STUDIES ON BODY GROWTH PATTERN OF BLACK BENGAL GOAT ACCORDING TO AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES AND REARING PRACTICES IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

The present study was carried out to investigate the growth performances of Black Bengal goats reared under four different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal as well as different managerial practices during January 2012 to December’2013. Although birth weight did not show significant (p>0.05) variation irrespective of zones and rearing systems, higher birth weight was recorded in Undulating Red and Lateritic zone (1.149±0.036 kg) and Coastal Saline zone (1.148±0.053 kg) than the Gangetic Alluvial zone (1.115±0.048 kg) and Terai-Teesta Alluvial zone (1.047±0.057 kg). The zone-wise variation of body weights at 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 9-12 month and above age group remained highly significant (p<0.01). At 0-3 months of age group the highest body weight was recorded in Coastal Saline zone (6.368±0.102 kg), followed by Gangetic Alluvial (5.814±0.126 kg), Undulating Red and Lateritic (5.405 ±0.105 kg) and Terai-Teesta Alluvial region (4.922±0.098 kg). At 3-6 months of age group the highest body weight was recorded in Gangetic Alluvial Zone (8.699±0108 kg), followed by Coastal Saline (8.580±0.088 kg), Undulating Red and Lateritic (7.519±0.096 kg) and Terai-Teesta Alluvial Zone (7.242±0.100 kg). At 6-9 months and 9-12 months and above age the highest body weight was recorded in Coastal Saline zone (11.713 ±0.128 kg and 12.097±0.127 kg) followed by Terai-Teesta Alluvial (10.655±0.186 kg and 11.212±0.389 kg), Gangetic Alluvial (10.577±0.157 kg and 10.928±0.197 kg) and Undulating Red and Lateritic Zone (9.075±0.107 kg and 9.671±0.116 kg). In all the age groups (except at birth) better body growth was observed in case of semi-intensive system of goat rearing.