Abstract
Performance recording and productivity assessment of Black Bengal goats from 4 different
locations of the country were performed for the evaluation of the overall goat production system
in the rural areas of the country. Farm lands holding by the different categories of farmers has
contributed greatly to the differences in overall management of goats. The overall body weights
of kids at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.98±0.01, 4.9±0.17, 8.4±0.28, 10.7±0.36 and
12.8±0.20 kg respectively. The average daily gains for the periods from birth to 3, 3 to 6, 6 to
9 and 9 to 12 months of age were 43.3±1.8, 39.5±1.9, 26.5±1.9 and 23.0±1.3 g/day. There were
significant differences among the weights and gains at different periods in different regions. The
overall length, height and heart-girth were calculated as 46.4±0.2, 46.7±0.2 and 50.9±0.2 cm
respectively having significantly higher measures for region 2 and lower for region 4. The
reproductive performances recorded as age at 1st kidding, weight at 1st kidding, gestation length,
litter size, post-partum heat and kidding interval were 391.9+10.7 days, 12.9±0.20 kg, 144.9±0.29
days, 1.93±0.05, 77.7±1.1 days and 220.6±2.9 days respectively. The regional differences for the
above parameter were observed. The overall milk yield was 241.1±5.5 g/day with lactation length
of 32.2±0.58 days. Survival rates for the periods from birth to 1, 1 to 2, 2 to 3 and upto 3
months were 84.4, 91.3, 95.9 and 71.7% respectively. Comparatively lower survival rate was
found for the region 4. The overall contribution of goat to the total income of the farmer was
41.3%. The improvements of body weight for selected group at birth, 3 and 6 months were 21.5,
23.8 and 18.8% over control group respectively. The average daily gains for the same selected
group from birth to 3 and 3 to 6 months of age also showed 28.2 and 11.9% improvement over
that of control group. The survival rates for selected group from birth to 1 and birth to 3 months
were also much higher in selected group (88.1 and 79.3%) than the control (64.4 and 51.3%).
In supplemented feeding group, traits like birth weight, birth type and post-partum heat period
were 1.04±0.01 kg, 1.87±0.06 and 52.5±0.7 days against 0.93±0.02 kg, 1.66±0.09 and 81.0±1.1
days for control group respectively. Milk yield and lactation length were also higher in
supplemented group (296.3±3.5 g/days and 32.6±0.3 days) over control group (209.3±5.1 g/day
and 27.7±0.5 days). The results of this study indicated the substantial production potentialities
of Black Bengal goats, although birth weight, milk yield and growth rate are relatively low. The
higher prolificacy and fertility, shorter mature age, nonseasonality of breeding, adaptability to
harsh managemental and environmental conditions and comparatively shorter kidding interval are
the important features of Black Bengal goats for future development. Large within variation
observed for some economically important traits of Black Bengal goats individuals with
outstanding performance even under the field conditions may be used as potent source for their
further improvement.