Socio-economic Aspects of Goat-keeping in the Central and Lower Luni Basin, Rajasthan

This paper describes the socio-economic aspects of the practice of goat-keeping in the Central and Lower Luni basin. Goats are kept by 29.0 per cent of the households. Some households keep a few goats primarily for milk purposes. Others keep both sheep and goats since the latter are regarded as necessary for raising sheep. The coefficient of correlation between ownership of sheep and goats is +.762. Traditional herding and management practices are followed by the flock raisers. Households having large flocks of goats have to resort to nomadism in periods of climatic stress. The raising of goats and sheep is the traditional occupation of Raikas, but in recent years Jats and Rajputs have also taken to this occupation. Only 8.8 per cent 01 the households keeping goat. And sheep did not have an agricultural holding. The coefficient of correlation between size of agricultural holding and number of goats and sheep owned is-.133. The keeping of goats and sheep is more common with households living in dhanis. The importance of the goat lies not merely in the returns this hardy animal gives to the owner but also in its role as an aid to the raising of sheep. Rather than liquidating the goat from the region it would be better to control its grazing and reduce its number through selective breeding and management.