Top 10 Goat Breeds in India: Where They Are Found and Their Characteristics

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is a Breed?
• Which are the Top 10 Goat Breeds in India?
  • Black Bengal Goat
  • Marwari Goat
  • Barbari Goat
  • Jamunapari Goat
  • Sirohi Goat
  • Jhakrana Goat
  • Beetal Goat
  • Mehsana Goat
  • Chegu Goat
  • Surti Goat

Introduction

Goats are versatile animals reared for milk, hide, leather, and meat (goat meat is also called chevon). They were one of the first animals to be domesticated for their meat and milk. Goats play a significant role in the livelihoods of the poor rural population of India, which is why they have been rightly termed the 'poor man's cow'.

India has the largest goat population in the world. According to the 20th Livestock Census of India, the goat population is 148.88 million, and it forms 27.8% of the total livestock population of the country. If we talk of states with the largest goat population, Rajasthan comes first, followed by West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

Which are the Top 10 Goat Breeds in India?

There are 37 types of goats in the country, with 12 being indigenous breeds. Some breeds are famous for their meat and skin, such as Black Bengal. Some are known for their milk, such as Sirohi goats, and some are reared for their hair and skin, such as Gaddi goats. Lastly, some goats are reared for all purposes, such as Jamnapari and Beetal goats. Let us see the list of the top 10 goat breeds in the country.

Black Bengal Goat

The Black Bengal goat is native to West Bengal and is also distributed in Odisha and Assam. Its population is the largest in the country, at 206.51 lakhs, according to the Breed Survey Book, 2013.

Some of the key characteristic features are:

• They are the most prolific goat breeds among all the breeds found in India.
• They are small, have a straight back, have short legs, and have beards.
• The average body weight of males and females is 32 kg and 20 kg, respectively.
• They generally are black but are occasionally grey, white, and brown.
• Their skins are widely preferred for making high-quality shoes.

Marwari Goat

The Marwari goat breed is found in the Marwar region of Rajasthan, comprising the Pali, Jodhpur, Jalor, Bikaner, Barmer, and Jaisalmer districts. Its population is 71.83 lakhs, making it the second-most populous goat breed in the country.

Some of the key characteristics are:

• They are demanded for their meat, hardiness, and disease resistance.
• They have long, coarse hair and are predominantly black.
• They have medium-sized bodies with flat and drooping ears.
• Their horns are short and pointed upwards and backwards.
• The average body weight of a male goat is 33 kg, and of a female goat is 26 kg,
• The average daily milk yield is 0.53 kg, which is very low.

Barbari Goat

These goat breeds are found in the urban areas of Gurgaon, Karnal, Rohtak, and Panipat in Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. They are the best meat giving goat breeds in India. With a population of 62.82 lakhs, they are the third-most populous goat breed in the country.

Some of the key characteristics of the Barbari goats are:

• The coat colour of Barabari goats is white with light brown patches.
• They are known for their reproductive capabilities and are prolific breeders.
• They are reared for the dual purpose of meat and milk.
• They have short hair and erected horns.
• The average weight of a male goat is 37 kg, and that of the female is 20 kg.
• The average daily milk yield of these breeds is about 1 kg.

Jamunapari Goat (Jamunipari Goat)

Jamunapari Goats are native to Uttar Pradesh and are also found in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. They are the largest and most elegant goat breed in India, known for their long legs. Their population, as per Breed Survey Book 2013, is 39.13 lakh, making them the fourth most populous goat breed in the country.

Some of the characteristics of the Jamunapari goat are:

• They are often referred to as the 'Queen of Goat Breeds.'
• These breeds have beards and tufts of hair on their Roman-type nose.
• They have large ears which are drooping downwards.
• Their horns are flat and short and horizontally twisting backwards.
• Their coat colour is white with black markings on the neck and ears.
• Male and female Jamunapari goat's average weight is 45 kg and 38 kg, respectively.
• The average milk yield of these goats is between 2 kg and 2.5 kg per day.

Sirohi Goat

Sirohi goats are primarily found in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. They are also found in Gujarat. As per the Breed Survey Book 2013, their population is 30.77 lakhs, making it the country's fifth most populous goat breed.

Some of the key characteristics are:

• Sirohi goats are medium-sized animals with a compact and well-built body.
• They have short and coarse hair, and their coat colour is generally brown and white.
• They have small and pointed horns that are curved backwards and upward.
• The average body weight of male and female Sirohi goat is 50 kg and 21 kg, respectively.
• The average daily milk yield of the Sirohi goat is very low at 0.41 kg.

Jhakrana Goat

Jhakrana goats are found in the villages of Jhakrana and Behror in Alwar district, Rajasthan. These goats have the highest average daily milk yield among all indigenous goat breeds. With a population of 14.46 lakh, they are the sixth most populous breed in India.

Some of the key characteristics are:

• Jhakrana goat is very similar to the Beetal goat breed but is relatively longer.
• The coat colour of these breeds is usually black, with white spots near the muzzle and ears.
• The udder of the breed is highly developed, and the forehead is bulging.
• The average body weight of male goats is 58 kg, and of female goats is 45 kg.
• The average daily milk yield is 3.18 kg, the highest among all goat breeds.

Beetal Goat

Beetal goats are primarily found in the Punjab region and some parts of Haryana and Delhi. With a population of 7.15 lakh, they are the seventh most populous goat breed in the country.

Some of their key characteristic features are:

• They are one of the largest goats but are usually smaller than Jamunpari goats.
• They are predominantly brown or black with white spots.
• Male goats have beards, but females do not possess them.
• They have a short and broad head with a convex face profile.
• The average body weight of an adult male goat is 59 kg, and that of the female goat is 35 kg.
• The average milk yield per day is more than 1 kg.

Mehsana Goat

The Mehsana goat is native to the Mehsana of Ahmedabad district in Gujarat. This dual-purpose goat breed is reared for milk and meat. With a population of 6.11 lakhs, it is the eighth most populous goat in the country.

Some of the key features of the Mehsana goat are:

• The average body weight of adult male and female goat is 37 kg and 32 kg, respectively.
• The average milk yield per day of Mehsana goat is 1.32 kg.
• This breed is large-sized, with a black coat and white ears.
• Their horns are curved and twisted backwards and upward.

Chegu Goat

Chegu goats are predominantly found in the state of Himachal Pradesh. They are primarily draught animals used to carry small salt loads. 

Some of the key characteristics are:

• They are compact, and their coat colour ranges from black, white, and grey to brown.
• Their horns are long and cork-shaped. They are directed upwards and backwards.
• Their faces and muzzle are tapering, and they possess long hair below with a second coat of pashmina wool.

Surti Goat

The Surti goat breed is an important milk-producing goat of Surat in Gujarat and Nashik in Maharashtra. It is one of the best dairy goat breeds in the country. According to the Breed Survey Book 2013, its population is 4.06 lakh.

Some of the key characteristics of the Surti goat are:

• Their average body weight is 29 kg (male) and 32 kg (female).
• The average daily milk yield of the Suri goat is 2.50 kg.

In addition to the above list of the top 10 goat breeds, the other goat breeds found in the country are the Gaddi goat in Himachal Pradesh, the Kutchi goat in Gujarat, the Kodi Adu and Kanni Adu goat in Tamil Nadu, and the Ganjam goat of Odisha.