**Abstract**

Among the goat breeds of India, Osmanabadi goat breed is one of the most popular goat breed of the arid and semi-arid region of Maharashtra state. Historically this breed is known to exist on Deccan Plateau since decades. The name Osmanabadi is derived from its origin, i.e. Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state. The breeds is distributed mainly in 2 southern states of India viz. Western Telangana and North Eastern Karnataka state and are having largest contribution to meat production in Southern India as their meat is very tasty when compared with local breeds. The Osmanabadi breed is suited to all types of rearing systems, the most ideal being the semi-intensive system (grazing and closed enclosure) where higher production has been observed compared to extensive (grazing system) and intensive systems (zero grazing system). Osmanabadi goats reared in the Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana border region had been analysed with reproductive parameters and found that, the female kids attend puberty at the age of 349.8 ± 6.9 days with 17.45 ± 0.23 Kg body weight. The average gestation period found was 152.24 ± 0.24 days. The mean age at first kidding was found to be 494.4 ± 8.1 days. The average duration of post-partum anoestrus period was 67.34 ± 6.31 days which was responsible for short inter-kidding interval which shows high profile reproductive efficiency. The mean kidding interval recorded as 232.62 ± 5.45 days. Majority of kidding resulted in single births (87.27%) and with only 12.73% of multiple births. Breeding season and kidding season of Osmanabadi goats was observed from the month of June to September and November to February as a major.

**Keywords:** Osmanabadi goats, Reproductive performance

## **1. Introduction**

India is one of the few countries in the world to make a rich contribution to the international pool of genes for livestock and to the improvement of animal production worldwide. India possesses an enormous goat population numbering 148.88 million [1], which is the second highest in the world after China and contribute about 27.80% of the total livestock population of India. As per the census report of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India (2019), India is a rich repository of goat genetic capital with 23 well-recognised goat breeds and these breeds have evolved in relation to various geographical and climatic situations. In different agro-climate

areas, these different breeds are of particular importance and have evolved unique adaptation characteristics over the years in order to survive and simultaneously produce sustained production under the agro-climate conditions of their habitats. In general, these breeds have been named after their place of origin and in some instances based on their prominent features.

Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species, and have been used for their milk, meat, hair and skins over much of the world. Ruminants are of great economic importance in livestock industry and small ruminants play very important role in the socio-economic status of the society. In fact, goat plays a significant economic role for the farming communities living in lowland, midland and highland provinces. Goat, being small sized and more prolific animal, requires minimum capital and maintenance costs with less risk in investment. Goats play an important role in the food and nutritional security of millions of rural people especially to the landless, marginal and small farmers. Further this is sturdy and adaptable animal and is known to provide sustainable source of income to more than 40% of below poverty line rural population. This is one of the indications of rural farmer preference to this animal for employment and income generation. The socio-economic value of goat rearing as compared to other livestock species, for poor farmers is immense. Goats and sheep are also among the main meat producing animals in India, whose meat is readily preferred. They also produce variety of other products, which are especially useful in the semi-arid and arid climatic conditions [2]. In India and other developing countries, the domestic goat (*Capra hircus*) is an important livestock species. It is popularly known as the "poor man's cow" because it provides a good source of meat, milk, fibre, and skin [3]. From very early times in human civilisation, goats have served agricultural, economic, cultural and even religious functions. Archaeological evidence suggests that at the start of the Neolithic period in the Fertile Crescent, the goat was one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans around 10,000 years ago [4, 5]. India posse's large number of goats which can be classified in to 23 different breeds adaptable to various climatic conditions. Among the various Indian goat breeds Osmanabadi goat breeds as one of the most popular goat breed of the arid and semi-arid region of Maharashtra state. Historically this breed is known to exist on Deccan plateau since decades. The name Osmanabadi is derived from its origin, i.e. Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state.

The goats are usually kept under extensive management and reared on natural vegetation, but due to shrinkage of grazing land and as is blamed for soil erosion and desertification, the maintenance of flocks under extensive system is threatened. However, Semi-intensive and intensive systems of goat rearing with small flocks are gaining momentum. In extensive system of management, the animals are reared on poor and degraded grazing lands resulting in low production and reproduction. The Osmanabadi breed is suited to all types of rearing systems, the most ideal being the semi-intensive system (grazing and closed enclosure) where higher production has been observed compared to extensive (grazing system) and intensive systems (Zero grazing system).

The knowledge of specific physical characteristics and production efficiency of this breed is the need of the hour to avoid indiscriminate breeding and to preserve sustainable productivity. Therefore, this review focuses on physical characteristics and production performance of Osmanabadi goat in India.
