The Black Bengal goat is one of the best goat breeds for meat-producing all over the world. This goat breed is considered as best goat breed in Bangladesh for meat and skin production. There is a well-established study from Asia to North America for their efficiency, parasite resistance, and as well as high fertility rate. There are about 25 million goats in Bangladesh. Most of those goats are “Black Bengal goat”, that is about 90% of the goat population.
This goat breed is native to Bangladesh. This small size makes them economical to care for and delicious testy of meat and also makes them high demand in local market and around the world. So it is a great source of income for the poor people and unemployed women of this country. This goat breed is also famous in Pakistan, India, and Bhutan. They rear this breed along with their own indigenous goat breeds like Pakistani goat breeds, Indian goat breeds, or Bhutanese goat breeds. This goat breed has high adaptation capability with Asian weather.
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Advantages Of Raising Black Bengal Goat
There are many benefits of Black Bengal goat for commercial goat farming in Bangladesh. As goat is relatively a small animal, its food demand comparatively is low. They also require relatively less space for living than other livestock. The initial capital and investment for starting a black Bengal goat farming business are very low even less than poultry farming or commercial fish farming business and it is within the ability of general people. Diseases are comparatively less than other domestic animals like pigs.
You can rear many goats in a short time in a small place. Generally, a female goat became pregnant two times in a single year and gives birth to 2 – 3 baby goats each time. The meat, skin, and milk of this goat have a huge demand in Bangladesh and abroad. Goat milk prevents us from many diseases like tuberculosis, asthma, and others. For this reason, this goat breed has a great demand for the Bangladeshi people. Raising Black Bengal goat can be considered as an additional source of income for the landless or marginal poor farmer. At present goat farming in Bangladesh has become a significant sector.
Physical Characteristics
The Black Bengal goat breed has a broad chest, ears are always on top, and horns may small or medium. Their body is generally tight and comparatively shorter than other available goat breeds in Bangladesh. The hair of the skin is smooth and high quality of the skin.
The female goat breed becomes pregnant at the age of 12-15 months, pregnant twice a year. If you take proper care and manage them properly they may produce more than 2 kids each time.
One can get about 10-15 kg of consumable meat and high-quality skin from a goat weight of about 15 to 20 kg. The skin of the goat is really a very valuable byproduct, though it is considered an economic product to the tannery industry. Both intensive and semi-intensive method is very effective for Black Bengal goat farming. You can rear them with other livestock like cows for milk or cattle fattening farming, even in a mixed farming or integrated farming system.
As we know the Black Bengal goat is a comparatively small-sized goat breed as a meat-producing. The average bodyweight of the adult bucks is near about 25-30 kg, and the does on average weight about 20-25 kg.
Breed Standards of The Black Bengal Goat
1. Height & Weight
These goats breed are smaller than Jamunapari goats, originated from India. Bucks average about 50 to 55 lbs. and 18 to 24 inches at the withers, and does come in about 40 to 45 lbs. and 12 to 16 inches at the withers.
2. Color
Despite the name, Black Bengal goats actually the name come in an array of colors including black and white markings, gray, brown, and even markings similar to Beetal and other Pakistani Goat breed named Nachi.
3. Other Breed Specific Standards
There are no breeds that associate with Black Bengal goats. The Nepali Goat breeds are some hoy related to Black Bengal. But it said researchers generally agree on certain qualities like a deep body, relatively short legs, a wide, almost triangle-shaped signaling good reproductive quality, and a short, glossy coat the Black Bengal goat breeds have.
Typical Characteristics
Black Bengal goats are unequaled with dazing qualities which include high-quality meat, excellent leather quality, and parasite resistance.
1. Meat Production Details
Researchers state that a Black Bengal buck yields about 55% to 63% of its live weight in meat. Female breeds yield a little less at 50% to 53% making them comparatively less preferred for meat selection. The best information is that twelve months is considered to be the best age for harvesting Black Bengal goats.
2. Leather Production Potential
Beyond their commercial meat production capability, Black Bengal goats also have a good quality of skin that can make a good amount of profit by rearing the Black Bengal goats.
3. Hardiness
Hardiness is one of the Black Bengal goats’ major qualities while in the case of others these are totally absent. In Bangladesh, generally, they require almost no extra cannon fodder while forging the native land. This is what makes them such an economical asset to the comparatively poor farmer who has less land. They also have a good adaptation quality to other climates outside of Bangladesh, especially in South-Asian countries.
4. Temperament
Black Bengals goats are commonly gentle in nature, loving hands and friendly to other breeds. Like most other livestock, they will efflorescence into friendly, curious creatures if they get proper daily care and attention.
Breeding Black Bengal Goats
1. Maturity
Black Bengal goats mature quickly and it faster than most other goat breeds in Bangladesh. Bucklings are considered ready to breed at about 6 to 8 months and does about 12-15 months. Full maturity for both bucks and does is typically reached at near about 1 year old.
2. Mating Season
Black Bengals can be bred year-round as like as most other meat goats. Generally, does cycle every 18-21 days.
3. Kids
Despite their small size, Black Bengal gives more than 2 kids each time, if you take proper care and manage them properly, and it becomes pregnant twice a year.
Caring & Management
1. Feeding and Nutritional Needs
The Black Bengal goat grasses well in their native aria, but they require minimal grain feedings. Generally Black Bengals expanding on intensive grazing, displaying. In addition Black Bengal goats will also require sufficient fresh water, proper minerals, and good quality hay during the winter and early spring.
2. Housing and Fencing
A small, draft-free house is better for Black Bengal goats. They also require protection from foxes, bobcats, wild dogs. There should be good air quality, proper light, and air passing system. In addition the enclosed housing at night is very much needed, and a tall fence will serve your goat free form predators out.
3. Health Issues and Care
Black Bengal goats are comparatively hardy and parasite resistant. In Bangladesh, they vary from the countryside, which naturally disrupts the parasite life cycle.
Black Bengal goat breeds are ideal for a rotational grazing position since their small-sized body makes them easy to move.
Black Bengal goats’ short coats make their grooming needs very low. Weekly brushing and an occasional bath with gentle soap and warm water are going to be quite adequate.
Black Bengal goats also will need their hooves trimmed every 4-6 weeks and their ears checked for ear mites.
Black Bengal goats respond well to gentle training. It’s always an honest idea to coach goats to a lead rope which is best begun when the child is about 6-8 weeks old.
While Black Bengal goats are fascinating there aren’t many educational resources available about them. They even have a really small stock selection within us.
If you discover the Black Bengal’s size attractive, Pygmy goats are very almost like Black Bengal goats in both size and meat production.
The main differences are Pygmies aren’t as hardy or parasite resistant. Yet, if you would like a breed that has the Black Bengal’s size, Pygmies could be those for you.
Conclusion
So, this poor friendly, economical, and diseases- resistant goat breeds are comparatively easy to farm by any people, even for women and children can handle easily. At present Bangladesh is the third-largest goat-producing country in the world. Various special programs on goat development and research activities are going on in Bangladesh. Numbers of NGOs are providing training to marginal farmers or landless people for goat farming, cow farming for milk, cow fattening, and fish farming commercially. World Fish, BRAC, Water Aid, and many other NGOs are contributing to livestock farming and aquacultural development.
