Rearing and breeding damani goats in Pakistan

Abstract

Livestock is contributing to gross domestic product at a higher rate as compared to other constituents of agriculture in Pakistan. Livestock includes cattle, goats, sheep, mules, horses, asses, among others that are the source of earning for villagers. The villagers mostly depend on livestock for their livelihood. People of Pakistan prefer goat meat than beef or sheep meat. Damani is a goat native to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, mainly in the districts of Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and Peshawar. Damani is a medium-to-small-sized goat with developed udder and contributes through meat, milk, skin, and hair with significant economic value. The local farmers, especially the women, are earning by selling their goats and their dairy products. The well-adapted Damani goat with all its benefits to local people demands to conserve this valuable resource along with maintenance of nucleus herds and proper breeding strategies. The government institutes and private sector should also contribute toward the farmer's education and training for adapting modern husbandry and breeding techniques to improve the productive capacities of Damani breed.