Morphometric Attributes of Nagaland Long Hair Goat of Zunheboto District, Nagaland

Abstract

Nagaland is the part of Indo Myanmar bio-diversity hotspot, Twenty ve recognized global biodiversity hotspot provides a unique profusion of habitats and diverse biota. Nagaland Long Hair Goat (NLHG) is an example of this unique biodiversity. This goat is distributed in a few pockets Zunheboto, Tuensang and Kiphire districts of Nagaland and has very distinctive features. As per crude estimate total population of this goat is about 1200, which is declining rapidly. The present data were collected from two the different villages i.e., Xuivhi and Aghunato of Zunheboto District of Nagaland. Phenotypic Data was collected from 60 adult goats (30 males and 30 females) of approximately 12 to 24 months of age. The animals are medium sized and their coat colour is either white or jet black in general, but animals with patches of black on white are also not uncommon. The average measurements of the body weight (kg), body length (cm), height at wither (cm), and hair length (cm) have been found to be 37.52±0.96, 112.54±1.91, 105.78±1.89 and 27.84±0.46 and 30.77±0.54, 90.63±0.83, 76.96±0.74, 14.59±0.49, respectively male and female. The numbers of offspring per kidding and milk production (g/day) have been found to be 1.67±0.11 and 343.33±18.37, respectively. The males are bigger in size, heavier in weight and bear long course hair compared to female. These goats are basically reared for meat and their hairs are at times used for making head gears and other cultural items.