Vol. 10, Special Issue 5, Part A (2025)

Author(s): Renu Sihag, Seema Tyagi and Kuladip Prakash Shinde

Abstract: This study investigatesrntraditional goat husbandry practices among rural women in Bikaner district,rnRajasthan, a region with a high goat population per the 2019 livestock census.rnA sample of 120 rural women aged 50 and above, each owning 6-7 goats, wasrnselected from four randomly chosen villages within the Bikaner PanchayatrnSamiti. Data were collected through structured interviews and expertrnquestionnaires from 20 professionals in animal science and Ayurveda. Analysisrnrevealed predominant reliance on traditional practices such as open grazing andrnfeeding local fodder, many of which aligned with scientific recommendations.rnPositive evaluations were given to traditional heat detection, naturalrnbreeding, climate-based goat tying, and milk boiling in clay pots. However,rncertain practices, like the use of the knuckling milking method and not tyingrnthe navel cord, were deemed unscientific. The findings highlight the scientificrnbasis of most traditional practices while underscoring the need for furtherrnresearch on uncertain or unscientific methods to enhance sustainable goatrnhusbandry.