About Verata Goat, Verata Goat is a type of goat breed from the jungle areas in south Asia, largely seen in India. This breed is popular in rural parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly used as meat goats and not bred for dairy production. Verata means ‘armed’ in the Tamil language.
The breed has been around for a long time, but due to the low milk yield of these animals, it was not considered a milk-producing breed. The maximum milk yield was two kg per day in lactating goats. But with the changing environment, they are now being used for meat and milk production. Due to low maintenance and breeding costs, the need for this breed is increasing rapidly.
Physical Characteristics
The Verata Goat is found in widely varying colors like black, brownish red to dark brown. These goats have a large size with a straight head and broad body. The front legs are long while the hind legs are short, giving it a sturdy look.
The Goat has a single-curved horn that is moderately long and straight. The male goats have a well-developed muscular body, a long head with a short muzzle, and the horns are short and well shaped. The average body height of the Verata goat is 145cm.
The Temperament
The Verata Goat is very healthy and has good resistance to diseases because of their high immunity compared to other breeds. The goat has a fine and soft fleece, which is why they are even called cheese goats. Long hair provides extra protection against the sun and rain.
Quick Infomation of Verata goat
| Breed name: | Verata Goat |
| Another name: | Vera |
| Country of origin: | India |
| Breed: | A native of Asia, especially India. |
| Size: | The horn length is 63-98 inches, and the body is 145-186 cm. |
| Weight: | 32-48 kg. |
| Litter size: | 5–11 kids, depending on the breed. |
| Suckling period: | Ninety days (10–12 weeks) for kids and 120 days for adult goats. |
| Breed group: | Dairy Breed and Meat Breed |
| Origin: | India |
| Varieties: | There are nine varieties of Verata Goat, including the Hill, Black, Brown, and White. |
| Uses: | The Verata Goat is mostly used for dairy production or as a meat goat. |
| Price range: | About the US $70 for Large Size Goats (75 to 90 Kg), Small Size Goats (40 Kg), and Baby Goats (15 Kg) per pair. |
Use
The Verata goat is raised primarily in rural areas for meat and milk production. The regular record shows that even in the urban areas, the Verata goat finds a place on the farms.
They are used as kids, dairy, and meat goats. The small size of the Verata lamb makes it easier to keep on foot even when they grow up to 300kgs.
Breeding
The breeding time of these goats is from March – November, depending upon rainfall and temperature. The gestation period of these animals is about five months. The average live birth weight of kids is 2 to 6 kgs.
Milk Production
The Verata Goat produces maximum milk at 3-4 years; the average milk yield per day is 1.5 to 2 kgs. Female goats are always preferred for milk production. The average adult weight of the Goat is 60 kgs, and the average adult height is 60 cm.
Food Consumption
The Verata Goats consume a small amount of grass to sustain themselves and a little feed like rice, wheat, etc. They even do not need to be provided with water whatsoever. The goats are adaptable to different conditions, making them versatile animals for maintaining in any environment.
Diseases and Remedies
The Verata Goat is a sturdy animal with various types of diseases it can be affected with. Some of the common diseases in these animals are:
- Gastric Ulcers
- Allergic dermatitis
- Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) – The CCPP has been introduced and spread in India by the import of goats from abroad.
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): FMD occurs in India.
- Hemorrhagic septicemia
- Black quarter
The symptoms of these diseases can be seen easily, and the cure is also very easy.
The following steps can make treatment of the disease:
- Avoid the use of Pesticides and Fertilizers, which are harmful to these animals.
- Using grass, leaves, and hay as fodder in the feed is very good.
- The animals should be kept free from consuming any harmful chemicals or fertilizers.
- These animals’ immune systems are very strong and can survive even a small disease.
Farming Benefit of Verata Goat
1. Excellent foragers and browsers
Feeding the Verata Goat on natural fodder like leaves, grass, etc., will save a lot of costs.
2. Low maintenance
The goats must be fed in the morning and evening with 1kg of hay and grain to get maximum benefits from these animals.
3. Maintenance required to be low
The feeding time of Verata Goats is very few, so there is no need to purchase and maintain any other feeders or water sources.
4. Easy culling
The body and skin of the Verata Goat are not good quality, so they are easy to cull once they become useless.
5. Fewer visits to the vet clinic
These animals multiply very quickly and have a high growing ability, so they can be managed easily on small farms.
6. Less space needed
The Verata Goat takes very less space when compared to other animals. The average body size of a Verata Goat is 145 cm.
7. Low maintenance required
The goat needs fewer things to be maintained while keeping it on the farm. It needs only one feeder and water bucket to be kept on the farm, so there is no need for extra cost and effort.
8. Good for a family business
The farming of Verata Goat is a good business for families and can be carried out on a small scale.
9. More protein compared to cotton and corn
The Verata Goat produces more protein when compared to cotton and corn. One kg of the Verata’s flesh gives 205-300 grams of protein, whereas one kg of cotton gives 28 grams of protein, and one kg of maize gives 83 grams of protein.
10. Average milk production of Verata Goat
The average milk production by the female goat is 1.5 to 2 kgs per day, and the male goat gives 0.75 to 1 kg per day, so the total milk production of a male and female Verata Goat will be 3-4 kgs per day.
Conclusion
The Verata Goat is a multipurpose animal used for meat, milk, wool, and even leather. The Verata Goat also needs less space and less feed than other types of goats.
Even the kids can be kept on foot while they are growing up. This makes it easier to manage these animals in any country area. The Verata Goats are very useful to farmers when compared to other types of goats. Thank you for reading this article.
