A focused conservation and genetic improvement strategy will be crucial to preserve the Maraguda goat breed in its native tracts

The Nuapada district of western Odisha is home to many indigenous livestock breeds, and among its lesser-known treasures is the Maraguda goat. “Our Maraguda goats are strong. They don’t fall sick easily. We sell them during festivals at the local market and earn good money. We also sell them in an emergency. They are like our ATM card,’’ said Hiran Bemal, a small-scale farmer from Nuagaon village in Komna block.

Another farmer, Hiramohan Sabar from Malpada village, is very happy to share his experience of rearing this goat breed. “I started with four goats three years ago. Today, I have a flock of eight goats. Last year, I sold five adult males and earned Rs 32,000. They are easy to rear and require less attention than other livestock,” he explained.

Rearing the Maraguda goat is remunerative for the farmers as they prefer the breed for its fast growth, low-input management systems, high market demand, and adaptability to local environment. The animals are often sold during festivals and local fairs, fetching premium prices due to their attractive body conformation and meat quality. The breed is also integral to traditional cultural practices and rituals in tribal societies, thereby reinforcing its socio-economic significance.

Named after the fertile Maraguda valley, this non-descriptive local goat has recently gained attention due to a detailed breed descriptor study conducted in 2024 by the Odisha Livestock Resources Development Society under the Special Programme for Promotion of Integrated Farming in Tribal Areas.

Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) facilitated the training on identification, characterisation and registration of native breeds in collaboration with the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. Data analysis and breed descriptors have been developed by the livestock experts from WASSAN under the guidance of Devender Kumar Sadana, former scientist at National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. 

The findings of this study highlight not only the unique morphological features of this native breed but also its promising productive and reproductive performance, positioning it as a valuable genetic resource for sustainable rural livelihoods. According to the descriptor study, the breed shows a distinct physical profile, with medium-sized animals, convex head profiles, and predominantly brown and black coat colour. Some animals exhibit mixed black and white patches, and the presence of wattles is noted in a few cases. Both sexes are horned, and the ears are medium and horizontal, contributing to the breed’s aesthetic and ethnic value among local communities.

The Maraguda goat holds ritual and cultural significance among the Chuktia Bhunjia in Nuapada’s Komna block, one of the 13th Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Odisha. During the 15-day annual festival of Goddess Sunadei observed in October-November, the Chuktia Bhunjias present goat offerings as acts of devotion to invoke blessings from Sunadei for rain, bountiful harvests, and fertility. These offerings, including the Maraguda goat, form an essential part of the tribe’s devotional practices. The sacrifice symbolises gratitude and devotion to the presiding deity, whose shrine influences religious, agricultural, and social life across the 24 original villages traditionally known as Tikris under Sunadei’s spiritual jurisdiction.

In terms of productive performance, the Maraguda goat demonstrates excellent body weight parameters. At birth, kids weigh an average of 1.50 kg, reaching approximately 5.84 kg by three months and 15.72 kg by twelve months. Adult males weigh around 29.12 kg, while females average 27.24 kg, highlighting a decent growth rate for a breed under traditional management without scientific feeding or healthcare inputs. These figures are competitive when compared to other indigenous goat breeds in Eastern India.

Reproductive traits further enhance the breed’s potential. The Maraguda goat has a kidding interval of approximately 8 months, with a twinning rate of about 46 per cent, which is a valuable trait for increasing herd productivity. The first kidding occurs at around 18 months of age, which is fairly early for indigenous breeds. The average litter size ranges from 1.4 to 1.8 kids per kidding, indicating the breed’s ability to contribute to the meat sector through higher reproductive efficiency. Additionally, the kids have a survivability rate of over 90 per cent, which is particularly impressive in rural areas with limited access to veterinary services.

Despite its strengths, the Maraguda goat breed faces several challenges, including a lack of breed recognition, indiscriminate crossbreeding, and the absence of organised conservation or improvement programmes. Therefore, it is important to develop breed registry, promote in-situ conservation, and establish nucleus breeding flocks to prevent genetic dilution.  Odisha is blessed with great livestock diversity.

“Indigenous breeds are part and parcel of our cultural heritage,’’ said Suresh Kumar Vashishth, IAS, Principal Secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Government of Odisha. A focused conservation and genetic improvement strategy will be crucial to preserve the Maraguda goat breed in its native tracts. These breeds are our first line of defence in a changing climate scenario. In collaboration with the Government of India, Odisha is keen to conserve and support various threatened indigenous cattle and livestock breeds, he underlined.

Sana Datta Vasuki Satyanarayana is a Livestock Expert at WASSAN, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Sailaja Prasad Nayak is a Programme Officer-Livestock at WASSAN, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Views expressed are the authors’ own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth