The rearing system of Black Bengal Goat and their farmers in West Bengal, India

Bengal Goat is a precious germplasm of West Bengal. Mostly the women (91.3%) of the farming families in West Bengal rear goat. Goat rearing is a subsidiary income source to rural poor along with agriculture. In majority of cases the flock size ranges from 1 to 4 (56%). Male female ratio in adult flock is observed as 1: 8 in field condition. The animals are mostly housed along with residential housing (67.1%); houses are mostly kachha type (82.63%) with earthen floor (86.47%) and straw roof (91.33%). All most all the farmers used to graze their goats for feeding. Ponds water is the major source for drinking water (58.14%) of goats. Black Bengal Goats have natural resistant power to many diseases but are vulnerable to cold, water logging situation, diarrhoea, ecto and entro parasitic infestation and respiratory diseases. Under field condition mortality rate is 9.63%.