http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/events/detail-events/en/c/1440/

1. Use of artificial insemination to
improve goat meat production in
Nepal
Neena Amatya Gorkhali
Senior Scientist
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
11-13 September 2017, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Outline
• Background
• Use of simple biotechnology to
improve goat population
• Boer goat breeding strategy in Nepal
• Conclusion and way forward

3. BACKGROUND

4. Livestock status in Nepal
• Livestock is an important, integral and dominant component of mixed
farming system of Nepal especially in high altitude regions.
• Livestock contributes almost one third (33%) of country’s AGDP.
• Livestock has been considered as insurance against crop failure under
subsistence farming system and also as a means for poverty reduction in
the country which can equally contribute for food and nutrition security.
• They are the major source of animal protein (milk, meat and egg) for
human consumption, supply high value raw materials (wool and fiber) for
cottage industries as well as for export products, provide manure for
maintaining soil fertility to support agricultural production and source of
animal energy for agricultural operation (draught), act as means of
transportation and carrying loads particularly in road inaccessible areas.
• With all these economic contributions, livestock are also equally important
in terms of social and cultural significance.

5. Contribution of goat in GDP
• Goat is an important livestock species that has
been identified as having potential for reducing
poverty in the rural areas of the country.
• Goats have multifaceted use and serve as handy
source of cash at the time of need. The
contribution of goats in terms of food and
nutrition security at household level is significant.
• Goats are being reared by more than half of the
farm families in Nepal for their various utilities
but primarily for meat production and as a living
bank during the time of need.

6. Contribution of goat in GDP
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
GDP GDP AGDP AGDP
Agriculture Livestock Goat
26.8
11
33
4

7. Contribution of goat in GDP
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
GDP GDP AGDP AGDP
Agriculture Livestock Goat
26.8
11
33
4

8. Contribution on meat (%)
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
20.36
54.34
0.83
7.30
17.09
0.07
Source: DLS, 2016

9. Goat population and meat production (MT)
for last 10 years
40000
45000
50000
55000
60000
65000
70000
6000000
6500000
7000000
7500000
8000000
8500000
9000000
9500000
10000000
10500000
11000000
11500000
Goatpopulation
Fiscal Year
Series1
Series2
Meat
Production(MT)
3.56%/year
2.27%/year

10. Goat population and demography

11. Contribution of goat in GDP…
• Despite having significant number of goats, the country is still not
self sufficient in meeting the demand of goat meat. Consequently
around half million heads of live goats are imported annually from
neighboring countries.
• This is mainly due to lower goat productivity associated with many
inherent and external constraints such as low genetic potential of
existing goat breeds or inadequate utilization of their potential,
inadequate quality feeding resources, prevalence of disease and
parasites and high kid mortality.
• Improving productivity of goats through systematic genetic
improvement is essential. Breeding strategies are the plan therefore
required in order to develop effective genetic improvement
program to maximize the chance that such program will be
sustained.

12. Government Research and Development
Farms in Nepal
AFU Farm
Rampur, Chitwan

13. Government Research and Development
Farms in Nepal
AFU Farm
Rampur, Chitwan

14. Longitude: 850 E, Latitude: 270 N & Altitude: 64-8848 masl
Nepal : Altitude & Livestock
Mt. Everest
TERAI
SIWALIK
HIMALAYA
ALPINE
SUB
ALPINE
COOL
TEMP-
ERATE
SUB
TROPIC
AL
Upper limit of grazing
Upper limit of Yak, Chauri,
Sheep, Chyangra
Yak, Chauri, Sheep,
Chyangra, horse
Lulu, Achhami
(indigenous & other
cattle, Shinal, sheep,
poultry
Holstein Friesian, Jersey
Parkote, Lime, Murrah,
Poultry, Piggery, Khari
5000
4000
3000
1000
2000
HIGH
MOUNTAIN
WARM
TEMP-
ERATE
ARCTIC
Meter
MIDDLE
MOUNTAIN
Holstein Friesian, Jersey,
murrah, goat, sheep,
piggery, poultry
Gurung (2014)

15. 50%
35%
6%
9%
Terai
Chyangra
Khari
Sinhal
Indigenous Goat Population of Nepal
8848 masl
64 masl

16. Growth performances indigenous
breeds at various ages
Breeds Sex Weight (Mean ±SE)
Birth 3 M Weaning 6 M 9 M 12 M
Sinhal Pooled 2.1 10.97 13.59 15.77 18.34
Khari Male 1.53 7.25 9.01 11.34 14.11 15.15
Female 1.48 6.37 7.92 9.49 11.49 12.44
Terai Male 1.58 7.10 7.80 10.0 12.5 14.20
Female 1.44 6.30 7.18 9.10 10.30 11.9
Chyangra 1.6 9.5 11.0 13.8 20.0

17. History of goat improvement in Nepal

18. History of goat improvement in Nepal

19. Growth performances of
crossbred goats at various ages
Breed Sex Weight (kg) (Mean ±SE)
Birth 4 M 6-month 9-month 12-month
Jamunapari x
Khari
M 2.36±0.5 9.9±3.8 11.4±3.5 13.7±3.6 15.7±4.6
F 2.39±0.5 9.7±3.0 11.5±2.8 13.1±3.4 14.5±3.1
Barbari x
Khari
M 1.67±0.3 6.7±2.6 9.1±4.4 12.9±4.6 16.4±5.1
F 1.58±0.4 7.6±1.7 9.2±2.0 11.1±1.9 12.8±2.2
Kiko x Khari M 1.68±0.4 7.7±1.7 9.0±1.9 13.2±2.0 19.6±1.9
F 1.52±0.3 7.2±0.9 8.6±1.5 13.9±2.1 18.7±3.7
Saanen x
Khari
Both 2.22±0.69 13.0±3.6 - - -
Damascus x
Local
Both - - - - 23.1±1.8
Mamber x
Local
Both - - - - 20.8±2.1

20. Comparative growth
performance of indigenous and
crossbred goats
Breed
Body Weight (kg) (Mean ±SE)
At birth 4 M 6 M 9 M 12 M
Khari 1.75±0.38 7.57±2.33 11.02±4.31 15.23±6.17 19.24±5.67
Sinhal 1.87±0.10 11.22±3.49 14.03±3.12 17.34±4.67 22.05±5.68
Barberi 1.43±0.42 7.35±1.01 10.48±1.88 14.40±3.89 19.38±4.89
50% Jamunapari 2.32±0.65 9.11±2.74 14.69±4.60 18.38±4.44 21.27±5.06
50% Barberi 1.73±0.28 6.87±2.32 10.31±1.26 14.35±3.63 18.43±4.21
50% Kiko 1.83±0.72 7.86±1.10 12.27±3.68 17.81±4.38 20.0±3.97
50% Boer 2.20±0.61 13.80±3.29 17.85±4.36 25.25±5.88 34.10±8.62

21. Comparative growth
performance of indigenous and
crossbred goats
Breed
Body Weight (kg) (Mean ±SE)
At birth 4 M 6 M 9 M 12 M
Khari 1.75±0.38 7.57±2.33 11.02±4.31 15.23±6.17 19.24±5.67
Sinhal 1.87±0.10 11.22±3.49 14.03±3.12 17.34±4.67 22.05±5.68
Barberi 1.43±0.42 7.35±1.01 10.48±1.88 14.40±3.89 19.38±4.89
50% Jamunapari 2.32±0.65 9.11±2.74 14.69±4.60 18.38±4.44 21.27±5.06
50% Barberi 1.73±0.28 6.87±2.32 10.31±1.26 14.35±3.63 18.43±4.21
50% Kiko 1.83±0.72 7.86±1.10 12.27±3.68 17.81±4.38 20.0±3.97
50% Boer 2.20±0.61 13.80±3.29 17.85±4.36 25.25±5.88 34.10±8.62

22. Lesson learnt from earlier experience
• Introduction of live animals
• No strategic breeding plan
• Restrictions on mobility and exchange
• Limited access to improved livestock due to lack of
availability of high performance breeds
• Inbreeding of crossbred population
– No productive replacing sires
– demand more care
• Productivity per crossbred doe is lower than indigenous
ones
• Farmers seriously considered per doe performance, not
the individual performance

23. Goat improvement Program

24. Introduction of Boer goat
• Boer South Africa
( imported from Australia)
• Colors include white with
red head. The breed has
been selected for meat
production.
• The Boer is crossed with
other breeds to increase
size, carcass weight and
yield.
• Special focus to western
to mid far western
development region

25. Performance of Boer goat
• The Boer possesses strong disease resistance and
is very adaptable to harsh environments.
(Enterotoxaemia)
• Weaning weights are high at 13.5 kg, and they
become sexually active at 7–8 months of age, at
weights of 20 kg. Mature bucks weigh around 34
kg for cross breds.
• Boer goats also have a high meat producing
potential with carcasses of acceptable quality.
• The dressing weight percentage is more than
50%.

26. Breed
Body Weight kg (Mean±SE)
At birth 4 M 6 M 9 M 12 M
Khari 1.75±0.38 7.57±2.33 11.02±4.31 15.23±6.17 19.24±5.67
Sinhal 1.87±0.10 11.22±3.49 14.03±3.12 17.34±4.67 22.05±5.68
Barberi 1.43±0.42 7.35±1.01 10.48±1.88 14.40±3.89 19.38±4.89
50% Jamunapari 2.32±0.65 9.11±2.74 14.69±4.60 18.38±4.44 21.27±5.06
50% Barberi 1.73±0.28 6.87±2.32 10.31±1.26 14.35±3.63 18.43±4.21
50% Kiko 1.83±0.72 7.86±1.10 12.27±3.68 17.81±4.38 20.0±3.97
50% Boer 2.20±0.61 13.80±3.29 17.85±4.36 25.25±5.88 34.10±8.62
Growth Performance of indigenous and crossbred goats at ARS, Bandipur
Source, ARS, Bandipur (2067/68)
Actual Weight of Jamunapari cross at 12 M might be greater than that as
Faster growing male cross goats are distributed at earlier age for breeding

28. Growth rate (g/d)

29. Goal of goat improvement program
• to increase meat output/doe/annum through
appropriate goat breeding strategies for the Nation
and judicial implementation of the same
• combination of selection within indigenous goat
breed and cross breeding with productive exotic goat
breed(s) is the breeding strategy used

30. Improvement
Genetic Environmental
Selection in indigenous herd
Cross breeding
Replacement
Import
Upgrading
Feeding
Health
Management
Climate
Biotech Tools
AI, ET
Genetic engineering

31. Improvement
Genetic Environmental
Selection in indigenous herd
Cross breeding
Replacement
Import
Upgrading
Feeding
Health
Management
Climate
Biotech Tools
AI, ET
Genetic engineering

32. Improvement
Genetic Environmental
Selection in indigenous herd
Cross breeding
Replacement
Import
Upgrading
Feeding
Health
Management
Climate
Biotech Tools
AI, ET
Genetic engineering

33. Requirements for genetic
improvement
• Variation (performance) within and between
breeds
• Recording system in place
• Analysis system to pick up desired animals to
be bred for improving next generation
• Goal setting and breeding objectives

34. Nucleus Breeding Scheme-
Boer Goats

35. Objective- Increase goat meat production
Approach:
Selection within indigenous breeds
Introgression of imported genetics (Boer cross
breeding)
Nucleus flock of purebred in NARC and DLS farm
Breeder Farmers/ multiplier herds to produce 50%
bucks for distribution to beneficiary farmer

37. Bucks Distribution Plan
Description
Year
Total
Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5
No. of crossbred Boer bucks to be
supplied from nucleus station
0 25 75 75 75 250
No. of crossbred Boer bucks to be
produced from multiplier herds
from purebred imported bucks
422 422 422 1266
No. of crossbred Boer bucks to be
produced from multiplier herds
from buck distributed from nucleus
herds
534 534 1034 2102
Crossbred bucks produced in
Multiplier flock (2500 insemination
per year and 30% conception rate
in first year and 50% from second
year onward
0 250 350 350 350 1300
Total 0 275 1381 1381 1881 4918

38. Activities of the program
• Procurement of animals and semen by FAO
• Nuclear farm developed in DLS and NARC govt. farms
• Semen production and Artificial Insemination
• Production of crossbred goats Nucleus herd
• Breeder Farmers Group formation (6) in Doti, Dailekh
and Surkhet district
• Data recording and entry (Software development)

39. Artificial Insemination training

40. FTAI protocol

41. Success on conception

42. Reason for success
Complementary factors in place
• Technical capacity
• Institutional support and cooperation (DLS and
NARC)
• Other technologies
– animal health and nutrition

43. Reason for success
Role of the international community (FAO and IFAD)
• Framework for international cooperation
• Financial support for generation, adaptation and adoption of
technologies
• Public-private partnerships to increase uptake
• Provide support for management of animal genetic resources
• including policy development
• Integration of biotech within overall national livestock development
programmes
• with respect to wider development objectives
• Consistent and long-term funding
• aim toward self-sustainability

44. Way forward/ Recommendation
• Biotechnologies to be built upon existing
conventional technologies
• Biotechnologies to be integrated with other
relevant components of livestock production
• Application of biotech to be supported within a
national livestock development
• Appropriate models to be ensured accessibility
by resource poor farmers

45. Take home notes
Application of simple biotechnological tools can
bring about tangible contributions in the
livestock production.

46. Welcome to NEPAL