Goats play a significant role in ensuring livelihood security to the millions of small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and rural folk. G oat rearing under intensive and semi-intensive system for commercial production is gaining momentum. A number of commercial goat farms have been established in different regions of the country. A progressive farmer, Shri Rohan Singh resident of Salempur village in Farah block of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, who has been doing traditional farming, was inspired and motivated by the scientists of CIRG, Makhdoom to start goat farming for commercial production. Consequently he started a Goat Farm in his village in August 2006. Initially the farm was established with 68 Barbari does and 2 bucks and later on after 6 months 33 does and 1 buck more were added to the flock. The technical know-how on scientific goat rearing was provided by the CIRG, Makhdoom. The objective of this goat-rearing Project was to produce and market pure breed ‘Barbari' animals. The initial investment made on purchasing of the breeding stock and construction of sheds and equipments was Rs. 1.62 lakhs and another Rs. 10,000 was used as working capital. The goats on this farm have been maintained under semi-intensive system of management by the two unemployed youths of the family. Besides grazing, the animals were provided supplementary concentrate feeding, mineral mixture, fodder, tree leaves lopping and guar straw. Total expenditure incurred on supplementary feeding of goats in a year worked out to Rs. 10700. The prophylaxis schedule included vaccinations against Enterotoxaemia, FMD and PPR diseases and twice medication against internal and external parasites. The expenditure on prophylaxis and treatment for whole of the flock was Rs. 3,500. Thus the total recurring expenditure other than family labour for a flock of 104 goats was Rs. 14,200 during one year.

During the last one-year 73 kids were born from 68 does. The present strength of the flock after sale of 50 grown up and adults is 105 goats. The returns from the sale of goats in one year were estimated to be Rs. 75,000. Moreover the goat manure valuing Rs. 4000 was produced and used in the agricultural farm of the owner. Thus the annual net returns to the family from goat rearing worked out to Rs. 64,800. It is interesting to note that this farmer sold his almost all the surplus animals (pure Barbari goats) for breeding purpose to the other goat farmers at the rate of Rs. 100 per kg live body weight. Concurrently the other traditional farmers of this area maintaining non-descript goats could fetch a market price of Rs. 60-65 per kg of live body weight for their goats sold mostly for meat purpose. Hence rearing of pure breed goats (Barbari or any other breed) always attracted incentive through better market prices. Learning from his own experiences and Transfer of Technology Programme of CIRG, Makhdoom the farmer is now able to manage his farm better as reflected by no mortality in his flock over the last 6 months. Further he purchased superior bucks and does from CIRG for breed improvement and has established credibility of producing good quality pure breed Barbari goats. Farmer is being considered as a successful goat farmer in the adjoining area.