International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 7 12 2018 12 10 The rearing system of goats in Mahaoya Veterinary Range in Ampara District, Sri Lanka 26 31 EN Pahari Priti Ranjan 1 PG Department of Zoology, Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, 721636, India Das Mitali 2 PG Department of Zoology, Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, 721636, India Bhattacharya Tanmay 3 Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721102, India Kaur Sundeep 1 Department of Microbiology, Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture, Chunni Kalan-140307, Punjab, India . Sonam 2 Department of Microbiology, Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture, Chunni Kalan-140307, Punjab, India Kaur Pardeep 3 Department of Microbiology, Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture, Chunni Kalan-140307, Punjab, India Pradeep G. 1 Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka-585106, India Mendem S.K. 2 Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka-585106, India Math G.C. 3 Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka-585106, India Shivannavar C.T. 4 Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka-585106, India Gaddad S.M. 5 Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka-585106, India Kimsing Abprez Thungwon 1 Ecology and Wildlife Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh-791112, Arunachal Pradesh, India Zongsam Rengnong 2 Ecology and Wildlife Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh-791112, Arunachal Pradesh, India Mize Daniel 3 Ecology and Wildlife Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh-791112, Arunachal Pradesh, India W.S.R. Fonseka 1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka M.M. Mahusoon 2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka K. Narmhikaa 3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka > Research Paper 2018 8 27 2018 12 10 Goats are significant component of livestock industry having adaptableness to unfavorable climates which make them fit for landless and marginal farmers. Mahaoya is the potential place for goat farming in Ampara district but the baseline data on the status of goat farming in Mahaoya is not available. These data are essential to implement any development projects in goat farming. In this context a study was framed to find out the current status of goat farming and to identify the potentials to develop the goat farming in Mahaoya veterinary range. A survey of goat farmers was conducted in Mahaoya veterinary ranges in Eastern Province. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administrated to randomly selected goat farmers. 120 goat farmers were coded and entered in Microsoft Excel and transferred into SPSS for analysis. Majority of the farmers kept local breeds of goats. Farmers exhibited limited knowledge on goat farming and improved management. They reared goats mainly for commercial purpose. Goats were reared primarily under Extensive management system. Heard size was generally >20 in Mahaoya. Local breed was available in most of the farms in the surveyed area. Natural breeding was the prominent method of breeding in Mahaoya veterinary ranges (100%). In range goats were allowed to graze for more than 8 hours per day and fodder tree, fodder grass, concentrate and crop residues were used as feed sources in this veterinary range. In Mahaoya veterinary range 90.5% of the meat was sold to middle man. Veterinary service was not adequate for Mahaoya veterinary range and farmers were faced constraints related to feeding, breeding, health and management. In conclusion, it revealed that the goat farming is popular among rural people as it plays a significant role in economy and nutrition of rural poor. However there is an urgent prerequisite to develop a strategy in respect of breeding conservation and goat management in Mahaoya. The results of this study will help to design programs to meet such specific needs of farmers to uplift their farming conditions. Copyright@ International Science Community Association