Bital goat breed: description and characteristics, rules of care and maintenance

Dairy goats are always in demand. Bital is an unpretentious goat breed that is rarely found in farms. The main value of the breed is high-calorie milk, which is pleasant to drink fresh, since there is no specific smell. Also, very tasty cheeses and cottage cheese are prepared from fatty milk. A big plus goat bital - omnivorous.

The origin and meaning of the breed

Regions of Northern India and Pakistan are considered the birthplace of bital goats. Obtaining fat milk (about 5.03%) is the main purpose of animal breeding. The increased calcium content increases the he alth benefits of milk for people with arthritis.It is noteworthy that the milk does not have a specific goat smell, is very nutritious and suitable for consumption by persons suffering from allergies to cow's milk. On average, 170 liters of milk are milked from one individual. The highest productivity of goats begins after the fourth or fifth lactation.

Bital is also bred for the purpose of obtaining meat, since the weight of a male and female can reach 65 and 45 kg, respectively. But still, the self-sufficiency of goats is higher when raising dairy animals.

Description and characteristics

Bital goats are of average build, but males grow much larger than females. The body is characterized by massiveness with small growth. On a neat head, a large nose of a “Roman” profile stands out in a peculiar way. The legs of the bitals are long, the tail is small. A distinctive feature of the breed is its long hanging ears. The coarse coat grows to a medium length and does not have a distinct shade characteristic of the breed.There are individuals of black or white color, golden brown with white pigmentation.

Horns of a spiral type, turned back, grow in both males and females. But goats grow shorter horns. Goats begin to give birth at the age of a little less than two years. In a year, one individual bears one or two kids.

Main advantages and disadvantages

Bitals stand out for their endurance and ability to develop normally in various conditions. Other positive qualities of the breed deserve attention:

animals are omnivores. They are not at all capricious in the choice of feed, they perfectly eat thin branches and straw;
goats fully develop on open pastures and in a closed farm;
with good care, daily milk yield is 4-6 liters of milk;
high-calorie milk can be consumed fresh and mixed with cow's or sheep's milk to make all sorts of cheeses;
Goats are suitable for farming where there is no grazing space.

This breed is not often found on farms. The main disadvantage of bital goats is the high cost. You also need to consider that natural habitats are warm countries, so animals do not tolerate low temperatures.

Rules of maintenance and care

A draught-free, ventilated, dry and clean room is suitable for raising livestock. When planning a goat’s house, a cage with an area of 2-25 sq.m is allocated to a uterus with kids, a goat - 2 sq.m, single queens - 1.5 sq.m. Each cage must be equipped with a feeder. For feeding vegetables, thick mashes use buckets that are left next to the feeder.

It is not recommended to make a concrete floor, because the hard surface increases the humidity in the room. A wooden coating is better, but a layer of straw 20-25 cm thick is laid on top.In winter, the temperature in the goat house should not fall below 6-8 °C. When newborns arrive, the temperature should be 9-11 °C.

Advice! The lower the indoor temperature in winter, the lower the milk yield and the slower the kids grow.

You need to check the animals regularly. Contaminated wool is cut off, the hooves are periodically carefully trimmed. Certain hours are allocated for milking. The best option is an hour after feeding. If the kids are taken away from the uterus, then the milk is milked 4-5 times a day. Be sure to wash the udder before milking.

What to feed the animal

If goats are raised for commercial purposes (to obtain high-quality fat milk), then the issue of diet is of particular importance. When choosing feed, take into account the time of year:

in winter, the basis of the diet is roughage at the rate of 1.5-2.5 kg per day. Be sure to add meadow or forest hay to the diet (450-500 kg for an adult). Sometimes hay is replaced with birch, poplar, willow brooms with leaves (3-5 pieces per day);
in summer, goats are best grazing on pastures. The animal eats about 7-8 kg of grass per day. An animal kept in a paddock is fed 7-8 kg of mowed grass, additionally given tops of beetroot, carrot, cabbage leaves.

Feeding schedule significantly affects the amount of milk. Bital goats are recommended to organize three meals a day (in the morning at 6-7 o'clock, lunch at 12-13 o'clock, dinner at 18-19). If the diet of one feeding consists of different types of feed, you need to alternate them. Initially, they feed a mash with compound feed, then juicy food and finish with coarse food. Easily digestible feeds are poured for dinner (mixture with compound feed, root crops).To increase milk production, goats are given water 2-3 times a day (2.5-4 liters of clean warm water at a time).

Subtleties of breeding

Bital goats are clean, so it is important to keep the crates dry. When breeding the breed, it must be taken into account that males become sexually mature at the age of 12-15 months. A female aged 20-22 months is ready to bear offspring. A goat gives birth to a kid weighing 3-3.4 kg. Pregnancy lasts 5 months, lactation period - up to 180 days.

Prevention and treatment of diseases

The emergence and development of diseases provoke poor-quality animal welfare, poor diet, and non-compliance with quarantine measures. Common diseases in small cattle:

mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) - refers to non-communicable diseases, treated with antibiotics. Appears with udder injuries, improper milking, poor housing conditions. Preventive measures - regular cleaning of cages, proper udder care before and after milking;
rheumatism of the joints appears when keeping goats in damp cold rooms. Symptoms: joints swell, the animal moves with difficulty, appetite decreases. The main treatment is to rub the diseased joints with special ointments, while feeding they give sodium salicylate. Prevention - regular replacement of bedding, room insulation.

Infectious diseases deserve special attention, some of which are transmitted to humans (brucellosis). When a disease is detected, patients are isolated. Places of detention are thoroughly disinfected. Prevention measures: constant inspection of animals, quarantine of new arrivals, control over the quality of feed and conditions of detention.

Goats are bred for milk, meat, wool. When choosing, preference is given to the breeds of the dairy direction. Bital deserves the attention of owners of both large-scale farms and small farms. Goats give fat milk, are unpretentious in food and adapt to life in different conditions.