PERFORMANCE OF BARBARI GOATS UNDER ARID ENVIRONMENT

A small flock of Barbari kids procured front their native tract, was r eared with equal number of Marwari kids of similar age and sex under a rid conditions of Jodhpur. All these kids were managed exclusively on grazing/browsing on 3-tier system containing grasses as ground level, bushes as mid level and trees as top level vegetation. Water was provi ded to them once ad lib. During first summer, the physiological adapta bility of Barbari kids was slightly poor but during subsequent years t hey adapted very well. They remained in state of good health and their survival rate was better than in their home tract. The average values for various production link characteristics were slightly higher in B arbari does than in Marwari which is an indication of slightly better production. The reproductive traits which are directly correlated with lifetime production were lower in Barbari does than in Marwari does i ndicating faster rate of multiplication of former breed than of the la tter under arid conditions. It is apparent from these results that Bar bari breed of goat is well adapted under arid environment and can be s uccessfully reared on traditional type of management.