**3. Distribution of breeds**

*Landraces - Traditional Variety and Natural Breed*

instances based on their prominent features.

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

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.

and production performance of Osmanabadi goat in India.

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

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

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

**168**

grazing system).

**2. History and name of breeds**

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 and Karnataka State.

#### **4. Breeding tract and climate**

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 and Osmanabad districts is spread over 180 -05′ to 180 -07' N Latitude and 730 -25′ to 770 -25′ E Longitudes and 170 35′ 180 40' N Latitude and 750 16′ to 760 40′ E Longitude 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*) crop residues are also used for animal feeding.

#### **5. Management practices**

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

in goat houses, while only 1.28% goat keepers provided pucca type of floor in shelter. In small flocks (3-4 animals) there was no separate housing and goats lived with the owner and shared the houses. Raskar *et al.* [8] was found that 73.72% farmers constructed the shelters separately, while 26.28% farmers maintained shelter as part of their houses to safeguard the animals during night time. The goat sheds were mostly half walled (77.56%) and few were full walled (22.44%) with 79.49% well ventilation mainly due to higher percentage of half walled structures. In few cases (20.51%) structures had poor ventilation (closed structure).

The goat house did not have well drained system for urine (98.72%) and only 1.28% had the proper drainage for urine, particularly noticed in pucca type of flooring structures. Shinde [9] reported 93.04% farmers provided housing for Osmanbadi goats during night hours only with 70.44% and 29.56% closed and open housing, respectively. It was further revealed that 98.27% had kutcha floors and only 1.28% pucca floor provided to the goats. Singh [10] and Gokhale *et al*. [11] reported that 66% of farmers maintained shelters as part of their residence.
