**2. History and name of breeds**

Osmanabadi goat mainly originated in Tuljapur taluka of Osmanabad District and Udgir taluka of Latur district of Maharashtra, both were earlier under the

**169**

*The Reproductive Performance of Native Osmanabadi Goat of India*

Osmanabad district hence the name Osmanabadi became popular among the farmers. This goat is also known as Deccani. As these districts were earlier included in erst while Nizam State of Rule which was popularly known as Deccan State and hence the Osmanabadi breed was also synonymed as Deccani. The history of origin of Osmanabadi goat breed dates back to 150 years in the breeding tract of Marathwada region. The Osmanabad district being named after the Nizam Ruler of Hyderabad Deccan Estate Mir Osman Ali Khan the 7th Ruler of Nizam dynasty, hence the goat breed being named on the basis of breeding tract and origin from Osmanabad district as Osmanabadi (Seeri Hind and Tareekh-e-Khursheed, M. K. Shazli, 1968).

The Osmanabadi breed distributed over greater part of central peninsular region, comprising the semi-arid areas or sub-tropical zones of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states. It covers the major part of southern

Maharashtra especially Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Beed, Jalna and Aurangabad district of Marathwada region and adjoining parts of Telangana

Osmanabad and Latur districts of the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state are the breeding areas for Osmanabadi goats [6]. The Osmanabadi breed has also been found to migrate to neighbouring areas. The breeding tract comprising Latur

respectively in the deccean plateau [7]. Latur district is situated at 540 to 638 m height from mean sea level. The altitude of Osmanabad district is 600-611 m above mean sea level. The tract's agro-climate condition has been categorised as a subtropical zone and falls within a scarcity zone. Cereals, oilseeds, and pulses are the main crops grown in the Latur and Osmanabad districts, leading to harvests in the Kharif and Rabi seasons. The crops taken in Kharif are Jowar (*Sorghum bicolar*), udid or blackgram (*Phaseolus mungo*), tur or pigeonpea (*Cajanus cajan*), maize (*Zea mays*), post-monsoon sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*), Rabi jowar (*Sorghum bicolar*), wheat (*Triticum* sp.), bengal (*Cicer arientium*), and safflower (*Carthamus tinctorius* Linn.) in Rabi. The great bulk of the ration for ruminants is Jowar kadbi (*Sorghum bicolar*). In addition, mung or greengram (*Phaseolus aureus*), udid or blackgram (*Phaseolus mungo*), wheat (*Triticum sp*.), tur (*Cajanus cajan*) and groundnut (*Arachis hypogea*)

Raskar *et al.* [8] was observed that 83.33% goat keepers provided housing only

during night hours to protect them from the wild animals and theft, whereas 16.67% goat keepers provided day and night housing. The goats were kept in close housing (84.62%) as well as in open housing (15.38%). In case of close housing, the roofs were made up of locally available materials like tur straw, jowar straw, sugarcane trash, tree leaves, dry grasses (78.21%) and 21.79% goat houses were with tin sheds. In open houses the goats were kept under trees, open areas and fenced with thorny bushes etc. Majority of the goat keepers (98.72%) used kutcha type of floor


40' N Latitude and 750


16′ to 760


40′ E Longitude

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96106*

**3. Distribution of breeds**

and Karnataka State.

770

**4. Breeding tract and climate**


and Osmanabad districts is spread over 180

crop residues are also used for animal feeding.

**5. Management practices**

35′ 180

*The Reproductive Performance of Native Osmanabadi Goat of India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96106*

Osmanabad district hence the name Osmanabadi became popular among the farmers. This goat is also known as Deccani. As these districts were earlier included in erst while Nizam State of Rule which was popularly known as Deccan State and hence the Osmanabadi breed was also synonymed as Deccani. The history of origin of Osmanabadi goat breed dates back to 150 years in the breeding tract of Marathwada region. The Osmanabad district being named after the Nizam Ruler of Hyderabad Deccan Estate Mir Osman Ali Khan the 7th Ruler of Nizam dynasty, hence the goat breed being named on the basis of breeding tract and origin from Osmanabad district as Osmanabadi (Seeri Hind and Tareekh-e-Khursheed, M. K. Shazli, 1968).
