Goat Rearing - A Compilation of Case Studies

from Khargone, Madhya Pradesh

August 2014
This document is the result of field visits undertaken by Ms Ruchita Khurana, SA PPLPP, in District Khargone,
Madhya Pradesh, where SA PPLPP is supporting a pilot project, being implemented by the Aga Khan Rural
Support Programme (India), Madhya Pradesh, with the objective of demonstrating an integrated approach to
strengthen goat based livelihoods in a selected cluster of 10 villages in the Jhirniya Block.

SA PPLPP gratefully acknowledges the inputs provided by Mr. Sandeep Kumar, Development Specialist (Animal
Husbandry), AKRSP(I). We would also like to thank Mr. Naveen Patidar, Regional Manager, and members of
AKRSP(I)’s Madhya Pradesh Team for the support provided in organizing field visits and facilitating community
interactions.
Introduction

Based on the findings of a baseline assessment survey 1 (in October 2013), and a project proposal from
the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) (AKRSP (I)), the South Asia Pro Poor Livestock Policy
Programme (SA PPLPP) commenced support to a pilot initiative in March 2014; the objective was to
demonstrate an integrated approach to strengthen goat based livelihoods in a selected cluster of 10
villages 2 in the Jhirniya Block of District Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. For the baseline, 2 non-project 3
villages were also selected for collection of counter-factual data to enable correct assessment of project
impact at the end of the support period.

The major activities being implemented under this pilot initiative include: (i) improving the community’s
knowledge base related to goat rearing; (ii)convergence with ongoing government programmes and
support for improved housing and feeding practices; (iii) capacity building of, and ongoing support to
community-based animal health care workers (Pashu Sakhis); and (iv) reducing mortality rates among
both adult and kid goats through the establishment of a community-led and managed system of
preventive vaccination and health care, and, thereby, enabling goat rearing to develop as a sustainable
livelihood activity for resource poor tribal households in the region.

As part of the project monitoring and assessment system, a set of case studies was documented in
February 2014, including four goat-rearing households from project villages. The findings and
conclusions from the case studies are outlined in this report.

Methodology

From the 10 villages in the project cluster, five villages (Piperkhed, Gaibeda, Muramiya, Saka and
Abhapuri) were selected initially for listing of cases. Two non-project villages (Nankodi and Tigriya),
which were also part of the baseline household survey were also included. In each of these villages,
information was collected from 2-3 goat rearing households through personal interviews, participant
observation and focussed group discussions. A total of 16 households were visited for preliminary
discussions and short-listing of cases for detailed study. A listing of all these households, providing
details of their livestock assets, source of livelihood, income, and so forth is placed at Annexure 1.
Detailed case studies were undertaken in four households based on the following selection criteria:

• Households from the project villages only

• Households which had suffered losses in goat rearing on account of high mortality
• Landless families and share-croppers who rear goats, and also depend on migration as a source of
income.

Findings

The major findings which emerge from the case studies are:

1. Migration is a major source of sustenance for families in the project area; while the land owning
families have to migrate only once in a year, landless families tend to migrate twice a year for work.
Migrants expressed concerns regarding the degree of drudgery they undergo on account of migration,
and the health consequences of it.
2. While a few families sell the goats in a planned manner to realize good income, most others sell
goats only in an emergency, or to meet sudden, unforeseen expenses, such as those involved in
meeting social obligations such as a marriage, festivals or medical treatment.
3. Not much emphasis is laid on, or known about, the management practices in goat rearing; there is
also a complete lack of awareness among goat rearers on the health care issues regarding goat
rearing. For example, most rearers did not have separate goat sheds, nor did they undertake
preventive veterinary care by way of deworming and vaccination of their herds.

1
The report on the baseline survey is available at http://sapplpp.org/goodpractices/smallruminants/baseline-
assessment-study-goat-rearing-jhirniya-block-district-khargone-madhya-pradesh
2
Abhapuri, Bagdari, Bhadlen, Gaybeda, Kalikundi, Muramiya, Ted, Palda, Piperkhed (Chhoti) and Saka.
3
Nankodi and Tigriya

Page 1 of 12
4. Not many families are in a position to afford supplementary feeding for the animals they own. Only a
few land-owning families were found to be feeding their goats with grain supplements. The landless
goat rearers, who need to purchase cereals even for self-consumption, restricted supplementary
feeding only to the pregnant and lactating does. Based on a daily requirement of 250 gm per goat, the
monthly cost of supplementary feeding is estimated at Rs 300-360 for a herd of four goats.
5. Except for a few households in Piperkhed village, who have access to a small patch of forest land, all
the goat rearers complained of shrinking grazing lands, and decreasing availability of grass and tree-
fodder. The goats are, therefore, either grazed on fallow agricultural fields, on farm-bunds, or on
vegetation growing around ditches and other small water bodies in the area.
6. Mortality in goats was found to be the highest during the winter months. Most of the goat rearing
households mentioned that bloated stomach was a common ailment in goats, especially during the
months of October and November.
7. Goat rearers are keen to avail health care services for their livestock on cost basis.
8. Among the cases included in the study, income generation from goat rearing ranged from nil, in cases
of households who lost all their animals to high mortality, to Rs 15,000-18,000, in case of households
that sold as many as 7-8 goats in one instance to cater to medical expenses or for a marriage in the
family.
9. Most of the households admitted spending Rs 200-600 annually for treatment of goats, depending
upon the herd size. All the households, however, also resorted to ethno-veterinary practices to treat
common diseases in goats such as cold, cough, bloated stomach, etc. The efficacy of the treatments
varied with the disease and the treatment followed.

Conclusion

Goat rearing has never been envisaged as an alternative to income earning through migration because of
the high mortality rates and consequent losses in goat rearing on account of disease. Lack of information
and awareness regarding good management practices are a further impediment to strengthening goat-
based livelihoods. A well-trained cadre of local animal health care workers and para-vets, who can
provide preventive and curative health care services to the livestock, in addition to raising awareness
among goat rearers, can add significant value to goat-rearing as a profitable occupation. Research,
verification and/or validation of the efficacy of ethno-veterinary practices followed by the livestock
rearers could also be taken up; proven practices could then be documented and disseminated for wider
use and replication, and ineffective practices discontinued.

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Case Studies

Nanak Ram: “While Migration is our main source of livelihood, goat rearing is an investment”

Nanak Ram and his wife Rukmini Bai are residents of

village Saka in Jhirniya block of Khargone district in
Madhya Pradesh. They have two sons and a daughter, all of
whom are married. The family’s main source of livelihood
is migration for work as wage labour. He stays with his
elder son who, along with his wife, periodically migrates to
Khandwa town for daily wage work at a cotton spinning
mill. Earlier, Nanak Ram also used to migrate for
agriculture labour work, but now owing to his age and
deteriorating health, he and his wife stay in the village, and
look after their house, livestock and grandchildren. His
other son, who stays separately, also works as a
construction labourer in adjoining towns and earns Rs 150-
200perday. “My elder son and his wife will return by the end of March, as there will be enough work
then, with wheat harvesting, in and around our village”, says Nanak Ram. His son and daughter-in-law
migrate for 3-4 months every year, and manage to save and bring back Rs 10,000-15,000 which lasts
them for another 3-4 months.

Nanak Ram owns 2 acres of land, which was mortgaged 5 years ago for a loan of Rs 16,000 to
reconstruct their house. Since repayment of part of the loan is still pending, his land remains inaccessible
for use to him. He rears 2 bullocks, 1 cow and a calf in addition to 2 does (goats), 1 buck and 2 goat
kids. When the cow is not in milch, the family uses goat milk for making tea. The family lost 10 poultry
birds to diarrhoea and illness in December 2013. “One of the poultry birds had laid 12 eggs and was
brooding, when all the birds suddenly contracted diarrhoea, and died within a span of 2-3 days, wiping
out our entire flock”, shared Nanak Ram.

Nanak Ram’s family has been rearing goats for more than 25 years. The goats are taken out for grazing
twice daily on agriculture fallows, or along the field bunds. On his way back with the goats, Nanak Ram
also collects loppings of some of the locally grown trees, known as Kahu (Boswellia serrata), Mahu
(Mahua or Madhuca longifolia) and Dhawda (axlewood or Anogeissus latifolia), for use as fodder. “Just
after the harvest season, when there is sufficient agriculture residue available, I also take goats from other
households for grazing. For this, I receive Rs 50 per month for each goat grazed”, he added.

Goats are not fed any additional grain supplements as there is only enough available for the family’s
consumption. In the previous year, Nanak Ram sold 5 goats for Rs 10,000 at the time of the marriage of
his youngest son. He mentioned that they did not vaccinate their goats until December 2013, when they
were paid a visit by a Gopal from Shivna village. He charged Rs 5 for vaccinating each goat against
Enterotoxemia (ET). As one of the goats was pregnant at the time, she was not vaccinated. The same
goat, as well as her kid, had contracted diarrhoea recently, and Nanak Ram had to purchase medicines
from a chemist store in Shivna, at a cost of Rs 400 for their treatment.

One of the more common ailments found in goats was skin abrasions, believed to be caused by high
levels of humidity during the monsoon season. Remedial measures involve a thorough cleaning of the
affected area using a solution of potassium permanganate.

Predation is rampant in the area and one of the causes of losses incurred by goat rearers. As most
households do not have separate goat sheds, the goats are housed inside at night and tethered just outside
the house during daytime.

“Because of the limited sources of feed and fodder for the goats, we do not want to increase the herd size.
Further, we see goats as an investment and the unpredictable nature of diseases contracted by them can
make us suffer huge losses”, explained Nanak Ram. He also shared that goats are sold only when there is
an urgent requirement of money. “In the last three to four years, I sold only 5 goats, to meet the expenses
on my younger son’s marriage”, said Nanak Ram.

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Gyan Singh aspires to have a stable livelihood through agriculture and goat rearing

Rekha Bai and her husband Gyan Singh are residents of Piperkhed village in Jhirniya Block of Khargone
district in Madhya Pradesh. They live in a kutcha (thatched roof) house along with their 5 children,
between 4 and 15 years of age, none of whom attends regular school. The family owns two bullocks, one
buffalo, one goat and a hen. The hen lays 10-12 eggs per clutch 3-4 times a year. While the eggs laid
during the summer season are all used for domestic
consumption, the winter clutch is generally allowed to
hatch.

They do not own any land but have access to 3-4 acres of
cultivable land near the village forest area. Recently they
harvested their first crop of soya bean; 8 quintals was sold at
Rs 2,800 per quintal (total Rs 22,400). A second crop,
comprising wheat and black gram, was sown using water
for irrigation from a nearby pond through use of a pump.

Their alternative source of livelihood comprises collection

and sale of mahua flowers, a non-timber forest produce,
found in the periphery of their cultivated patch. The family
collects and sells an average of 2-3 quintals of these flowers
every year, at a price of Rs 1,200 per quintal. The family,
including the youngest four of the five children, migrates to neighbouring villages to work as agricultural
labour for about 3-4 months every year during the harvest season. Men are usually paid Rs 100 per day
and women earn Rs 50-70 per day. The elder son, aged 15, is left behind in the village to take care of the
livestock.

They have been rearing goats for the past 2-3 years and had 8 goats in December 2013, when seven of
them died of diarrhoea within a short span of 10-15 days. The closest veterinary dispensary is located in
Shivna village, which is 5 km away. The last time when the family had availed veterinary services for
their ailing bullock, they had to pay Rs 400 as fees. As morbidity in goats is higher, and the perceived
asset value not very significant, treatment of goats is believed to be uneconomical.

The single goat owned by the family is taken out for grazing to the nearby forest by Gyan Singh’s
teenaged son, twice every day; on his way back, he collects loppings of various trees such as Rahetli or
Baheda (Terminalia bellerica), Sadhar or Saaj (Terminalia tomentosa or Terminalia elliptica), Hekkar,
Dhawda (axlewood or Anogeissus latifolia) and Kahu (Boswellia serrata), for use as fodder. When
pregnant or lactating, the goat is fed a handful of grain (wheat or maize), once or twice daily, for about 3-
4 months.

The goat shed, which adjoins their house, consists merely of a roof made from bamboo sticks, and
covered with jute sacks and empty fertilizer and cement bags made of High Density Poly Ethylene
(HDPE) material. The goat is always housed inside at night owing to the risk of theft and predation.

“We are aware that goat rearing can be profitable and, therefore, we wish to purchase more goats, after
we return to the village in 3-4 months’ time”, shared Gyan Singh, who would be migrating soon for work

Page 4 of 12
on the agriculture farms in other villages. He was not aware of the scope or benefits of vaccination and
de-worming in goats, and said that if it were known to them earlier, the family could perhaps have saved
its goats from dying. The family has not been able to make any earnings from the sale of goats during the
past one year (November 2012- December 2013). “Both agriculture and goat rearing will help us to earn
a stable livelihood in the village without having to migrate to other villages for months together”, said
Gyan Singh. He also mentioned that they have been unable to continue with their children’s education
because of the lack of funds.

High morbidity and mortality in goats discourages livestock rearers from increasing their herd size

Kari and her husband Vair Singh belong to the Barela tribe 4 and are residents of Muramiya village of
Jhirniya block in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh.

The couple has two sons and two daughters, three of

whom are married and stay separately. The youngest
child, a twenty year old son, has migrated to a nearby
village in search of employment.

The family does not own any farmland. However, they

cultivate a 2 acre plot on a share-cropping (sanjha)
basis; under this arrangement, all the input costs are
borne by them, and the output is divided equally
between them and the owner. Other sources of family
income include agriculture labour in the village and
outside (mainly in nearby village Saraswat), which
yields Rs 100-150 per day, depending on the season, or
Rs 300 per day including for the use of their bullock;
Kari earns Rs 1,000 per month in return for her
services at the village school under the mid-day-meal scheme.

Among livestock assets, the family owns 2 bullocks, 8 goats (5 does, 2 bucks and one kid), and 3-4 hens;
two of the birds had recently produced a clutch of eggs. The family has been rearing goats for the past 3
years, after they were able to lease the land for agriculture on sharecropping arrangement and did not
need to migrate for work. This year their share of harvest comprised 5 quintals of soya bean and 15-20 kg
of maize. They had also sown jowar (sorghum) on the periphery of the fields. In October 2013, around
Diwali festival, they sold one buck for Rs 5,000. Soon after, in December 2013, three of their goats died
because of diarrhoea.

The goat with the kid yields 250 ml of milk per day, which is used for making tea. “We bought more
goats so there is more milk available for consumption”,
said Vair Singh. The eggs from poultry are consumed
only during peak summer months. “The eggs laid during
the other seasons are kept for hatching”, he said. Goats
are taken out for grazing twice daily to the nearby forest
and around the fields and bunds. They are also fed at
home on wheat and maize supplements. Jowar and
maize are fed to the poultry.

Two goat sheds have been constructed by Vair Singh

using locally available material. Quite innovatively, he
has divided one of these sheds into 2 parts, mainly to
avoid over-crowding. During the day, the goats are kept
outside in a shaded spot around the house. “We would
like to raise more goats for milk, but dread that an
outbreak of a disease could wipe out the entire herd.
Hence, we sell the goats at an early age, between five and eight months, to minimize losses from
morbidity and mortality”, said Kari.

4
One of the notified Scheduled Tribes of Madhya Pradesh

Page 5 of 12
“We spend Rs 400-500 on medication of our goats every year and the medicines are purchased from the
chemist shop in Shivna village. The closest veterinary dispensary is located in Shivna village which is
about 7-8 km away and if a veterinary doctor is called for treatment, he charges a minimum of Rs 250
towards his petrol expenses. For treatment of bullocks, the costs incurred are upward of Rs 400 per visit”,
explained Vair Singh. “We, therefore, try to cure
diseases in goats using home remedies first”,
added Kari. Further, she shared that in order to
treat diarrhoea, both the hind legs of the animal are
tied together, just above the knees, using a piece
of cloth. This practice is repeated continued for 8-
10 days and in most cases is very effective in
controlling diarrhoea, in her opinion. Vair Singh
added that ectoparasite infestation is also very
common in goats for which he sponges his goats
with Butox, an ectoparasiticide 5 diluted in water.
Vair Singh showed the bottle of Butox on which
the maximum retail price was mentioned as Rs 28.
This bottle, however, was sold to Vair Singh for
Rs 30.

On being asked whether they would be interested in availing health care services for goats for a nominal
fee, Vair Singh expressed his willingness, and shared that it would be a win-win situation for them,
especially as they were spending significant amounts for treatment, based only on the description
provided by them to the chemist. “We shall be very happy to pay for and avail the services of someone
visiting us for providing veterinary health care services at our doorstep”, he said.

Goat rearing has been the only steady source of livelihood for a landless family in Gaibeda village

Baskar Bai and her husband Ramesh are residents of Gaibeda village in Jhirniya Block of district
Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. They have four children in the age group of 7 to 15 years. The eldest girl
dropped out of school at the age of 13, whereas the younger siblings continue.

The family does not own any land, and wage labour is the
other source of livelihood in addition to livestock rearing.
They rear 8-10 goats and have a flock of desi (non-
descript) poultry, comprising 4 hens, 2 roosters and 12
chicks. One of the hens had laid 15 eggs, of which 12 had
hatched the night before the visit in February 2014. Baskar
Bai shared that the eggs produced during the winter season
are allowed to hatch, whereas the summer eggs are
consumed by the family.

During the year 2013, between October and December, the

family lost 3 goats to Enterotoxemia (ET). Subsequently,
in January 2014, they sold 5 goats for Rs 20,000 to meet
the expenses on Ramesh’s medical treatment, who was
also advised by the doctor to include eggs in his diet; therefore, two hens were bought from the money
earned through sale of an infertile goat.

“It started with having painful joints followed by sudden weight loss and has disabled me from taking up
labour intensive jobs”, said Ramesh, who used to migrate to neighbouring villages for work earlier. He
has been unwell for the last one year and, therefore, the responsibility of earning for the family has fallen
on Baskar Bai, who earns Rs 50-70 per day working as an agriculture labour. “It is extremely difficult to
sustain on a meagre earning of Rs 50/70 per day for a six-member family, and to be able to undergo any
treatment is beyond imagination” said Ramesh. He emphasized that it was only because of the goats that
he was in a position to purchase his medicines and afford the doctor’s fees.

5
An anti-parasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations. These drugs are used to kill parasites that
live on the body surface (such as ticks and lice).

Page 6 of 12
Baskar Bai had a temporary goat shed built adjacent to her house, which blew away in a storm about a
year and a half ago. Since then, they have not had the resources to rebuild the shed. Both the goats as
well as the poultry are housed inside their one room kutcha house where the family stays. The birds are
confined under a bamboo basket at night. The goats derive their nutrition from grazing twice a day,
without provision of any additional supplements.

The family has been practicing goat-rearing for several

years now, and if they can set aside sufficient savings,
then they plan to purchase a couple of goats after the
festival of Holi (in the month of April, 2014). The family
had no knowledge of deworming or vaccination of goats.
Baskar Bai shared that for any ailment in goats they
resort to ethno-veterinary practices or home remedies
which seem to work well, unless the goats are severely
affected. She also said that for treating diarrhoea in
goats, they are fed the juice of sesame leaves or the sap
of seeds from a fruit known locally as makty or kutre
(Devil's claw or Martynia annua). “I rub warm ash
around the neck region of goats to relieve them from cold, in addition to administering common cough
and cold medicines used by humans”, mentioned Baskar Bai.

Baskar Bai has been a member of the Annapurna Self Help Group for the last three years and saves Rs 50
every month. “There is no alternate source of livelihood, and I will not even find any work in the
agriculture fields after the harvest of chilli is over. I cannot migrate to another village for work, leaving
my ailing husband and young children behind”, said a distressed Baskar Bai. In her opinion, livestock
(goat) rearing has been the only steady source of income for the family after her husband fell ill.

Page 7 of 12
 Annexure 1
Baseline listing of livestock assets and income levels of each household interviewed during the field visit
to Jhirniya Cluster in District Khargone in Madhya Pradesh

Piperkhed Village
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2
Name of the Beneficiary Rekha Bai and Gyan Singh (5 children) Vasanta Bai and Sevak Ram (2 sons are
married and stay separately)
Livestock assets at present 2-Bulls, 1-Buffalo, 1 doe 2 Bulls, 10-15 poultry birds, 5 does, 2
bucks and 5 kids.
Number of goats last year 8 (7 died) 17(6 died and 4 sold)
Reason for Mortality Died in December 2013 of diarrhoea (all 7 Died in December 2013 of diarrhoea
goats died within15 days time)
Landholding and cropping Cultivating 3-4 acres of land after clearing Own 2 acres of Well-irrigated land.
pattern forest land. Harvested first Kharif crop of Kharif crops of soya bean and red
soya bean in August 2013 chillies grown in August 2013 and Rabi
crop of wheat in March 2014.
Income from goat rearing Nil Rs. 12,000 (4 bucks sold for Rs 3,000-
between February 2013 and 4,000 each)
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of income 1. Sale of MFPs (mahua flowers) – 2-3 1. Soya bean 8-9 quintal @ Rs 3,000
quintals @ Rs 1,200 per quintal. per quintal and Wheat 10-15 quintals
2. 8-10 quintal soya bean sold @ Rs 2,800 sold at Rs 1,100-1,200 per quintal
per quintal 2. Agriculture labour and migration
3. Agriculture labour and migration 6 (Vasanta Bai migrates for 10-15
(husband and wife migrate with 4 days to nearby villages, during chilli
children. The 15 year old son is left harvesting season)
behind to care for the livestock)
Management practices An open goat shed, adjacent to the house A goat shed is under construction as the
being followed with half a wall and a roof made of Bamboo house renovation is under-way. Earlier
sticks. No practice of providing clean the goats were simply tied outside the
drinking water to goats. Only lactating goats house. The milk/sap of a tree called
are fed on wheat or maize. dahikodi is fed to goats to control
diarrhoea. All goats are fed on grains
twice a day. Rs 200-300 is spent
annually on medicines and treatment of
the goats.
Gaibeda Village
Name of the Beneficiary Jungu Bai and Dayaram (1 son and 4 Baskar Bai and Ramesh (4 school going
daughters, all married) children)
Livestock assets at present 4 cows, 2 Bulls, 3 Does and 1 Buck No goats currently. 14 poultry birds

Number of goats last year 7 (4 died) 10 (5 died and 5 goats were sold in
January 2014 to pay for medical
expenses of her husband)
Reason for Mortality Died in July 2013 of Diarrhoea It appears that the flock was infected by
ET in December 2013 (pokna 7 were the
symptoms narrated)
Landholding and cropping 2.5 acres of Well-irrigated land. Kharif crops Landless
pattern of soya bean grown in August 2013 and Rabi
crop of wheat in March 2014.
Income from goat rearing Nil (There was no requirement to sell any Rs. 15,000-20,000
between February 2013and goats for money)
2014 (in Rs.)

6
The daily wage for women agricultural labourers is Rs 50-80 while for men it is Rs 100. Migration to nearby villages to
work as agricultural labour also fetches the same amount. However, labour rates are higher when villagers migrate to other
districts or neighbouring states to work in the construction industry. For example, men earn Rs 200 per day while women
labourers receive Rs 120-150/day.
7
Diarrhoea in local language is referred to as pokna.

Page 8 of 12
Gaibeda Village continued...
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2
Other sources of income 1. 16 quintals of soya bean sold @ Rs 1,500 1. Wage labour (Due to Ramesh’s ill-
per quintal. Only 2-4 quintals of wheat health, only Baskar Bai goes out to
will be sold and rest will be kept for work as an agricultural labourer
household consumption and earns Rs 50-70 per day)
2. Both parents and son work as agriculture
labourers.
Management practices being A fistful of grain is provided only to lactating Juice extracted from leaves of the
followed goats twice a day. This makes up for 250 gm sesame plant is fed to goats to cure
of grain fed to each goat per day. Goats were diarrhoea in addition to the milky sap
vaccinated for ET in May 2013. They spend extracted from the seeds of a plant
Rs 200-300 annually on medicines and called makty or kutre (Devil's claw or
treatment of goats. A kutcha enclosure Martynia annua). Symptoms of cold
comprising two walls, made of bamboo and in goats were treated with the same
pigeon pea stalks is constructed around a medicine as that used for curing
shady tree, where the goats are tied in the common cold in humans. In addition,
afternoon. ash is rubbed on the body above the
lung-area to relieve the goats. They
are desperately looking for some
income generating activity. A strong
storm had blown away the thatched
roof of their house as well as of the
goat shed, two years ago. While the
roof of the house was re-constructed,
there was not enough money to re-
construct the goat shed.
Muramiya Village
Name of the Beneficiary Kari and Vair Singh Prem Singh (lives with wife, son and
daughter-in-law)
Livestock assets at present 2 bulls (used to plough other’s fields), 5 2 bulls, 2 buffaloes, 1 calf, 4 Does, 2
Does, 2 Bucks and 1 Kid Bucks and 6 Kids
Number of goats last year 12 (3 died, 1sold) 15 (3 died)

Reason for Mortality Diarrhoea in August 2013 Severe cold and diarrhoea in
December 2013
Landholding and cropping Landless. Small patch of land taken on lease 7 acres of Well-irrigated land. 2 acres
pattern on sanjha basis 8. Only one Kharif crop of under cultivation and 5 acres under
soya bean grown in August 2013. wadi (horticulture) programme.
Kharif crop grown in August
2013was soya bean and Rabi crop in
March 2014 is wheat.
Income from goat rearing Rs 5,000 Rs 5,000
between February 2013 and
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of income 1. 4-5 quintals soya bean sold at Rs 1,200- 1. 5 quintals of soya bean, 15
1,400 per quintal. quintals of wheat and 4 quintals of
2. Works as agricultural labour, gets paid maize
Rs 300 per day for ploughing fields 2. Both son and daughter in law
using his own bulls. migrate for work
3. Sells goat litter every year for Rs 1,500-
1,600 for one trolley. Some litter is also
used in his fields.

8
Under the sanjha system, the land is taken on lease in a way that all the cost of sowing, ploughing, irrigation, and harvesting is borne
by the lessee and half of the total produce is given to the lessor (owner) as a fee to use his/her land.

Page 9 of 12
Muramiya Village continued...
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2
Management practices being As advised by a veterinary officer, goats are A goat shed made of closely-knit
followed disinfected using a diluted butox solution. bamboo sticks stands adjacent to the
Goat sheds are divided into 2-3 separate household. Goats were observed
compartments and depending upon the sitting on a moist muddy floor with
direction of the sun, goats are moved to litter strewn all around.
shaded areas. A brooding pen was also
noticed in one of these sheds for poultry
birds. All the goats are fed on jowar and
maize in addition to being taken for grazing.
To control diarrhoea in goats, a small cloth
piece is tied on each of the hind legs just
above the knees for 8-10 days. It is known to
cure diarrhoea completely. Spends Rs 400-
500 annually on medicines and treatment of
goats.
Nankodi (Control) Village
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2 Caselet 3
Name of the Vijay Singh Sengr (stays with Nani Bai and Jai Singh (3 Nirma Bai and Shantilal (3
Beneficiary mother and two sisters) sons and 2 daughters all children)
married)
Livestock assets at 2 Does, 1 Kid, 50 poultry birds 2 Bulls, 1 cow, 2 Does, 3 1 Doe, 2 Kids
present (49 birds died in the last 15 days) male Kids
Number of goats 11 (6 died and 3 bucks sold) 8 (6 died) 8 (5 died)
last year
Reason for 4 goats died of diarrhoea in Contracted diarrhoea during Diarrhoea in December
Mortality December 2013 while goat kids December 2013 2013
had contracted severe infestation
in the anal region leading to
weakness and loss of appetite.
Landholding and Landless Two acres of Well-irrigated 7 acres of Well-irrigated
cropping pattern land. Kharif crops of cotton land. Kharif crops of soya
and soya bean failed in bean and corn in August
August 2013, Rabi crop of 2013 and Rabi crops of
wheat in March 2014. jowar and, wheat in March
2014.
Income from goat Rs 12,000 (3 bucks sold for Rs Nil Nil
rearing between 4,000 each)
February 2013 and
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of 1. Mother is an Anganwadi Both cotton and soya bean Both husband and wife
income worker earns Rs 2,000 per crops failed. Wheat will be work as agricultural
month. used only for household labourers (children are
2. Vijay is a tailor and earns Rs. consumption dropped to the Anganwadi)
100-150 per day
Management Goats are tied in the shade A separate shed is Go-sevaks visit once before
practices being adjacent to the house under a constructed to house bulls, the monsoon season and
followed bamboo thatch roof covered with a cow and goats together. They vaccinate goats at a charge
torn cotton mat. This area is were visited by the of Rs 5 per goat. Not aware
cleaned twice a day. Liming of veterinary officer for the first of what vaccination is
shed is not practiced. Not aware of time in December 2013, who undertaken. The two kids
de-worming of goats. Go-sevaks also vaccinated their goats and the Doe also had a
visit once before the monsoon (Rearers are unaware of what diseased look. They were
season and vaccinate goats at a their goats were vaccinated tied in the open area, just in
charge of Rs 5 per goat. Not aware for). Go-sevaks visit once front of the house with a
of what vaccination is carried out. before the monsoon season jute sheet hanging from the
and vaccinate goats at a roof to create some shaded
charge of Rs 5 per goat. space.

Page 10 of 12
Saka Village
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2 Caselet 3
Name of the Nanak Ram and Rukmini Bai Nima Ben and Roop Singh (3 Anita Bai and Chandu (5
Beneficiary school going children) school going children)
Livestock assets at 2 bulls, 1 cow, 1 calf, 2 Does, 1 2 Does, 1 Buck and 1 Kid 2 Bulls, 1 cow, 3 Does, 2
present Buck and 1 Kid male Kids
Number of goats last 8 (5 sold) - 5 (2 bucks sold)
year
Reason for Mortality Diarrhoea in August 2013 - 3 goats died of PPR
(Boriya and severely
blistered mouth were the
symptoms mentioned)
Landholding and Landless (Had 2 acres of land, Four and a half acres of land in 4 acres land among 8
cropping pattern which had been mortgaged for father’s name to be divided brothers (only half of the
taking a loan which they could among 5 brothers. land is irrigated)
not repay)
Income from goat Rs 10,000 (5 goats were sold to There was no need felt to sell Rs. 10,000 (each buck
rearing between meet the expenses of their goats was sold for Rs. 5,000
February 2013 and son’s marriage) each)
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of Migration and wage labour 1. Produce from fields is 1. Both husband and
income (Both sons and elder daughter distributed among all the wife work as wage
in law have migrated to work brothers. labourers and each
in a cotton mill in Khandwa. 2. Roop Singh is also earn Rs 70-100 per
Sons are paid Rs 150 a day secretary of the village day
while his wife earns Rs 100 per development committee 2. Very rarely are they
day).Together they bring back formed by AKRSP(I) employed under
Rs 15,000-16,000 after 3-4 NREGA, where they
months of migration. earn Rs 146 per day
Management practices Goats are taken out for grazing A separate goat shed is in place Goats are sponged with a
being followed and no supplementary feed is where goats of Roop Singh’s solution of tobacco boiled
provided at home. Nanak Ram father also are housed. Nima in water to treat tick and
finds it very difficult to rear Ben attended the training lice infestation. Neem
goats since there is hardly any programme organized by leaves are ground and fed
green cover left in the AKRSP(I) in collaboration to cure diarrhoea.
surrounding areas and he has to with the Goat Trust. 5 women Kerosene oil mixed with
travel a long distance to graze from Jhirniya cluster had balm (ointment used for
the goats. joined and were trained on headaches) is applied to
basic vaccination for goats. the forehead, chest and
neck region of goats to
cure them of a common
cold. To cure a bloated
stomach, goats are fed on
sev or sweet oil. A
separate goat shed is
constructed adjacent to
the house. And its
tarpaulin covering needs
to be replaced every year
before the monsoons and
it costs Anita Bai Rs 250
every year. They spend
Rs 200-300 on
medication of their goats.

Page 11 of 12
Tigriya (Control)Village
Particulars Caselet 1 Caselet 2
Name of the Beneficiary Ranti Bai and Bian (5 children and old Baati and Bhaya (3 children, mother
parents) and sister)
Livestock assets at present 1 Buffalo, 2 bulls, 1 cow, 1 Doe, 2 Kids and 2 Bulls, 4 cows, 5 poultry bids, 3
10-12 poultry birds Does and 1 male Kid
Number of goats last year 7 (2 died and 4 sold) 3 (2 goat kids were aborted last year)

Reason for Mortality Diarrhoea Diarrhoea

Landholding and cropping Landless 2 acres of land taken on lease of Rs

pattern 40,000 per year (10 quintals of soya
bean @ Rs 1,200-1,400 per quintal in
August 2013
Income from goat rearing Rs 10,000-12,000 Nil (There was no need to sell goats)
between February 2013 and
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of income Both husband and wife work as daily wage All family members work as daily
labourers. wage labourers.
Management practices being The goat shed is made of bamboo sticks and A separate and spacious goat shed is
followed is also used for personal inhabitation. constructed in front of the house.
Made of bamboo thatch, the entire
shed is plastered with mud and cow
dung mixture. The cow dung plaster
is applied on a weekly basis and the
shed is cleaned twice a day. All goats
are fed on grains such as wheat and
maize at home.
Abhapuri Village
Name of the Beneficiary Rajesh, Son of Hari and Gaind Bai (lives Naini Bai lives with her 2 sons
with wife, parents and younger brother)
Livestock assets at present 4 Does and 2 Bucks 5 Does, 1 Buck and 2 Kids

Number of goats last year 11 (3 died and 2 bucks sold 11(4 died and 1 sold)

Reason for Mortality Diarrhoea in December 2013 Diarrhoea in December 2013

Landholding and cropping Landless (Earlier land was taken on lease for Landless
pattern farming but owing to crop failure, a lot of
loss was incurred)
Income from goat rearing Rs 9,000 Rs 4,000
between February 2013 and
2014 (in Rs.)
Other sources of income Wage labour (Rajesh and his parents migrate Wage labour (Elder son migrates to
to nearby villages for 2-3 months and usually various villages to work as a daily
bring back Rs 7,000-8,000, which is enough wage labourer while the younger son
to run the house for next two months) stays in the village to care for goats)
Management practices being They have turned their own kutcha house Only lactating does are fed on
followed into a goat shed and are staying in Rajesh’s supplementary feed at home. Rs 500-
paternal uncle’s pucca house. The uncle had 600 is spent annually on
migrated to Indore with his family. They treatment/medication of all goats. The
spend Rs 600-700 on medication of the entire goat shed is swept twice a day.
goat flock annually. Only lactating Does are
fed on grains at home.

Page 12 of 12
Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the
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Photo Credits: Ruchita Khurana, SA PPLPP

Suggested Citation: SA PPLPP (2014), “Goat Rearing - A Compilation of Case studies from Khargone,
Madhya Pradesh”

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