Top 10 Goat Breeds in India and Their Characteristics

Table of Contents

• Goat Rearing in India
• What are the Top 10 Goat Breeds in India? 
  • Black Bengal Goat
  • Marwari Goat
  • Barbari Goat
  • Osmanabadi Goat
  • Jamunapari Goat
  • Sirohi Goat
  • Kanni Adu Goat
  • Beetal Goat
  • Malabari Goat
  • Gaddi Goat
• What are the Exotic Goat Breeds in India?

Goat Rearing in India

For thousands of years, goats have been reared for hair, skin, milk, and meat. Goat rearing is among the oldest professions in line with agriculture and dairy farming in India. They play a significant role in the livelihoods of the rural population of India. Goats are easier to manage and more affordable than cows while offering similar benefits. This is why they have been rightly termed the 'poor man's cow'.

According to the 20th Livestock Census of India (2019), the goat population is 148.88 million, and it forms 27.73% of the total livestock population of the country. India has the largest goat population in the world. If we talk of states with the largest goat population, Rajasthan comes first, followed by West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

Several improved goat breeds, like Osmanabadi, Beetal, and Jamunapari, have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). They offer resistance to diseases, higher meat & milk yield, and can better adapt to the Indian climate.

What are the Top 10 Goat Breeds in India? 

41 indigenous goat breeds are registered with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. Some newly registered breeds are the Sojat, Karauli, and Gujari goat of Rajasthan, the Andamani goat of Andamans, and the Anjori goat of Chhattisgarh.

Some breeds in India 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 in terms of their population, as per the 19th Livestock Census (2019).

Black Bengal Goat

The Black Bengal goat is native to West Bengal and is also distributed in Odisha and Assam. They are the most prolific goat breeds among all the breeds found in India.

Some of the key characteristics of Black Bengal goats are:

• These goats are small with straight backs, short legs, and beards.
• The average live weight of males and females is 15 kg and 12 kg, respectively.
• They are generally black, white, and brown/grey with short, soft and glossy hairs.
• The lactation length is 90-120 days, while the average lactation yield is noted to be 53 kg.
• 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. It is the second-most populous goat breed in the country.

Some of the key features of Marwari goats are:

• The Marwari breed has a black coat colour with long coarse hair. 
• They have medium-sized bodies with flat and drooping ears.
• Their horns are short and pointed upwards and backwards.
• This breed is mainly reared for meat production, as their average daily milk yield is very low.

Barbari Goat

Barbari goats 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.  

The following are the distinctive traits of Barbari goats:

• 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.
• These goats are small, with short hair and raised horns.
• The weight of an adult buck is 35-45 kg, and that of the doe is 25-35 kg.
• The average daily milk yield of this breed is 1-1.5 kg.

Osmanabadi Goat

Osmanabadi goats are largely found in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra. They are spread across Latur, Udgir and Tuljapur taluks of the district. They are the fourth-most populous goat breed in India.

The key characteristic features of the Osmanabadi breed are:

• Their body size is large and has variety in colour, but most are black (73%). 
• 90% of the Osmanabadi male goats are homed, whereas females can be poled or homed.
• The breed is a dual-purpose one, that is, reared for meat and milk.
• The average daily yield for a lactation period of about four months is 0.5 – 1.5 kg.

Jamunapari 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. This is why they are often referred to as the 'Queen of Goat Breeds.' 

Some of the main characteristics of the Jamunapari goats are:

• These goats have beards and large ears which are drooping downwards.
• They have flat and short horns that are horizontally twisting backwards.
• They have white coat colour with black markings on the ears and neck.
• The weight of an adult male is 65-80 kg, while that of the adult female is 45-60 kg.
• 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. Some of their key characteristics are: 

• Sirohi goats are medium-sized animals with a compact body.
• They have short, coarse hair and twisted tail, and their coat colour is generally brown and white.
• They have small and pointed horns that are curved upward and backward.
• The average body weight of male and female Sirohi goat is 50 kg and 23 kg, respectively.
• The average lactation yield is 71 kg, while the average lactation length is 175 days.

Kanni Aadu Goat

One of the tallest goat breeds in the country is native to the Ramanadhpuram and Thiruneveli districts of Tamil Nadu. They are reared for meat only. The characteristic features of the Kanni Addu goat breed are:

• The colour of the breed includes white or black spots on black body background.
• The weight of the adult male goat is 35 – 40 kg, and that of female goats is 25 – 30 kg.
• They can give birth to 2-3 kids and grow well in the drought areas.

Beetal Goat

Beetal goats are primarily found in the Punjab region and some parts of Haryana and Delhi. They are mainly reared for meat and milk. Some of their key characteristic features are:

• They are one of the largest goats but are usually smaller than Jamunapari goats.
• They are mainly brown or black with white spots.
• Male goats have beards and weigh 50-70 kg. 
• The weight of an adult female goat is 40-50 kg.
• The average lactation yield is 150 kg, and this breed can give 1-2 kg of milk daily.
• The maximum yield is 591.5 kg for a 177-day lactation period.

Malabari Goat

Also known as Telicherry, this goat breed is native to the Calicut, Malappuram, and Cannanore districts of Kerala. They are dual-purpose breeds reared for meat and milk. This breed is characterized by features like:

• Medium in size, these breeds have no uniformity in colour and vary from complete black to white.
• 30% of these goats have long hair. All males have beards, while some females possess beards.
• Their nose is flat and Roman type in some animals. The ears are medium in size, pointing outward and downward.
• The adult male weighs 38 kg, while the adult female weighs 31 kg.
• Their skin is highly useful in the tanning industry and is reared mainly for meat.
• The average milk yield of Malabari goats is 100-190 kg for a 180-210 days lactation period.

Gaddi Goat 

Deriving its name from the nomadic tribe Gaddi of Himachal Pradesh, these breeds are reared for their hair (pashmina) and meat. The key characteristics of the Gaddi breed are:

• The breed is well-built and medium-sized with long hair.
• They are mostly white but are also found to be brown, black, or tanned.
• Their ears are medium-sized and drooping, and horns are long and spiralled upwards and backwards.
• The skin of the Gaddi breed is very tough and is covered with coarse, long hair of 18 – 25 cm.
• The body weight of adult males is around 27 kg, while the weight of adult females is 24 kg.

What are the Exotic Goat Breeds in India?

There are some goat breeds that are not native to India and originate outside the country. They are reared for desirable traits like higher milk yield. These breeds also improve milk production of local goat breeds through crossbreeding programs. Some of the popular exotic goat breeds in India are:

• Alpine
• Angora
• Boar
• Nubian
• Saanen
• Toggenberg

Goat farming is a lucrative business opportunity to earn high profits in India. Based on your region and milk yield, you can choose a suitable goat breed to generate more income. You can go through our article on how to start goat farming to easily learn the steps involved in a profitable goat farming business.