BAU celebrates National Goat Day

Ranchi: Altogether 593 goats belonging to 71 farmers were vaccinated against PPR, important viral disease at the National Goat Day function organized by Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) in Chamguru village of Kanke block under Ranchi district on Saturday.

Addressing the goat rearers, BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey stressed on adoption of scientific practices in breeding, feeding, and health management as technology-driven management tools can enhance productivity and profitability. He urged them to take up green fodder cultivation for better nutrition of animals and remain in constant touch with Ranchi Veterinary College (RVC) for guidance about modern goat farming.

Director Research Dr PK Singh, Dean Veterinary Dr MK Gupta, Head of Veterinary Extension Education Dr Alok Kr Pandey, Officer of State Animal Husbandry Department Dr Saroj Kr Thakur and PI of Goat Project Dr Nandani Kumari also addressed the gathering of farmers. Veterinary scientists of the University Dr Dinesh Kumar, Dr Shailendra क्र Rajak and Dr Dilip Kr Yadav guided the team of students involved in vaccination exercise. The programme was organized under the ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement. Two medicine companies- Gen X and Nutrivet distributed free veterinary medicines to 60 farmers.

Rajdeep, Nihal Shrivastava and Rahul Sharma, students of RVC were awarded for securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd position respectively in elocution competition on technology-driven goat farming. Local farm women Bachiya Devi, Pondo Devi and Risha Oraon were felicitated for their special contribution in goat rearing. Nihal Shrivastava anchored the event.

Goats, with a population of over 150 million, constitute a vital component of India’s livestock sector, particularly supporting landless, marginal, and smallholder farmers. Their low investment requirement, short generation interval, and adaptability to harsh agro-climatic conditions make them a sustainable source of meat, milk, manure, fibre, and employment. In recent years, there has been a notable shift among youth and entrepreneurs towards establishing organized and commercial goat farms, integrating superior germplasm and graded-up local breeds to enhance productivity and profitability.

The observance of ‘National Goat Day’ is aimed at promoting awareness about the economic and nutritional significance of goats; disseminating the nutritional value of goat milk and meat and potential for value addition and processing of goat products including fibre; highlighting avenues in artificial insemination (AI), fodder development, pharma applications; and inspiring state departments, stakeholders, and farmers to scale up goat-based enterprises for improving livelihoods and contributing to the national GDP.

Dr Manish Kumar Chatli, Director ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Mathura had proposed to all the AICRP centres on Goat and state agricultural universities to observe the Foundation Day of CIRG (July 12) as National Goat Day for popularizing goat rearing and branding Goat as future animal.