India with 154 million goats is one of the largest goat owning country with goats in the world. In order to sustain food security and to feed burgeoning human population which is likely to be 1.7 billion by 2050, continued research efforts for the development of new technologies are needed. Role of goats in human food chain is increasing day by day. Goat meat production in the country has increased from 4.7 lakh tons to 5.96 lakh tons during the last decade (2002 to 2011) with an annual growth rate of 2.4%. Increased urbanization, income and strong preference to functional food enriched with protein are expected to increase demand of goat milk and meat products. Goat milk possesses health-promoting properties and needs to be focused as therapeutic milk. Goatproduction is facing diverse challenges and multiple constraints with respect to climate change, availability of feed and fodder and emergences of newer pest, pathogens and diseases which necessitate continued research efforts. Similarly, goat milk production in the country has also increased from 36.4 to 45.9 lakh tons during the same period with an annual growth rate of 2.6 %. The country stands first in goat milk production and is the second largest in goat meat in the world by sharing 29% & 12% goatmilk and meat production, respectively. Goat meat (Chevon) is most preferred and widely consumed meat in the country. Since ancient times goat milk has traditionally been known for its medicinal properties and has recently gained importance in human health due to its proximity to human milk for easy digestibility and it is all round health promoting traits. The goat sector contributes Rs. 22,138 crore to the country's livestock GDP through meat (Rs. 11,932 crore), milk (Rs. 5,513 crore), skin (Rs. 800crore) and manures (Rs. 1,594 crore).
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