modern slaughter-house are not sufficient to produce quality meat for domestic
and export market. All the big players have created modern slaughtering
capacities for large animals but very little capacity is available for small
ruminants. Lack of availability of assured supply of large number of healthy goat
and sheep for slaughter and export is also constraining the entry of big players in
small ruminant meat production and export.
11. It is very difficult to get permission for establishment of modern slaughterhouse.
Many agencies are involved in giving the clearance. Vested interests and
 pressure groups exploit the sentiments of people and demand illegal payments
from the investor.
12. We are not making cuts of goat and sheep meat, Australians and Chinese are
making 6-way cut for export to European markets and to meet the demands of
five-star hotels even in India.
13. An important consideration would be to meet the sanitary and phyto-sanitary
standards strictly. It is mandatory under the provisions of WTO for meat
exporters to adopt ‘Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point’ (HACCP) and
certified as ISO 9002. Until recently only few Indian Companies had adopted
HACCP. More number of modern slaughterhouses including municipal
slaughterhouses adopting Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) need to be
established.
14. Monitoring of toxic residue especially pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics in
meat is another important consideration from the viewpoint of export. Though
the meat of animals especially goat/sheep, who are mostly dependent on natural
pastures, has very low probability of having toxic-residues, monitoring of these
elements would be desirable for the satisfaction of importing countries.
5.6 Suggestions for improvement in export performance of live goat and sheep and
their meat
1. Laid down standards for shipping and transportation of goat and sheep. These
standards should be effectively implemented.
2. There should be specialized ships for carrying animals with proper facilities for
feeding, sitting and moving like Australia and New Zealand have.
3. Due to temperature variation in the sea, the animals are prone to get cold. There
should be proper rest and feeding to the animals during inland transportation. Feed
some antibiotic and analgesic within prescribed limit before loading the animals into
the ship.
4. The facilities such as water, feed, sheds and health care for animals and electricity
should be available on the loading ports.
5. The government should take the responsibility of market intelligence on priority
basis. Collecting and analysing data on demands of importers, price, and consumer
preferences etc. These services should highly time bound. There should be a help
desk at APEDA. So that exporters can have timely access to information related to
international market.
6. There is need to create linkages among the goat farmers and processors and
exporters. The farmers should be sensitized to produce/ prepare animals as per the
market demand. Production of healthy pure breed goats will not only required for
boosting the exports but also for realizing better prices in the domestic market.
7. Economics demands that instead of exporting live goats and sheep, in future we
need to focus on promoting the export of their meat and meat products. For
enhancing export of meat, the first condition would be to establish number of
modern slaughterhouses (low – cost).
8. Hindrances in getting permission for establishment of modern slaughterhouse
should be minimized. There should be a single window clearance mechanism for
such proposals.
9. The problem of goat carcass getting blackish on it’s chilling may be overcome by
vaccume packaging.
10. There is need to conduct consumer preference studies in the importing countries.
11. Different meat cuts, ready to cook meat products with seasoning and products with
mixing of different dry fruits could create a niche in export market.
12. Through increasing meat production by increasing slaughter rate, improving
slaughter weight, and carcass weight, reduction in mortality, effective check on the
slaughter of immature animals, minimizing tissue shrinkage’s which occurs due to
poor transit and marketing facilities. It was estimated that by these means from goat
alone the current meat production might be increased to more than double (Rekib
and Agnihotri, 1997).
13. Reducing species bias for meat consumption in the country through making
consumer oriented/value added products from less preferred meat (buffalo meat)
thereby making available larger surplus of goat/sheep meat for exports.
14. Effective and profitable utilization of spent Goat and Sheep meat for conversion into
economic and value added products which can satisfy the need of large number of
consumers thereby reducing the pressure on demands for fresh meat from young
animals can also enhance the exports.
15. The prospects of goat and sheep meat would be available only for value added meat
products and organic meat, particularly ready to cook meat with seasoning and
vaccume packaged frozen meat in different cuts.
6. EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES FOR STRENGTHENING
LINKAGES AMONG THE STAKEHOLDERS IN GOAT
FARMING

There was no information available on the presence and status of commercial

goat farms in the country. Employing different methods of collecting information such as
personal contact, published and Internet sources, Animal Husbandry Departments,
Farmers, NGOs, key informants and other agencies, a total of 157 Commercial goat
farms spread over 16 states were identified (Figure 6.1). The details of these commercial
goat farms are given in Table 6.1.

Tripura

Gujrat

Delhi

Uttaranchal

Orissa

Tamil Nadu

Andhra Pradesh
States

West Bengal

Jharkhand

Punjab

Chhattisgargh

Bihar

Rajasthan

M.P.

Maharashtra

Uttar Pradesh

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
No. of commercial goat farms

Figure 6.1: State-wise distribution of identified commercial goat farms

Table 6.1: Commercial goat farms in India

Sl. Name of farmer Address Phone No. of Breeds of goat
No. Goats
1. Sh. Mohd. Safi Siddiqui 169 Taju Khel, Near Phatak Wali 86 Barbari & Non-
Masjid, Shahajahanpur, 242001 Descript
(UP)
2. Sh. Narendra K. Dube Village-Arail, Post-Rampur Revati 45 Non Descript
S/O Sh. R.P. Dube Distt.-Basti (UP)
3. Sh. Omwat Tyagi Village & post-Mandawali 01341-253023 50 Barbari & Non
Tehshil-Nazeebabad, Bijnor, (UP) 09412386631 Descript
4. Mohd. Hilal Unique Natural Foods, Mohalla- 09837737875 90 Barbari & Non
Palwalia, Town-Gulawati, 09213436927 Descript
Bullandshahar, (UP), 245 408
5. Sh. Sukhvir Singh Village-Bishaina 50 Non Descript
 S/O Sh. Khushi Ram Tehshil & District-Mathura, (UP)
6. Sh. Rakesh Kumar Village-Gadiya Sultanpur 100 Barbari & ND
PO-Kesar Kala, Bulandshar, (UP)
7. Sh. Vijay Pratap Singh Vill-Galibpur, Po-Maunath, 40 Non Descript
S/o Randhir Singh Bhanjan, Mau, (UP)
8. Sh. Gulla Singh Village-Nagla Bhan, Mathura, 190 Sirohi & Non
(UP) Descript
9. Sh. Banvari Lal VPO-Mour, Tahshil-Khair, Aligarh- 52 Non Descript
S/O Sh. Ghure Singh 202137 (UP)
10. Sh. Rashid Ahmed 128/6 outside Sinyer Gate 09935324274, 120 Barbari & Non
Jhansi, (UP) 09935445400 Descript
0517-247312
11. Sh. Nagesh Kumar S/o Sh. Vishwanath Singh, 09415377575 45 Non Descript
Singh Leeyurer Nagar, Balia, (UP)
12. Sh. Dharamvir Singh Village-Jalalpur (Karira) 55 Non Descript
PO-Shikarpur, Bulandshahar (UP)
13. Sh. Tahir Husain Bahadurganj, PO-Sultanpur 90 Barbari & Non
S/o Md. Usuf Tehshil-Thakurdwara Descript
Muradabad, (UP)
14. Sh. Bhuri Singh Vill.-Inayatpur,Via-Shamsabad 78 Barbari
S/O Sh. Mangan Singh Agra
15. Sh. Mukesh Goat Farm 150 Barbari & Non
VPO-Kirawali, Agra Descript
16. Sh. Sanjay Sharma 153 Jhacon Bagh, Jhansi, (UP) 0517-247312, 60 Non Descript
09935445400
09935324274
17. Sh. Ratan Singh Village-Garhiya Sultanpur 45 Non Descript
Post-Kaser Kalan
Bulandshahar, (UP)
18. Sh. Mukesh Kumar Vill-Badanpur 28 Non Descript
Post-Lotai, Mathura, (UP)
19. Sh. Mohd. Javed National Goat Farm 9837469348 45 Non Descript
Village-Akbara, Atrauni,
Sikandara, Agra
20. Sh. Baqar Hadi 605 F.I. Rower 0522-2234286, - -
Behind Burlington Hotel 09415010058
37 Cant Road, Lucknow
21. Sh. M.H. Khan Chiks-144 Poultri Farms 42 Non Descript
Village-Rasvatpur, Post-Gunnaur
Badaun, (UP)
22. Sh. Amir Ahmed, Fateh Nager Road, P.O. Sherkot, 50 Barbari & Non
Bijnor (UP) Descript
23. Sh. Riaz Ahmed Ali, I Bouli Kakari, Lucknow (UP) 120 Barbari & Non
Descript
24. Mr. Vinay Chauhan Vill Champatpur, PO Reoti Bahora 38 Non Descript
Khera, Bareilly (UP)
25. Mr. Suheb Asruf Gheta Jiyaun, Nabi Bazar, 64 Non Descript
Nasulla Khan Rampur (UP)
26. Sh. Girandra Singh 71, Chaman Vihar Khurja, (UP) 150 Barbari, Sirohi
Chauhan
27. Sh. Yogesh Kumar VPO. –Shahgarh, Aligarh (UP) 100 Barbari & Non
Descript
28. Mr. I.A. Khan Vill. Nagla Bhikam P.O. Malagani 70 Barbari & Non
Etawah (UP) Descript
29. Dr. H.R. Khanna Civil lines, Barabanki (UP) 160 Barbari & Non
Descript
30. Sh. Raja Mahmud Samda Farm, Barabanki (UP) 100 Barbari & Non
Descript
31. Sh. Aaga Babbar & Kesher Bagh, Kanpur (UP) 50 Barbari & ND
Sh. Sagir Hassan
32. Sh. Fakruddin Tilak Nagar, Kanpur (UP) 250 Barbari & ND
33. Sh. Chand Khan Kasimpur, Kanpur (UP) 200 Non Descript
34. Sh. Asaf Khan Muradnagar, Ghaziabad (UP) 200 Non Descript
35. Sh. Zaheer Haider Professor, Dptt. of Mechanical - -
Engineering, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh-202002
36. Sh. Kamlesh Kumar Nagesh Sarv Seva Sansthan 25 SHGs Non Descript
Tripathee Village-Atthaisa P.O. Mustafabad,
Bahraich (UP), 271904
37. Sh. R.P. Mishra Baif Project Office, 1450 Non Descript
Raniganj, Pratapgarh- 230304 SHGs
(UP)
38. Mr. Charan Singh S/O Narhauli Ghat, P.O. Dualatpur 39 Barbari
Sh. Member Singh Mathura (UP)
39. Mr. Sanjeev Tyagi H.No. 500, Shrinagar Bank 74 Barbari
S/O Mr. V. Prakash colony, Hapur, Gaziabad (UP)
Tyagi
40. Mr. Musheer Ahmed Nagesh sarv sewa sansthan 25-30 Non Descript
Village- Atthaisa, PO-Mustafabad SHGs
Bahraich (UP)
41. Mr. Krishna Govind SH 1/49, A 24 Jay Nagar 45 Barbari
Singh Gilat Bazar, Varanasi – 2 (UP)
42. Mr. Naushad Ahmed Muhalla-Purhawa Husainganj, 62 Non Descript
S/O Sh. Abad Ahmed Bhoudaha , PO. Ragoul – 210507,
Hamirpur (UP)
43. Mr. Munna shekh S/O Village – Sonai (Thok- Bridavani) 150 Barbari & Non
Sh. Abdul Rehman Mathura (UP) Descript
44. M.R. Goat Production Opp: Central Jail, Basant Vihar 50 Barbari
Institute Colony, Road No. 1 Bareilly, (UP)
45. Mr. Karminder Pal Vill- Behait Farm, PO-Bengali 70 Barbari & Non
Singh Sindhu S/O colony, Teh.- Bilaspur, Rampur, Descript
Sh. K.S. Sindhu (UP)
46. Mr. Shahabullahkhan Phari Gate, Rampur (UP) 50 Non Descript
S/o Sh. Shajatullah
Khan
47. Mr. Jagdish Singh Uma Adarsh Goat Farm, 95 + 40 Barbari
Salempur, Farah- 281122,
Mathura, U.P.
48. Mr. Atul Loyalka Village- Balehkan, Tehsil- Choumu, Phone: 800 Sirohi, Boer cross,
Madhu Farms, NH- 11 (Near Patrol Pump), Jaipur- 09414066933 Jhakhrana
madhufarms@rediffmail Raj. Fax: 0141-
.com Head Office: AC- 2, Sawai Jai 2208776
www.madhufarms.org Singh Highway, Banipark, Jaipur-
302016,
49. Sh. Deepak Sareen, 171, Frontier Colony, 75 Sirohi
Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur (Raj.)
50. Sh. Bhupender Singh Vill.-21H, Post-Gurusa(2W) 80 Sirohi
S/o Sh. Mohan Singh Via-Kesharinghpur, Sri
Ganganagar, (Raj), 335027
51. Sh. Ram Avatar Vill. Liyali Khera, PO- Liyali 130 Sirohi
Khera, Ajmer (Raj.)
52. Sh. Akhilesh Kumar Lupin Human Welfare 150 Sirohi & Non
Gupta & Research Foundation Society, (SHGs) Descript
Bharatpur (Raj.)
53. Executive, Bodh Siksha Bodh, Village-Gad Basai 25 SHGs Non Descript
Samiti Thanagazi, Alwar, (Raj)
54. Sh. Ram Swaroop, S/o Vill. Parlika, Hanumangarh (Raj.) 100 Sirohi
Sh. Rawat Ram
55. Sh. Omprakash Godara Vill.-Baruwali, Teh– Nohar, 127 Sirohi
Hanumangarh (Raj.)
56. Sh. Uttam Singh Village-Tyonga 05640-238457 55 Non Descript
S/O Sh. Giriraj Singh Bharatpur-321001, (Raj.)
57. Sh. Mula Ram S/o Sh. Vill. Parlika, Hanumangarh (Raj.) 60 Sirohi & Non
Rajaram Saharan Descript
58. Sh. Shiv Prakash Village – Kagriya , P.O. Simaliya 25 Non Descript
Tehsil-Digod, Kota (Raj.)
59. Mr. Radhe shyam S/O Vill.- Kagariya, P.O.- Simaliya, 40 Sirohi & Non
Sh. Prabhu lal Behrod Teh. Degod, Kota (Raj.) Descript
60. Sh. Chakravir Singh 83 A, Laxman Nagar Colony 09314642743 250 Sirohi & Non
Shyam Nagar, Jaipur (Raj) Descript
61. Sh. N. V. Chowdary, Kakatiyanagar, Hydrabad (AP) 150 Jamunapari & Non
Descript
62. Sh. Somanaboina President, Nalgonda Dist. Sheep 100 Non Descript
Sudhakar Yadav Breeder Cooperative Union Ltd.
Nalagonda (AP)
63. N.V.C. Group Farms Maharnagar (V.) Pochampally, 90 Non Descript
P.O. Nalgonda, Hyderabad (AP)
64. Sh. Harinder Singh S/o Fatehgarh saheb (Punjab) 200 Beetal/ Non
Sh. Laxman Singh Descript
65. Sh. A.S. Chopra, Vill.- Basali, Norpur bed, Distt – 32 Non Descript
Ropar, (Punjab)
66. Sh. Gurbux Singh V. & P.O. Burj Moha. Firozpur 200 Beetal, Non
(Punjab) Descript
67. SR. Simiran Jeet Singh Village- Talania Tehsil- Bassi 104 Beetal
Maan Pathana, Fatehgarh Sahib (Pb)
68. SR. Iqbal Singh Vill.- Lalheri P.O.- Harion Kalan 120 Barbari & Non
Tehsil- Khanna, Ludhiana (Pb) Descript
69. Sh. Surendra Skingh Near Dayal Singh College, Karnal 52 Barbari
Lathar (Haryana)
70. Sh. Saleem Parvez, M.P. Goat & Sheep Breeding 09827243406 150 Barbari, Non
Farm, 73, TAJUL Masjid Road, In 09826288650 Descript
front of Motiya Talab LBS hospital,
Shahjahan Marg, Bhopal (MP) 462
001
71. Sh. Utkarsh Bajaj Yadav Book Stall, Katra BaZar, Sagar 150 Non Descript
(MP)
72. Mohd. Faisal khan Makan No. 30, Band mastder 60 Non Descript
Quareshi Chouraha, Buchwara, Bhopal
(MP)
73. Mohd. Nisar Qureshi Model Goat Breeding Farm 0731-2712978 200 Non Descript
Jagjeevan Gram, Post-Simrol,
Tehsil – Mhow, Indore (MP)
74. Sh. Ashok Dutt Sharma 7 Nakoda Nagar 180 Barbari, Non
Khandwa (MP) - 450001 Descript
75. Sh. Hemant Patidar National Agro Farms &Animal 07284-233360 75 Jamunapari, Non
Production Grams & P.O. Kuwan 09425460330 Descript, Boer
Tehsil - Thikri District-Barwani
(MP)
76. Sh. Lusgheshwar Dale Chhatra Road 135 Non Descript
Shingh Katani Distt. Balaghat (MP)
77. Sh. Deepak Patidar Ekta Agronomic & Livestock 07291-262236 85 Barbari, Boer cross,
Vill. Sundrel , Tahshil – 09425046943 Osmanabadi
Dharampuri, Dhar (MP) - 454554
78. Sh. Braj Singh 51 Zone, I.M.P. Nagar, Bhopal 100 Non Descript
(MP)
79. Sh. Peer Sahab, Ram Sen Road, Hazur 150 Non Descript
Bhopal (MP)
80. Sh. Surendra Singh Vill & P.O. Kishanpur 250 Jamunapari type,
Yadav Distt. Murena (MP) Jamunapari
81. Sh. Hajik Beg 35 smvad Nagar Ajad Nagar ke 172 Non Descript
Pas Nawalkha Indore -452001.
82. Sh. Hajee Abdul Jabbar Royal Steel industries 37, Bistan Ph. 241510 60 Non Descript
Road, Khargone (MP)
83. Sh. Parvez Ansari 85-86 Scheme No. 102 098930-30993 48 ND/Barbari
Behind Malik Nursing Home,
Manik Bagh Road Indore-452 014
(MP)
84. Mr. Mohan singh 159 A, Kalani Nagar 32 Non Descript
Thakur Aerodrum Road, Indore (MP)
85. Mohd. Anwar Siddiki House No. 105 98 Non Descript
Andher dev. Jabalpur
86. Mirja Hazik Beg 35 Samvad Nagar Near Azad 112 Barbari, Non
nagar Descript
Navlakkha Indore – 452001, MP
87. Sh. Usman Ali Nagda Junction, 50 Non Descript
S/O Sh. Mamu Shah Distt-Ujjain , Madhya Pradesh
88. Mr. Nahim Khan Village- Ningari 300 Non Descript,
Near Bargee Distt.- Jabalpur (MP) Bengal
89. Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh Care Goat Breeding Farm 09827043941, 75 Non Descript,
Bhojpur Road Mendua, Distt: 0755 -24276588 Barbari
Raisen, (M P)
Postal Add: E/6, J-107, Arera
Colony Bhopal-16.
90. Mr. Hari Ram Prajapati Vaharkot Muhalla, Thoga Road 50 Non Descript
Teekamgarh, M.P.
91. Kailash Chandra House No. 49, Kota Phatak 09827014113 90 Barbari, Jamunap.,
Panchal Prakash Nagar, Near Over bridge Non Descript
Nagda Junction, Distt. Ujjain (MP)
92. Sh. Sarfraj Saikh 5 Shimla Colony 09425396752, 45 Barbari & Non
Station Road, Dewas, Madhya 07272-309565 Descript
Pradesh
93. Sh. Ramji Lal Jatav Village-Sukhpura 35 Non Descript
Tehsil-Jaura, Distt-Murena (MP)
94. Sh. Munna Singh Village-Pariksha 50 Jamunapari type
Distt-Murena ,Madhya Pradesh Non Descript
95. Sh. Chandra Pal Singh Vill-Shatpura, Post-Sabalgarh 07536-265305 50 Barbari, Non
Sengar Distt-Murena, Madhya Pradesh Descript
96. Hazi Abdul Jabbar 37 Bistan Road, Khargone, (MP) 09827275460 55 Non Descript
97. Sh. Abdul Afeez Capital Fishery Estate, Max Minar 60 Non Descript
Company, Near Laxmi Cinema,
Bhopal-462001 (MP)
98. Shiwaji Livestock Estate Amarawati Road 500 Barbari,
Farm Nagpur (MS) Jamunapari
Osmanabadi
99. Dr. Arjun Aswar, Marathwada Goat farm, 160 Osmanabadi
Gut No. 78, Nakshtrawadi,
MIDC Road Aurangabad (MS)
100. Farm manager Mendhi vaishali Vikash - Supports goat &
Madhammandal Ltd. (MS) sheep development
101. Sh. Shibi Vasishtha Ajaputra Live Stocks and Farms drshibi@rediffma 300 Osmanabadi, Boer,
Kulkarni 172/8, Siddhivinayak Colony il.com Jamunapari, sanen,
Amalner, MS India 425401 091-2587- sirohi triple cross
223266
102. Sh. Vijayrana Vijayrana Goat Farm C/o 02185 - 222600 70 Osmanabadi
Shivratna Construction Co.
A/P. Shankarnagar (AKLUJ)
Tehsil. Malshiras
Solapur, 413 018, (MS)
103. Sh. Tuka Ram Gulab Adarsh Sheli Prakalp 50 Osmanabadi
Rao Rupanvar Village-Redni,(Kale Vasti)
Taluk-Indapur, Pune (MS)
104. Sh. B.V. Nimbkar Nimbkar Agricultural Research 250 Boer cross & pure
 Institute (NARI), P.O. Box-23, Boer
Phaltan-415523 (MS)
105. Sh. Sudhir Jagtap Director, Pragati Complex, Gadge 09422156121, 75 Osmanabadi
Nagara, Amaravati-444603, (MS) 0721-2676745
106. Sh. Ashok Jagdhani Goat Farm, MIDC, Shrirampur 80 Osmanabadi
District- Ahmed Nagar, (MS)
107. Sh. Dhan Raj Shivaji Goat Farm,Village –Dhakade 45 Osmanabadi
Rao Jakhtan Baramati, (MS)
108. Sh. Narayan Rao Van Seti & Stallfed Goat Farming 09423037094 60 Osmanabadi
Deshpandey Attpadi, Sangli, (MS)
109. The Secretary Rural Agricultural Institute 250 Osmanabadi
Narayangaon, Narayangaon-410
501, Pune (MS)
110. Sh. Amir Muquadam 272, Blasses Road, Jama Masjid 50 Osmanabadi
Building, II Maal, Room No-23,
Mumbai-8
111. Mr. Nitin Menon Mani Agriculture & Research Co. 1200 Osmanabadi,
Director Pvt. Ltd.,A/P. TOAP, Near Sirohi, Boer cross
Balbharati, Taluk-Hatkanangle,
District-Kolhapur, (MS)
112. Sh. Vasant Rao Munde Oshmanabadi Goat Farm 09422565365 300 Osmanabadi,
Village-Kanherwadi,Taluk-Parali 02472-228770 Sirohi
Dist-Beed, (MS)
113. Sh. Manoj P. Bhende Goat Farm, Village- Saoner 09422157461 275 Osmanabadi
Taluq- Nand Gaon Khandeshwar
Distt.- Amravati (MS)
Or Near Hindustan Press,
Khaparde Garden, Amarawati
114. Br. Alex Gonsalves, Basco Gramin Vikas Kendra 0241-2551924, 350 Boer cross,
Director C/o St. John’s Church, Bhingar 0241-5602966 Jamunap.
Camp, Ahmednagar-414002
115. Dr. V.R. Munde Osmanabadi Goat Farm, Bhavani 02472-228770, 100 Osmanabadi
Chawk, Osmanabad (MS) 09422565365
116. Sh. Shivaji Pawar Malegaon, Tq. Barshi, Dist. 100 Osmanabadi
Solapur (MS)
117. Sh. Shahaji Shendge R/o Nanjini, P.O.- Halduge, Tq. 100 Osmanabadi
Barshi, Solapur
118. Sh. Shivaji Shendge R/o Kave Ta. Tq. Barshi, Dsit. 100 Osmanabadi
Solapur
119. Sh. Dharam Kosti R/o Mandrup, Tq. Barshi, Dsit. 100 Osmanabadi
Solapur
120. Sh. Munwar Attar Beg R/o Poat, Tq. Kullamb, Dist. 50 Osmanabadi
Osmanabad
121. Sh. Rajan Baliram Uttar, Tq. Ajra, Dist. Kolhapur 100 Osmanabadi
Pednekar (MS)
122. Sh. Balasaheb Patil R/o Hadongri, Tq. Bhoom Dist. 100 Osmanabadi
Osmanabad, (MS)
123. Sh. Gajendra Hake R/o Yeshwandi, Tq. Bhoom, Dist. 100 Osmanabadi
Osmanabad, (MS)
124. Sh. Maruthi Nivruli R/o Asthi, Dist. Beed (MS) 09423455596 100 Osmanabadi
Kakde
125. Mr. Rakesh Kumar Vill & P.O. Salimpur 150 Barbari, Bengal,
Sharma Bauhitiyarpur Distt. Patna (Bihar) Non Descript
126. Sh. Ashutosh Bhardwaj Vill & P.O. Railly Pandarak 65 Bengal, Non
Patna (Bihar) Descript
127. Mr. B.P. Sinha, Sinha Goat Farm, B-91 North 80 Barbari & Bengal
Finance Colony, Patna –14 (Bihar)
128. Sh. Zakir Hussain Vill. Khaza Pura 200 Barbari & Bengal
P.O. V. V.College, Patna-14
(Bihar)
129. Sh. Jaiprakash Arya Deri Agril Farm, Muzaffarpur 200 Barbari & Bengal
 (Bihar)
130. Green Foundation 2/29, Madhuvan Housing 300 -
(NGO) Doctors colony Road, Malahipakri
chowk, Kankar Bagh, Patna (Bihar)
131. Mr. Birendra Pratap Village- Rajapur Indol 80 Bengal & Non
Singh PO. Nemdar ganj Descript
Distt. Nawada (Bihar)
132. Dr. Sidharth Chaterjee Animal Resource Development, 150 Bengal
Agarsefa (Tripura))
133. Mr. A.K.Das Ascon agro products exporters 033- 22836918, 80 Barbari, Black
Paillan group of 42 A, Shakespeare sarani 19, 20 Bengal
industries Express tower, 7th floor
Kolkota – 17, W.B.
134. Sh. S.W.Mittra S/0 Sh. Sabrakone Farm House LTD. 1/B, 130 Bengal & Non
Shyam lal Sinha Old P.O. Street, Kolkata Descript
135. Sh. S.C. Mukerjee Pramuk traders, G.T. Road opp 85 Bengal & Non
Rajgunj forest Office, P.O. Descript
Rajgunj, 828113 (WB)
136. Mr. Santanu Kumar Sadhan Bhawan, Raikatpara, PO& 55 Bengal & Non
Basu Jalpaiguri- 735101 (WB) Descript
137. Sh. Rakesh Kumar Vill. Sostitala, Post-Rampur Hat 70 Bengal & Non
Distt.-Birbhum, (WB) Descript
138. Sh. Mohd. Usman C/o Radio Corner, P.O. – Bhanu 09425593375, 50 Non Descript
Shekhani Pratap pur, Dist. Kanker (C.G.) 07850-252265
139. Mr. Sant Pradhan Sant Goat Farm 28 Ganjam & Non
Vill. Darri, P.O. Sarhar Baradwar Descript
Janjgir (Chhattisgarh ) – 495 687
140. Mr. Yogesh kumar New Civil Lines – 5, Quarter No. 50 B. Bengal,
Ravna H 2/5, Distt. Durg (C.G.) Jamunapari
141. Mr. Ashok Kumar Chaudhary Bakari Palan Kendra, 32 Non Descript
Chaudhary Mahavir Mandir chouk, Beech
Basti, Baramkela Raigarh (C.G.)-
496551
142. M/s. Garib Nawaz Goat Village- Bagbudawa 50 Non Descript
Farm Via- Sakti Distt. Janjgir – Chanpa
(C.G.)-495689
143. Mr. M. Idris Kuraisi S/O P.O. Sakti, Distt. Janjgir – Chanpa 60 Bengal & Non
Dr. M.H. Kuraisi (C.G.) Descript
144. Mr. M.V.G. Appa Rao Caprine Genetics 300 Jamunap., Sirohi,
“Riverpoint” 9/2 Ransit Road Kannai Adu
Kutturpuram, Chennai – 600085
145. K.Kandasamy Selvi Feeds, 094437 22407, Tallicheri, Boer
Managing Partner 3/88.B.Muthukalipatty. (P.O) 04287-231 590. cross, Sirohi,
Rasipuram- 637 408, Namakkal 04287-231 707. Cross- Rasi goat
(Dt),Tamil Nadu. FAX:91-4287-
Selvifee@Sancharnet.In 231 980.
146. Dr. Rana Vikram Singh Natural Medico Plant (Ltd.), IIIrd 60 Barbari
Floor G.U.House 181 A, Sand
Nagar, East of Kailash, New Delhi-
65
147. Sh. Mrigesh Kumar C/o Taurusa Cyber Motif Pvt.Ltd. 011-24102031 65 Barbari
Shashtri A-15, West-End, New Delhi-
110021
148. Mr. Kailash Yadav Motileda, Kheron, Thana - 23 Bengal & Non
Baigabad Descript
Distt. Giridih (Jharkhand)
149. Jharkhand Bakari Palan Village- Ghaghara Thana- 32 Bengal & Non
Baigabad Descript
Distt. Giridih (Jharkhand)
150. Sh. Mukesh Pandey MASSP, Murar Bhawan, Sheetal 45 Bengal & Non
Mallick Road, Bilasi Town, Descript
 B.Deoghar, Jharkhand
151. Sh. Vipin Mishra Chitabhumi, Bilasi Town, 50 Bengal & Non
B. Deoghar-814117, Jharkhand Descript
152. Mr. Shiv Kumar Heifer Project India, Orissa state SHGs Ganjam
office, A/17, BDA housing
complex, Palaspalli, Bhubaneswar
– 751 020 (Orissa)
153. Mr. Virendra Naik Vill. & P.O. Chhatrapur, Dist. 70 Ganjam
Ganjam (Orissa)
154. Mr. Basant Ballabh Village- Kaser manya, P.O. 52 Non Descript
Pandey Gunaditya
Distt. Almora (Uttaranchal)
155. Sh. Naveen Kumar Post-Transit Camp 65 Barbari & Non
Singh Vill-Phulsanga, Distt- Udhamsingh Descript
Nagar (Uttaranchal)
156. Mr. Mukesh Verma Ritu Farm, Nilokheri, Karnal, 250+10 Sirohi
Haryana 0
157. Mr. Ankush Khosla Ankush Farms, Jhajjar, Haryana 011-23844498 250 Barbari
26, bangalow Road, Kamla Nagar, 23848922 Jamunapari
Delhi- 07, akhosla@ndf.vsnl.net.in
The commercial goat farmers’ perception and views on strengthening linkages
among the them were ascertained. It was revealed that the sixty seven percent of the
farmers understand the benefit and wanted to strengthen the linkages among the farmers
Table 6.2). The farmers were particularly in exchanging technical and market
information and breeding bucks among the different farms. One farmer in Maharashtra
and one in Rajasthan were registering local traditional farmers and were ready to
provide them technical knowledge on commercial goat farming.

Table 6.2: Linkages of farmers with other goat farmers

Category % Farmer Type of linkages
I 70 Exchange of technical information, market information,
II 63 supplying breeding stock
III 50
Pooled 67
To create and strengthen linkages among the major stakeholders a National
Workshop-cum-Seminar on ‘Commercial Goat & Sheep Farming and Marketing:
Farmer–Industry–Researcher Interface’ under the aegis of Indian Society for Sheep and
Goat Production and Utilization (ISSGPU) was organized on March 4-5, 2006 at Central
Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom. This workshop provided a rare opportunity
of meeting, communication and information sharing among the major stakeholders
including traditional and commercial goat farmers, researchers, NGOs working with
goats, state animal husbandry officers, entrepreneurs and industry.
About Two hundred and ten delegates comprising Commercial goat farmers from
the States of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat and Orissa, representatives from
Meat and Wool Industry, State Animal Husbandry departments, Non Government
Organizations, researchers, teachers, students, and development workers from different
States of the country attended the Workshop-cum-Seminar. The Two-day Workshop–cum–
Seminar was organized in four Technical Sessions viz. (i) Technological advances for
commercial goat and sheep production, (ii) Commercialization of goat and sheep
production: Future Perspectives, (iii) Institutional support for commercialization of goat and
sheep farming and (iv) Commercialization of goat and sheep farming: Experiences from the
field, covering all aspects of commercial goat and sheep production, processing and
marketing. An open Question-Answer Session and a Round Table for identifying leverage
points for strengthening linkages among the stakeholders were also organized. The issues
and recommendations emerged from the above four Technical Sessions and the Round
Table were later presented and discussed in the Plenary Session. The same are summarized
as under:
1. An appropriate Animal Husbandry Extension Service should be evolved addressing
the needs of the small ruminant keepers for successful transfer of improved
technologies. There is need to develop region specific ‘Expert Systems’ on scientific
goat/ sheep farming. The farmers can have access to the ‘Expert System’ through
Agricultural Information Kiosks/ Agri-clinics available in the area.
2. Study of successful cases of contract farming in goat/ sheep production would help
strengthening much needed integration between farmers and industry. Study on
experiences of innovative marketing will be useful.
3. Perfection and transfer of technology of complete feed-block making utilizing locally
available feed resources would go a long way in improving goat/ sheep productivity
and commercialization of their production.
4. Develop ready reckoner tables with growth rates, optimum slaughter weights and
meat yields for different breeds of goat and sheep under different production
systems.
5. To create market for goat milk, its qualities like, iso-caloric, bone-building and
therapeutic properties should be highlighted. More research efforts should be made
to study nutritional, therapeutic and microbiological aspects of goat milk. Since goat
milk has a peculiar smell, which make goat milk less acceptable for human
consumption in spite of its nutritive and therapeutic values.
6. More prolific breeds with uniform body size amongst small/ medium sized breeds
having tender and lean meat should be identified and multiplied for distribution to
entrepreneurs.
7. There should be a system of authentic collection and reporting of market
intelligence on small ruminant production and marketing of their important
products. The farmers should have access to the information on prevailing market
prices of goat and sheep, their products and by-products. The regulatory body
should also ensure that live small ruminants are marketed on body weight basis and
not on per head basis.
8. There should be a mechanism to conduct regular survey of market demand, prices
and consumer preferences for goat/sheep meat, milk and other products in the
international market so that producers get more remunerative returns.
9. Referral laboratory facilities at Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom
and Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar should be strengthened
for proper diagnosis and control of goat/ sheep diseases, and for testing the quality
of meat and milk, their products and processed feeds for residue limits and be got
accredited with international laboratories.
10. There is need to develop suitable disease monitoring and surveillance system and
undertake strategic control and eradication measures for diseases of small ruminants
rather taking up routine prophylactic measures where the size of population and its
spread is too large to be covered under improvement programmes. More disease
free zones should be created to boost export and minimize economic losses to the
farmers.
 11. Instead of exporting meat as such, attention should be given on in-house production
of value added ready to eat meat products and their export. Research and
development efforts are required for consumer preferred process development for
product manufacture adopting HACCP and GMP.
12. A ‘Technology Mission on Small Ruminant Development’ as a part of larger mission
on livestock improvement or independently where, there are large possibilities for
small ruminant production primarily for meat production should be launched to
improve the productivity of goat and sheep.
13. Organising goat and sheep farmers into cooperatives is very crucial for the
development of small ruminant sector. The farmers on regional basis should be
encouraged to form Cooperatives/ Associations/ Federated Companies of producers
to get advantage of the remunerative prices for the produce and better accessibility
to technical knowledge, critical inputs and market information.
14. The extensive system of goat and sheep rearing should be replaced with semi-
intensive and intensive system for commercial goat and sheep production especially
where feed resources are available at reasonable cost and there is great demand for
goat and sheep for local consumption and export.
15. The Commercial Goat/ Sheep Farms running on scientific lines should be
encouraged to become the Centers of production of superior quality breeding
animals. The research and development agencies, farmers, and NGOs should work
closely to ensure availability of superior quality breeding animals.
16. Financial institutions should extend liberal support to goat & sheep farmers and
entrepreneurs for establishing Commercial Farms. The Bankers, who at present in
general are reluctant to finance small ruminant Projects, should be made aware of
the investment requirements and economic potential of small ruminants through
appropriate trainings/ interaction programmes.
17. Single window system for granting permission and license to set-up meat
production/ processing units should be created by the Government.
18. The information on trade linked animal diseases, veterinary drugs and other harmful
residues in feeds and products of animal origin and their permissible limits set by
Codex should be disseminated to the farmers, feed manufacturers, field
veterinarians, animal product processors, marketers and the consumers.
19. Market yards for skins should be set-up to help in improving the infrastructure for
proper curing, preservation and handling and consequently the returns from
marketing of raw skins.
20. Absence of the State support in livestock marketing has greatly harmed the interest
of the producers. The government should have regulatory role for ensuring efficient
marketing including pricing and proper space and facilities for different marketing
functions.

6.1 Impact of strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers

The most important outcome of this workshop was that all the participants
including commercial goat farmers from different states could know the magnitude and
number of operating and up-coming commercial goat farming projects through out the
country. With the help of the directory of addresses of commercial goat farms and meat
processors and exporters provided by us, they got instant basis to start developing
linkages among them. These farmers started making communication among them. As a
result the established commercial goat farmers rearing good quality Sirohi, Barbari,
Jamunapari, Black Bengal and Boer cross goats suddenly had large demand for their
breeding goats from the aspirant and up-coming commercial goat farmers. Consequently
the farmers who were getting a market rate of Rs.55 to Rs. 65 per kg of live body weight
for their animals started getting a price of Rs. 120 to Rs. 150 per kg of live body weight.
As a result of strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers because of our
efforts in this project, all the commercial goat farmers in different states even at present
are able to sale their good quality animals at a price of Rs. 120-150 per kg live body
weight. At the same time the butchers and traders are still buying the goats mostly from
traditional farmers at a price of Rs. 60 to 70 per kg live body-weight.
The increased prices of breeding goats due to strengthened linkages have not
only created large opportunities and interest for private investment in commercial goat
farming projects but have also encouraged the existing commercial goat farmers to
produce good quality pure breed animals (germ plasm) of different goat breeds, which
will be critically important for the development of this enterprise in the country.
7. CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

The study has generated comprehensive information on understanding the

emerging commercial goat production system in the country and its economic viability,
prospects and constraints. The information has also been generated on marketing system
of goat and its products, right from the villages to terminal markets and exports and from
butchers and slaughterhouses to meat consumers. The project has also made an
important direct contribution in strengthening the linkages among the commercial goat
farmers in the country.

Commercial goat farming

• Goat rearing hitherto has been an economic activity of rural landless households
and marginal and small farmers. Contrary to that the commercial goat farming has
been adopted by the large and progressive farmers, businessman and industrialists.
The size of operational land holding of commercial farmers in all the categories was
large, which ranged from 26.0 to 78.5 acres. The entry of large farmers, who had
better access to technical knowledge, resources and market, into this activity would
help in realizing the potential of goat enterprise.
• All the commercial farmers were educated, with 50 percent of them as postgraduate.
The involvement of well-educated entrepreneurs is surely a positive sign for the
development of commercial goat farming in the country. Majority of these farmers
(83 %) also underwent some training programme on improved goat farming for 3-10
days duration. Fifty percent of the farmers took training on commercial goat farming
from Central Institute for Research on Goats. The knowledge on improved goat
farming acquired through training would help in raising the productivity of goats
under intensive and semi-intensive system for commercial production.
• The size of initial flock of goats for the new entrepreneurs was observed to be an
important factor influencing the success of a commercial goat-farming project. The
initial flock size of goat in the category I, II and III was 39, 53 and 300 goats,
respectively. From this initial size, the flocks’ current strength has increased to 63,
271 and 1169 goats per farm in the three categories respectively. It was observed
that the new entrepreneurs, who started with large flock of over 100 goats in the
very beginning with out gaining experience from a small flock, were mostly failed
and suffered losses and some of them went out of the business.
• There have been questions from the entrepreneurs, progressive farmers and even
researchers on economic viability and sustainability of commercial goat farming
under intensive system. It was found that the goats were successfully reared and
economically viable under intensive system of management on 46 percent of the
commercial goat farms. In the large category all the farms were maintaining their
goats under intensive system. This finding would help in establishing the fact that
the goat farming for commercial production could be taken up under intensive
system of management and would encourage the aspirant commercial goat farmers
who do not have access to grazing resources.
• Feed was observed to be highly scarce in Rajasthan particularly in summer season
and became very costly (Rs. 4-5 per kg of dry fodder) turning the goat production
under intensive system unsustainable. Therefore, in such situations, it will be
imperative to follow these steps; (i) Efforts to acquire low cost feed through efficient
purchases, (ii) The number of animals in the farm may be reduced during the
 summer season through pre summer bulk sale of meat animals on Eid and Holi. The
flock size may again be increased during the rainy season every year. (iii) As the
Sirohi breed of Rajasthan is in high demand in different states for breeding purpose,
the sale of pure breed animals to the breeders (farmers) at the age of 6-7 months
would be a way out to reduce the cost of feeding in feed scare regions such as
Rajasthan.
• The mortality in kids was estimated and found to be ranged from 5.64 percent in
category III to 12.28 percent in category I. Thus contrary to the popular belief, the
mortality rate in kids was negatively associated with the flock size. This may be
mainly due to better management, feeding and prophylaxis provided by the large
farmers. The mortality rate in kids was well under the permissible limits except 3
commercial farms, which were not able to spare sufficient time to look after their
farms.
• There was large variation in the magnitude of cost of goat rearing across the farms.
On one third of the commercial goat farms, the total annual cost of rearing a goat
was between Rs.1124 Rs. 1753 and on the other one-third goat farms; it was much
above the average and ranged from Rs.2628 to Rs.4311. These one-third goat farms
running with high cost of production must reduce their cost of goat rearing to
remain in business. The cost could be reduced by, (i) reducing the fixed cost through
size expansion and minimizing mortality of goats; (ii) Reducing feed cost through
identifying cheaper sources of feeds and their efficient purchases.
• Since the lack of good quality breeding is a major constraint in commercialisation
goat production in the country, the commercial goat farms running on scientific
lines should be encouraged to become the centres of production of superior quality
breeding animals.
• Majority of the commercial goat farms were operating with positive net returns with
39 percent of them earning good profit and their annual net returns per goat ranged
from Rs. 968 to Rs. 2069. Goat rearing as an enterprise was found equally rewarding
under both intensive and semi intensive system of management. Among the farms
under intensive system, 22 percent were in loss, whereas among the farms under
semi-intensive system 33 percent were in loss. The commercial goat farming under
intensive and semi intensive system of management may therefore be declared as
profitable and promising enterprise. However, the use of improved technologies
particularly prophylaxis, superior germ plasm, low cost feeds and fodders and
innovative marketing of the produce would be the pre-conditions for successful
commercial goat production.
• The commercialisation of goat production driven by entrepreneurs looking for
higher productivity and profitability was found to be desirable. More
commercialisation would encourage intensification of goat production hitherto
highly extensive system depending only on grazing in degraded common lands. It
would not only help in increasing the productivity of goats through better access to
critical inputs and technical knowledge, but would also relieve some pressure from
the grazing lands. Animals in commercial production system would have to depend
on alternative sources of fodder like agro-forestry; tree leaves and partial/ complete
stall-feeding reducing the dependency on common grazing lands. Moreover, the
commercial goat entrepreneurs would also be better placed in meeting the quality
standards necessary for exports of goats and their products to large expanding
international market particularly West Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Therefore along with the extensive production system, the trend of
commercialisation of goat farming needs to be encouraged. Intensification and
commercialisation of goat enterprise is also important because of shrinking of
resources for extensive grazing. Commercialisation would help in increasing the
goat productivity and bridging the demand-supply gap. It would be a better option
for increasing productivity and production from goats, but it will have its own
associated problems and challenges like requirement of low cost complete feed,
enhanced market integration and high incidence of diseases in large flocks, if not
managed properly. The best way to promote the organised goat production among
the small farmers would be the co-operative system if the initiative comes from the
goat keepers themselves. Even forming associations of goat farmers could provide
them power of scale and may help in mitigating the constraints like lower market
prices for their produce, inbreeding, lack of veterinary aid and poor access to market
and technical information. The associations could be the best source of information
to the goat keepers and members can exchange their breeding bucks regularly to
avoid inbreeding. We have already seen during this Project the positive impact of
strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers in terms of sudden
increase in the demand and market price for their good quality goats sold for
breeding purpose.
• An appropriate Animal Husbandry Extension Service should be evolved addressing
the needs of the small ruminant keepers for successful transfer of improved
technologies. There is need to develop region specific ‘Expert Systems’ on scientific
goat farming. The farmers can have access to the ‘Expert System’ through
Agricultural Information Kiosks/ Agri-clinics available in the area.
• Marketing extension is also equally important. The farmers should be provided
opportunity to have access to the information related to the price and availability of
critical inputs such as vaccines, complete feed blocks, etc and outputs such as live
goat and its meat
• Financial institutions should extend liberal support to goat farmers and
entrepreneurs for establishing Commercial Farms. The Bankers, who at present in
general are reluctant to finance small ruminant Projects, should be made aware of
the investment requirements and economic potential of small ruminants through
appropriate trainings/ interaction programmes.

Marketing of goat and its products

• The marketing of goats particularly suffers from many drawbacks such as
involvement of middlemen garnering high margins, avoidable marketing costs,
unnecessary transportation, mortality of animals during transit leading to
exploitation of both producers and the consumers. The poor farmers are not in a
position to objectively monitor the sale of produce to take advantage of better
prices. Majority of the goat keepers have not developed any commercial orientation
in marketing their produce. However in last couple of years a number of
entrepreneurs have taken up commercial goat farming under intensive and semi-
intensive system of management as an enterprise. Besides use of improved
technologies, the adoption of innovative marketing strategy has been the key driver
for the success of commercial goat farming projects.

Uttar Pradesh
• The kids of <3-months age constituted highest share (24 percent) in the total annual
sale of live goats. It was observed that the share of <3 months kids in total sale of live
animals was higher in large flock size categories reaching up to 48 percent of the total
sale. Another major sale category was 3-6 months kids. These kids were mostly sold
to traders/ butcher. As a result of slaughter of underage small kids the economy of
goat rearing and potential of meat production from goat is undermined, which is a
direct loss to the goat sector and economy of the country. The farmers resorted to the
sale of kids at early age mainly because of their urgent cash needs (53 percent
farmers) and fear of mortality in kids due to diseases coupled with low risk bear ability
and feed scarcity.
• To market their goats the farmers mainly used five channels. These channels were,
Channel I: Farmer to Farmer in the village; Channel II: Farmer to Butcher/ trader in the
village; Channel III: Farmers to Other agencies in the village; Channel IV: Farmer to
Butcher/Trader in weekly market; Channel V: Farmer to Trader in distant markets. The
maximum trading of live goats was carried out through channel II. Fifty three percent
farmers used this channel and sold their 44 percent of surplus live goats. Farmers -
Butcher /trader in the village as well weekly market together accounted for 70 percent
of the total trade of live goats done by farmers
• For fixing price of live goats, three unit of sale were followed by the buyers. They
were ‘per head’, ‘per pair’ and ‘per group’. While purchasing goats most of the
farmers (80%) adopted ‘per head’ method; however the traders/butchers also
purchased considerably in ‘group’ and in ‘pairs’. The common method for price
fixation of live goats in the villages at the doorstep of the goat farmer was through
mutual bargain and open sale system, but the price was not decided on the basis of
body weight of goats.
• The price of goats in the weekly markets were mainly (61% of deals) decided with the
help of agent/middleman through ‘under cover system’ where in the agent would talk
with the buyers in a coded language and on behalf of the owner he eventually finalize
and declare the deal at highest quoted price. The traders judged the weight of goats
through ‘Hattha system’ wherein the trader would judge the weight and potential
meat yield by holding the animal by his hand on its back. The traders have so
perfected the skill of guessing weight of goats through ‘Hattha system’ that their guess
was correct with 85-90 percent accuracy. At the same time the farmer-seller did not
know the weight of his (same) animal.
• The net margins of trader per goat were estimated to be Rs.89 in case of kids to
Rs.235 for a grown-up kid or adult goat while performing the trading in the village
itself. The margins were higher when goats purchased from villages and sold in the
weekly markets, which ranged from Rs.170 to Rs.230 per goat. The traders’ margin
from the sale of one adult goat during the normal season varied from Rs.118 to
Rs.258. This range during the festive season was Rs.227 to Rs.850 per goat. This
clearly demonstrates the undue margins realized by the trader by adding only the
space utility.
• The sale price of the males during Eid was as high as Rs.125 to Rs.150 per kg of live
body weight. However the goat farmers did not have awareness and attitude to take
benefit of the lucrative Eid markets, hardly 10-12 percent farmers were preparing
males for sale during Eid. Though majority of the traditional goat farmers were aware
of the potential benefits of sale during Eid, but the lack of commercial orientation, low
risk bearing ability and lack of market information were constraining factors.
• There was large variation in the price of goats in different seasons; the price goes
down during the rainy season. This happened because of increased supply of goats.
The supply increased because the farmers wanted to reduce the size of their goat
flock in rainy season due to the following reasons, one; the fear of mortality due to
diseases, two; lack of proper housing facility to protect goats from rain and three;
farmers’ feared that the goat may become weak during rainy days as it does not
graze/browse under wet conditions and farmers were not prepared to stall fed them
during such rainy days. Hence, a large number of farmers wanted to sell their goat
that increased the supply of goats. However the demand remained normal or little
suppressed because of the absence of any festival and tendency of farmers not to
start new goat units in this season.
• As a result of growth in population and per capita income, urbanization and
globalization the consumers’ preference is shifting towards high value food
including meat. Hence the demand for goat has also increased as reflected through
its increased market prices. It may be mentioned that the price of goat meat over the
last couple of years has increased much faster as compared to buffalo and poultry
meat. The price of goat meat (chevon), which was about Rs. 55 to 65 per kg a
decade back, has increased to Rs. 120 to Rs.150 per kg. The market functionaries
/traders in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Rajasthan also felt that the demand for meat
goat particularly in peak periods has increased considerably over the last 5 years
• There exists a demand for goat milk, however most of it (86 percent) was purchased
by milk vendors as adulterant in buffalo/ cow milk
• Though the government has no interest in the livestock markets but the private
individuals and societies controlling them have huge financial stakes. The livestock
goat markets had huge income, which ranged from Rs.10.22 lakh to Rs.59.02 Lakhs
per annum. In spite of the huge income, the markets had very poor infrastructure.
Therefore, there is need to rationalize the market fee structure and make it mandatory
for the market owners/societies to create minimum facilities to get their registration
renewed.
• Though the illiteracy and low awareness was the biggest constraint of the goat
farmers, but there were other major constraints faced by farmers while selling their
goats particularly in the livestock markets. Majority of farmers felt constrained
because of lack of transparency in trading of goats, poor access to market and price
information and poor infrastructure in the livestock markets, such as lack of dirking
water facility, shed and veterinarian. The farmers were highly skeptical about the
‘under cover’ method of price fixation of the goats. The poor infrastructure facilities
in the weekly livestock markets and poor access to affordable transport resulted in
poor participation of the farmers in the market. Timely access to market information
is most important for the farmers to take right decision to sale the animals.
Organized efforts are required to provide the timely market information to the
farmers. There was no monitoring agency to check and control the collusive
activities of the traders in the market. It has been well accepted that price of meat-
goats should be decided on the basis of their body weight reflecting their potential
meat yield. However no market had weighing facility. Also no livestock market
committee had representation of the goat farmers participating in those markets.
Representation of farmers in the market management committee may help in
addressing their concerns. However, the farmers’ representative must be a goat
farmer himself.
• With a very small magnitude of marketed surplus, low education and awareness level,
lack of market information and having almost no voice in the society, the traditional
goat farmers had to continue with the present system of marketing but majority of
than (three fourth) were not satisfied with the goat marketing system.

Rajasthan
• The share of kids of <3 months age (mostly male) was highest (39 percent) in the
total sale of live goats by the farmers in a year. The share of <3 months kids in total
sale was much higher up to 44 percent in the large flock size categories. In
Rajasthan the common feed resources on which the goats depend, were highly
scarce and the feed resources available in the market were also costlier as compared
to Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, the farmers were not interested in raising the male kids
up to the economic age of slaughter. The efforts should be made to encourage
farmers to rear kids up to their optimum age of slaughter (6-8 months).
• For the benefit of farmers, a new market has been emerging for the male kids of 2-
3months of Sirohi breed of Rajasthan. These small male kids have been in demand
in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal for rearing. The traders who cater this
market were buying a male kid of 2-3 months at a price of Rs.500-700.
• The emerging trend of rearing the kids of goats from Rajasthan in the areas having
better access to feed resources looks very promising and beneficial for the farmers
and the goat economy as well. The adult males, which formed the 11 percent of the
total sale of live goats, were sold mostly either for breeding purpose or for Eid. The
adult females were mostly the culled animals
• The maximum trading of live goats was carried out through channel II (Farmers-
butcher/traders in the villages). Through this channel 61 percent goats were traded
by 86 percent of the farmers. It shows that the farmers’ participation in the livestock
market was very low in Rajasthan as compared to Uttar Pradesh.
• There was lack of access to correct market information for the farmers. The butcher
/traders visiting the villages rarely compete among them and always tried to fix price
of goats towards lower side.
• The fear of lack of transparency in trading in the weekly markets was the biggest
reason for selling goats in the village itself. It is true that the price of goats in weekly
markets was decided through under cover method in 90 percent deals.
• The price of goats in 90 percent deals was decided through ‘under cover’ method
with the help of commission agents/middlemen. The under cover method has been
described in the previous section of this report. Only 10 percent deals were decided
through open auction method
• Majority of the farmers considered the lack of transparency in trading of goats ‘under
cover’ as the biggest constraint faced in the livestock markets. Unduly high market
fee and very poor access to market information were other major constraints. The
mal practices in the form of collusive activity of traders also constrained the farmers
from fairly participating in the markets. There was no mechanism/agency to check
the mal-practices in trading of goats.
• Majority of the market functionaries were illiterate and uneducated, however they
were well versed with the trade and had good knowledge of goat marketing system.
The traders were not interested in increasing the transparency in the trade because
of the fear of reduction in their margins. But the traders’ biggest constraint was
 harassment by police and animal welfare department during transporting the goats
and had to make considerable illegal payments.
• The middlemen’s margin during the normal season ranged from Rs.130-380 per
goat. This range of margin during festive season was Rs.400 to 1000. It clearly
shows that the margins of the middlemen were unduly high.
• There was no involvement of the government at any stage. The daily arrivals of goats
ranged from 3200 in Jaipur to 5000 in Balaheri, which reached to 7000 to 10000
per day in peak period in winter during festivals. The market fee per goat was Rs.40
in one market and 4-5 per cent of the value of goat in other two markets, which
came out to be Rs.75 to 90 per adult goat. The market fee per goat was higher in
Rajasthan as compared to Uttar Pradesh.
• The livestock markets had poor infrastructure. The office, shed for animals and
drinking water for human beings was available in all the markets. None of the
market had facility of veterinary aid and fodder for the animals. Even the essential
facilities such as ramp to load and unload animals, drinking water for animals and
transit accommodation were available only in one-third of the markets.
• In the absence of any support from the government and their own inability to
organize and innovate, the goat farmers were continuing with the present system of
goat marketing, but even one percent of them were not satisfied with the existing
system of marketing. However, twenty nine percent of the farmers considered the
price realized for their animals as remunerative

Marketing by commercial farmers

• Contrary to the traditional farmers, the commercial farmers sold their goats on live
body weights basis. The majority of the farmers (89 percent) sold their goats on body
weight basis that enabled them to realize remunerative price as per the actual worth
of the animal.
• A number of commercial farmers had made efforts to advertise and popularize the
goat farm and the quality of their goats through all possible means. A one fifth of the
farmers had created their own websites giving details of the farm and the type of
goats available for sale. These farmers were getting most of their orders for supplying
goats though e-mails.
• After we provide a directory of addresses of all the commercial goat farms to them,
the commercial farmers spread over different states came in touch with each other.
The linkage among them also influenced the price of goats. If a farmer in the state
was charging higher prices for his goat, the farmers in other states also started
increasing their prices. Those farmers who had good business sense and were using
modern methods of popularizing their farm could get very good price for their
animals. But the farmers, those who had to sell to the traders/butcher, did not get a
fair deal. Hence, only 44% of the farmers were satisfied with the present system of
marketing.
• The commercial goat farmers, who were well educated and had better access to
market information, not only tried to effectively bargain to get the best price for their
animals, but also tried certain innovative methods to sell their animals. In fact all the
commercial goat farmers in the beginning (5-6 years back) were operating in
isolation having almost no information on commercial goat production taking place
in other parts of the country. They also faced problems in marketing their goats at
remunerative prices like traditional goat farmers have been facing. The middlemen
 visiting the commercial farms or in the livestock markets were quoting very low
prices of live goats. As a result of our efforts in this project on ‘Commercialization of
farming and marketing of goats in India’, the linkages among the commercial goat
farmers operating in different parts of the country got strengthened. That created a
new market for good quality breeding goats produced by the commercial goat
farmers. Strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers resulted into
creation of a large demand of goats for breading purpose of Sirohi, Barbari,
Osmanabadi, Jamunapari, Black Bengal and Jakhrana breeds from the aspirants/ up-
coming commercial goat farmers. Moreover the farmers got premium price for the
good quality goats sold for breeding purpose. This newly emerged market for
breeding goats not only helped the commercial farms to become economically
viable early but also encouraged the commercial goat farmers to maintain and
produce good quality breeding stock. Before the creation of this demand for
breeding goats from the new/old commercial farms, the commercial farmers were
forced to sell their goats @Rs.55 to Rs.65 per kg of live body weight. The
traders/butchers did not pay more for the quality of the animal in terms of purity of
breed. But now with the new market opportunity available, the commercial farmers
have been selling their goats @Rs.120 to Rs.150 per kg of live body weight. The
premium price available for good quality breeding goats has really made the goat
enterprise highly attractive. Many private investors (progressive farmers,
businessmen, industrialists and entrepreneurs) are coming up with investment
proposals into goat enterprise.
• The goat farmers got 68 per cent share in the consumers’ rupee. The share of
rural/petty traders, butcher/meat sellers and the marketing cost in the consumers’
rupee was 6.95, 16.44 and 6.95 percent, respectively. Share of the traders/butchers
in the consumers’ rupee during the festive sale on Eid, Holi, Dushhara etc was much
higher up to 20-25 percent of the value of goat paid by the consumer. The butchers
also earned much higher net margins in the trade of diseased goats, these animals
were purchased at through away prices and their meat was sold on the same price as
that of healthy animal @ Rs. 120 –140 per kg.
• There have been large shrinkage losses in body weight of live goats during the
marketing. The extent of shrinkage depends on different factors such as travel
distance, mode of transport, season in which transported, age of the animals, density
of animals loaded in a truck etc. This kind of loss can be avoided, if the animals are
slaughtered close to their production centers and meat is transported to urban
centers
• In the trading of goatskins, the small players (skin merchants) were vulnerable to
high rejection of the skins by the tanner and delayed payments by the tanners and
exporters. The reason for high rejection of skins is that the goat keepers give no
emphasis/care for producing quality skins. In fact the farmers neither take any care
for protection of skin of their goats nor they have any awareness of its importance.
• In the large cities such as Agra and Jaipur there was good market for goat intestines.
An intestine of goat was sold for Rs. 10 for edible purpose. On small scale, a few
persons were also engaged in value addition of intestine through its primary
processing and supplied it to the surgical manufacturers for making threads for
surgical stitching. It seemed to be a good opportunity of value addition. However,
this activity needs to be organized. Moreover the intestine could be processed to
ready to eat products such as sauces.
• There has been a good demand for our live goats and their meat in the Middle East
countries. However there was a ban on export of live goats and sheep for couple of
years prior to 2002 due to objections from the importing countries due to reports of
prevalence of certain diseases and other trade issues. The export of live goats has
reached to 2.36 Lakhs per annum in 2005.
• The exporters of goat and sheep meat in India, who are small players yet in the meat
export market, are also hit hard by non-tariff and other barriers put not only by
importers but also by the other major meat exporters of the country. Suddenly since
August 2006 the government of India has banned the export of bone-in meat of goat
and sheep citing the reason that this meat poses a potential risk of Foot and Mouth
Diseases (FMD) spread in the importing countries. It seems to be a play of trade
politics that has resulted in to ban on export of bone-in meat of goat and sheep on
the pretext that bone-in meat may be a source of spread of FMD, however the
scientific studies have not confirmed this hypothesis. At the same time the export of
live goats and sheep is allowed from the ports in Gujrat, Whose trade comes under
OGL (open general license) scheme of the government. But the live animals may be
more potent source of FMD spread if they are infected.
• Further the emerging exporters of live goat and sheep namely Ethiopia and Somalia
are ready to supply live animals at half the price of Indian goat and sheep. Since the
raising and feeding conditions of their animals are almost similar to ours, they may
be a major threat to our exports of live animals. In future the cheaper import of live
goat and sheep from Ethiopia and Somalia might also have the consequences for
domestic price and production. However it will depend on the amount of surplus
available with them for export. There is possibility of cheaper imports of sheep and
goat meat also from Australia and New Zealand. However the meat from these
countries may not find much favour with the Indian consumers.

• As a result of strengthened linkages among the commercial goat farmers because of

our efforts in this project, all the commercial goat farmers in different states who
were getting a market rate of Rs.55 to Rs. 65 per kg of live body weight for their
goats started getting a price of Rs. 120 to Rs. 150 per kg of live body weight for their
animals. At the same time the butchers and traders are still buying the goats mostly
from traditional farmers at a price of Rs. 60 to 70 per kg live body-weight.
• The increased prices of breeding goats due to strengthened linkages have not only
created large opportunities and interest for private investment in commercial goat
farming projects but have also encouraged the existing commercial goat farmers to
produce good quality pure breed animals (germ plasm) of different goat breeds,
which will be critically important for the development of this enterprise in the
country.

9 To create market for goat milk, its qualities like, iso-caloric, bone-building and
therapeutic properties should be highlighted. More research efforts should be made
to study nutritional, therapeutic and microbiological aspects of goat milk. Since goat
milk has a peculiar smell, which makes goat milk less acceptable for human
consumption in spite of its nutritive and therapeutic values.
9 In view of pathetic condition of slaughterhouses there is need to encourage small size
modern slaughterhouses near to the production centers. Therefore single window
system for granting permission and license to set-up meat production/ processing
 units should be created by the Government.
9 Standards should be laid down for transportation and shipping of goat and sheep.
These standards should be effectively implemented.
9 There should be a system of authentic collection and reporting of market intelligence
on small ruminant production and marketing of their important products. The farmers
should have access to the information on prevailing market prices of goat and sheep,
their products and by-products. The regulatory body should also ensure that live
small ruminants are marketed on body weight basis and not on per head basis.
9 There should be a mechanism to conduct regular survey of market demand, prices
and consumer preferences for goat/sheep meat, milk and other products in the
international market so that producers get more remunerative returns.
9 The government should take the responsibility of market intelligence on priority
basis. Collecting and analysing data on demands of importers, price, and consumer
preferences etc. These services should highly time bound. There should be a help
desk at APEDA, So that exporters can have timely access to information related to
international market.
9 Instead of exporting meat as such, attention should be given on in-house production
of value added ready to eat meat products and their export. Research and
development efforts are required for consumer preferred process development for
product manufacture adopting HACCP and GMP.
9 The prospects of goat and sheep meat would be available only for value added meat
products and organic meat, particularly ready to cook meat with seasoning and
vaccume packaged frozen meat in different cuts.

REFERENCES
Barbier, Edward, B. 1989. Sustaining agriculture on marginal land: A policy framework.
Environment, 31(9).
Birthal, P.S. and P.K. Joshi. High value agriculture for accelerated and equitable growth: Policy
brief: 24, NCAP, New Delhi, December 2006.
CIRG (1999),”Annual Report 1998-99”, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom,
Farah, Mathura, U.P., pp. 71-72.
FAO. 2004. FAOstat, In: http://www.fao.org
HTU UTH

Kumar, S., V.S. Vihan and P.R. Deoghare. 2003. Economic implication of diseases in goats in
India with special reference to implementation of a health plan calendar. Small Ruminant
Research, Vol. 47, pp. 159-164.
Kumar, Shalander and P.R. Deoghare. 2002. Goat rearing and rural poor: a case study in
southwestern semiarid zone of Uttar Pradesh. Annals of Arid Zone, 41(1): 79-84.
Kumar, Shalander. 2007, “Multi-disciplinary project on transfer of technology for sustainable goat
production”, Annual Report 2006-07, CIRG, Makhdoom, Mathura.
Rekib, A. and Agnihotri, M.K. 1997. Sheep and goat- Role in food security. The Hindu Survey of
Indian Agriculture, pp.127 – 131.
Singh, N.P. 2006. Technological advances for commercial goat production. National workshop-
cum-seminar on ‘Commercial goat & sheep farming and Marketing: Farmer-Industry-
Researcher interface’, CIRG, Makhdoom, March 4-5, 2006.
ANNEXURE
Commercial farmer’s perception on pre-disposing factor of major goat disease
Table 1: Pre-disposing factors of PPR (Farmers responded: 33%)
Pre-disposing factor Response (%)
Summer Month 6
New Purchase 28
Breeding season 11
Change in feed 17
Transportation from long distance 11
Winter 11
Other 6

Table 2: Pre-disposing factors of ET (Farmers responded: 17%)

Pre-disposing factor Response (%)
Summer months 5.6
Heavy rain 5.6
Changes in feed 16.7

Table 3: Pre-disposing factors of Diarrhea (Farmers responded: 28%)

Pre-disposing factor Response (%)
Summer months 27.8
New purchase 5.6
Changes in feed 5.6
Acute winter 11.1

Table 4: Pre-disposing factors of Pneumonia (Farmers responded: 28%)

Pre-disposing factor Response (%)
Heavy rain 22.2
Acute winter 11.1

Table 5: Pre-disposing factors of Abortion (Farmers responded: 33%)

Pre-disposing factor Response (%)
Summer months 16.7
New purchase 11.1
Breeding season 16.7
Changes in feed 5.6
Transportation from long distance 11.1
Acute winter 5.6

Table 6: Composition and size of family of traditional farmers in Uttar Pradesh

Category Adult Male Adult Female Child Total
I 1.84 1.68 3.73 7.25
II 1.90 1.36 3.36 6.62
III 1.91 1.83 4.00 7.74
IV 2.82 2.82 4.09 9.73
Overall 1.97 1.70 3.68 7.35

Table 7: Occupation structure of traditional farmers in Uttar Pradesh (in percentage)

Category Main Secondary
Goat rearing Agriculture Other Goat rearing Agriculture Other
I 38.64 27.27 34.09 50.00 13.64 13.64
II 78.57 16.67 4.76 19.05 33.33 26.19
III 86.96 13.04 0.00 17.39 39.13 8.70
IV 90.91 9.09 0.00 9.09 63.64 0.00
Overall 66.67 19.17 14.17 28.33 30.00 15.83
 Table 8: Flock size of sheep and buffalo of traditional farmers in Uttar Pradesh
Category Sheep Buffalo
Owners Flock Farmers Adult female
I 12 (27) 19.83 21 (48) 1.62
II 20 (48) 33.65 23 (55) 2.43
III 7 (30) 44.43 11 (48) 1.91
IV 3 (27) 23.00 5 (45) 3.80
Overall 42 (35) 30.74 60 (50) 2.17
Figures in parenthesis are % to total

Table 9: Volume of trade of sheep in selected livestock markets of U.P.

Name of No. of sheep brought for sale Trade in peak period/ Volume of trade
market Per day Per annum market day of goats
Idgah 50 7850 - 200 80
Etah 0 0 - 0 -
Jaswant
Nagar 10 500 Id, Holi 20 90
Kalpi 500 16000 Id, Holi 1000 70
Mathura 200 12000 Id, Holi 500 80
Average 152 7270 - 344 80

Table 10: Occupational structure of traditional goat farmers in Rajasthan (in %)

Category Main Secondary
Goat rearing Agriculture Other Goat rearing Agriculture Other
I 11.43 62.86 25.71 54.29 5.71 2.86
II 33.33 53.33 13.33 62.22 15.56 4.44
III 85.19 14.81 0.00 14.81 33.33 3.70
IV 100 - - - 30.77 -
Pooled 45.83 41.67 12.50 42.50 18.33 3.33

Table 11: Composition and size of family of goat keepers in Rajasthan

Category Adult Male Adult Female Child Total
I 2.77 2.40 3.34 8.51
II 2.62 2.09 3.58 8.29
III 2.70 2.56 4.33 9.59
IV 2.23 2.54 4.31 9.08
Pooled 2.64 2.33 3.76 8.73

Table 12: Flock size of sheep and buffalo of traditional farmers in Rajasthan
Category Sheep Buffalo
No. farmers Flock No. farmers Adult female
I 5 (14) 39.00 15 (43) 1.87
II 8 (18) 23.63 17 (38) 1.59
III 6 (22) 19.50 9 (33) 1.22
IV 5 (38) 58.00 3 (23) 1.67
Overall 24 (20) 32.96 44 (37) 1.61
Figures in parenthesis are % to total
Table 13: Volume of trade of sheep in selected markets in Rajasthan
Name of No. of sheep brought for sale Trade in peak period/ market % Animal
market Per day Per annum day sold
Balaherhi 500 32500 Id, holi, 1000 80
Ajmer 500 32500 Id, holi, 1000 80
Jaipur 250 26250 Id, holi, 1000 90
Overall 417 30417 1000 83

View publication stats