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The first well recognized initiative on goat breeding was taken in IV- five year plan in 1971 when All India Coordinated Research Project on Goats was launched by Government of India.
Initially it was started for evolving 2 characters;
1) Milk Production &
2) Fibre (Pashmina & Mohair)
Later, realizing the importance of goat meat the 3rd component “Goat for Meat” was added in the V – five year plan Basic theme: was to improve the production performance of Indian breeds of goats through cross breeding with exotic breeds of temperate countries.
1st AICRP – for improving milk production begins at 3 centres
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| Beetal | Alpine | |
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| Beetal | Saanen |
Beetal was considered as good milch breed with average milk yield of 156.7Kg in a lactation period of 186 days.
While Alpine and Saanen under Indian Conditions give 308kg and 286kg respectively.
The average yield of these 2 breeds in USA was 1850kg and 1900kg respectively.
The experimental results show that crossbreeding had brought about a substantial improvement over the native breeds i.e. Beetal & Malabari.
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| Above graph shows that best production was achieved in Saanen & Beetal Cross. | Above graph shows that best production was achieved in Saanen & Malabari Cross. |
Further analysis of these crosses will deal in other articles of this portal.
In the next five year plan i.e. in V five year plan Meat goats improvement was also included in AICRP on goats.
The coordinating unit of AICRP on goats remained at CSWRI Avikanagar upto 1976 and later on shifted at National Government Research Centre (IVRI), Makhdoom, Mathura (UP).
With the experience gained and information generated during IV, V and subsequent plans, it was considered necessary to improve the native goat breeds, which are well adapted to the local environment and managemental systems in their natural habitat.
The AICRP on goats was transformed in 1990 into network project in VIII Plan with its mandate to define, characterize and improve the productivity of native goat breeds incorporating farmers flock in the home tract through selective breeding based on progeny performance.
The present scheme on Goat Improvement was, therefore, conceived and initiated during IX Five year plan with the main emphasis on improvement of goats involving farmer’s flock in the home tract of different goat’s breeds and selection within the breed.
Creation of Nucleus Breeding Herd was the main principle to systemize the goat breeding in India. These herds maintain as well as improve the elite breeding goats and become the centre of animals with genetic merit.
This program had 2 parts
The farm units consisting of Institutional flocks maintained under organized farm conditions include Jamunapari, Barbari and Sirohi breeds.
Field units are based on the flocks owned by the farmers maintained under village management system in the native home tracts and include
During XIth Plan five more field units on different goat breeds viz.
Has been included and the technical programme was also modified.

Objectives:
Technical Programme:
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Crux of Breeding Policy to improve existing genetic resources – Technical program for field based units |
The coordinating unit of the AICRP on goat improvement is located at Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura. The Project is coordinated by the Director of the Institute. However, a principal scientist is nominated as incharge P.C. Cell to support the Director in proper coordination of the administrative, technical and financial matters of the project.
| Sl.no. | Name of the Unit | Location | Utility |
| From X Plan : | |||
| 1. | Jamunapari Farm Unit | CIRG, Makhdoom | Milk & Meat |
| 2. | Barbari Farm Unit | CIRG, Makhdoom | Milk & Meat |
| 3. | Sirohi Farm Unit | CSWRI, Avikanagar (Raj.) | Milk & Meat |
| 4. | Marwari Field Unit | R.A.U. Bikaner (Raj.) | Meat |
| 5. | Black Bengal Field Unit | WBUVS & F, Kolkata | Meat |
| 6. | Ganjam Field Unit | OUA & T, Bhubaneshwar | Meat |
| 7. | Sangamneri Field Unit | MPKV, Rahuri (MH) | Meat & Milk |
| 8. | Surti Field Unit | N.A.U. Navsari (Gujarat) | Milk & Meat |
| 9. | Malabari Field Unit | K.A.U. Trichur (Kerala) | Meat & Milk |
| 10. | Sirohi Field Unit | M.P.U.A & T., Udaipur (Raj.) | Meat & Milk |
| Sl.no. | Name of the Unit | Location | Utility |
| 1. | Black Bengal Field Unit | BAU, Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Meat |
| 2. | Assam Hill Field Unit | A.A.U. Guwahati (Assam) | Meat |
| 3. | Gaddi Field Unit | HPKC, Palampur (HP) | Meat & Fibre |
| 4. | Osmanabadi Unit | NARI, Phaltan (MH) | Meat & Milk |
| 5. | Changthangi Unit* | DRDO, Leh (J&K) | Pashmina & Meat |
There is huge hidden potential in Indian goat sector which can be exploit to generate new avenues of investments and returns. This sector is now organizing and more people are coming in this field and try to setup organized goat farms. Although it’s a challenge in Indian conditions; where very less number of state of art goat farms are present but addition of new scientific knowledge and wide availability of easy media like internet is helping the new entrepreneurs to setup organized goat farms. Supply chain creation and market organization is the basic thing to focus at this point of time. Further, pastures are shrinking very rapidly and in coming future only stall feeding will be the main system of goat rearing.
In above discussion it is also clear that cross breeding with exotic breeds might be consider in our breeding policy to improve existing low producing goats. This will rapidly increase the production and helps in economizing the large farm operations.
In this section we have not discuss about Fibre production and its improvement. It will be discuss in Productivity part of this portal.