Complete Guide to Raising Gulabi goats

The most beautiful goat from the Sindh region of Pakistan is Gulabi goats. The Gulabi goats are pinkish-white in color with really long droopy ears. The name Gulabi itself says pinkish-white in Hindi and urdu.

In Pakistan, the goat is called by Gulabi Pateri. The words Gulabi is an Urdu word that means color “Pink” and Pateri is a Sindhi word means “Belted”. Also, there is a breed of a goat in Pakistan named Pateri.

Gulabi Goats Origin

Gulabi goats origin is in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Gulabi goat breed is originated by crossing four local breeds. Two primary goat breeds and two secondary goat breeds are part of the influence to create Gulabi Goat breed.

The Four goat breeds that are responsible for today’s Gulabi goat breed are

• Kamori goat
• Rajhanpuri goat
• Pateri goat
• Beetal goat

1. Kamori goat

The Kamori goat is a very popular milch breed found in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Kamori bakra(buck) weighs about 60 kg and Kamori bakri(doe) weighs about 50 kg. The Kamori goat breed is medium to large in size. Kamori has distinctive body color of dark brown with small coffee-colored patches over their body. Also, they have long ears and neck that are seen in Gulabi goats. The average Kamori doe produces around 1.5 liters of milk per day. They are good milk yielders and also good for meat production.

2. Rajhanpuri goat

The Rajhanpuri goat is the Beetals. The Beetals from the place of Rajhanpuri are called by its name. The goat breed is pure white in color. The skin is similar to Gulabi’s color, even the ears are droopy long. Having medium size horns, and loose skin under the chin. Even Rajhanpuri goat produces good milk and meat.

3. Pateri goat

Pateri goat is from Sindh province, which is white in color and known for its meat-producing characteristic. Pateri goats have long and drooping ears. Having medium size horns and good milking quality. Their ears are reddish-brown and their face, neck are white.

4. Beetal goat

The Beetal goat breed is from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Famous for their milk and meat production traits. The Beetal goats look almost similar to Jamunapari goat and the Malabari goat. Beetal is also called as Lahori goat. The goats have a large body, good milker and have long droopy ears. The skin of the Beetal goats is of high quality, that yields fine leather.

What is a Gulabi goat?

The Gulabi goat is a part of these four goats Kamori goat, Rajhanpuri goat, Pateri goat, and Beetal goat. The name Gulabi refers to the color of the skin it has. The pinkish-white skin color is called by the name Gulabi(refers to color).

Gulabi goat breed information

1. Gulabi goats are large-sized, tall, leggy with large folded pendulous ears and prominent Roman nose.
2. The typical coat is pinkish white.
3. Gulabi goats carry long and thick hair on their hindquarters and have a glossy coat. Horns are short flat.
4. A thick growth of hair on the buttocks, known as feathers, obscures the udder when observed from behind.
5. The udder of Gulabi goat is well developed, round, with large conical teats.
6. The bodyweight of a Gulabi adult Bucks and Gulabi Does vary from 65 to 85 kg and 45-60 Kg respectively.
7. The age at sexual maturity in Gulabi males varied from 9 to 12 months.
8. The average age of the first conception is 18 months.
9. Gulabi goat does come in estrus throughout the year and there was no seasonality inbreeding.

Production characteristics of the Gulabi goat

The growth rate, milk yield, milk composition and reproductive(kidding) efficiency of Gulabi goats are high which makes them best in the breed.

1. The growth rate in Gulabi breed

• The bodyweight of an adult Buck and Doe varies from 65 to 85 kg and 45-60 respectively.
• The newborn kid of Gulabi goat weighs around 3kg.
• The average growth rates of male and female kids were 55g/day and 45g/day
• In just 12 months, the goat can gain around 20kg.

2. Milk yield in Gulabi does

• The average daily milk yield is 2 liters to 3 liters. The milk yield in a lactation period of 250 days, varies from 250 – 300 kg.
• The milk of Gulabi goat is very tasty and healthy. It contains about 3% fat.
• Does with multiple kids produced more milk than those with single kids.

3. Reproductive efficiency in Gulabi(kidding)

• The age at sexual maturity in males varied from 9 to 12 months.
• The average age of the first conception is 18 month
• The kidding cycle is once in around 8 months. There can be 3 kidding cycles for 2 years.
• Triplets and quadruplets are common.
• The rate of conception is high, nearly 90%.
• The sex ratio was 50% male to 45% female.

What is Gulabi Goats Used For?

Gulabi goats used for milk, meat, and shows. They are very docile and make wonderful pets. But most of the breeders use Gulabi goats for milk and meat.

The Gulabi goats are primarily used for milk production. There is no milk industry that is based on Goat milk, but it will be consumed by the caretaker’s family. The Milking takes place twice a day, and total milk production will be around 2 to 3 liters each day.

The Gulabi goat is large in size, which will be suitable for meat production also. Mostly the weak bucks and does that don’t take care of their kids will be culled. Most of the time, during the festival season the meat of Gulabi is widely consumed.

Though keeping Gulabi goats is not practiced in Pakistan or India, they will fit very well. Due to their docile temperament, the Gulabi suits well to small farms. Even children can get well with them.

How to raise Gulabi goats?

Gulabi goats are very easy to breed. They have very good temperament and docile. They are not aggressive, can be raised in small farms with a simple shed.

Considering a well-ventilated goat shed will solve most of the Goat problems. Diseases can be reduced. The Goats do not like a goat house that is wet or cold. In order to keep your Gulabi goats happy, raise them in the elevated shed.

The Goathouse should have a separate feeding area and the resting area. Give them fresh straw for feeding and thick bedding for them to rest. Always provide easy access to fresh drinking water.

Consider the space of around 15 sq t to 20 sq ft per Gulab goat when building a goat house. Also, a Kidding pen should be available near to the main shed or inside it. Keeping the expecting mothers and mothers separately in the kidding pen. They feel safe and secure from any aggressive bucks.

If any new goats are brought, always quarantine them before leaving them with the preset flock. It will stop the potential disease break. It’s always crucial to consult a local veterinarian after making a purchase of new batch goats. The goat does carry certain diseases, but it depends on the breeder you purchase from.

The breeding ratio of Gulabi goats

The breeding ratio of Gulabi goats is usually around 1 buck for every 20 does. The Gulabi buck is kept with does for a period of 40 to 45 days during the breeding season. This will give enough guarantee that each doe has had at least two opportunities to come into heat. The buck should not be left for more than 45 days with females(does). The buck will be exhausted and even the quality of mating will be down.

But under range conditions, the bucks are left with doe herd all year long. Under these conditions it is difficult to supervision the kidding and also planning is near impossible. Gulabi goats are seasonal breeders so only during breeding season the mating happens and kidding can be expected.

How do you choose a good breeder Gulabi goat?

A good breeder Gulabi goat is the one that produces good quality meat and raises healthy kids. The Gulabi goat adults are the ones to choose from. They should be raised by a good renowned breeder. You can’t just pick a random goat from the market if you are serious about breeding. An unhealthy goat will produce weak kids. The breeding program will affect in the long term.

The Gulabi goat should have a roman-nose with droopy ears. The Horns should be strong and short. The body should be well-muscled and has a long neck. The Buck should have loose skin and has sufficient height. The Gulabi doe udder must be well-formed and firmly attached, with good teats.

How to start a Gulabi goat farming?

If you have come here, then you are interested to start a Gulabi goat farm. Goat farming is the most profitable business in livestock farming. Gulabi goats are one of the most expensive goats. To start with a Gulabi goat farm here are few tips for the beginners:

• Find the right spot for goat housing. The Goathouse or shed should be free from rain, wetness and away from loud noises. Read more on How to build a goathouse? If you planning to build a small size shed, then read this, for simple Goat shed.
• Once you finalize the goat house, next you have to focus on Goat Feed and freshwater. Also, Goat supplements are essential, if you have bought the expecting mothers.
• Now the most important one is where to buy the Gulabi goats? Always I recommend searching among friends and local farmers. You will find the goats that are already adjusted to the local conditions and also you trust the buyers.
• Always prefer to buy goats that are at least 6 months old. The younger ones take time to adjust to the new environment and also the change is stressful. The grown ones will have enough immunity to adjust to a new place. Learn how to check the age of the goat.
• Always start small, the goats are social animals so plan to buy 5 does with 1 buck. With each kidding, your flock will increase by 10. For every 6 to 9 months the does will be ready for the next kidding cycle.
• The Gulabi goat price can be flexible based on market demand. Always buy during the off-season, during the non-festival season. Most of the sellers will be giving off the goats for meat purposes during the festival season. So the prices will be high. The general price range of the Gulabi goat is around $700 to $2000.
• Always quarantine the new flock you purchase. They may carry diseases. Keep them under supervision for a week or two. It is better to get them vaccinated once they are on your farm. consult a local veterinarian for more advice on vaccination and disease control.
• Once your goats are secure and happy, plan ahead for breeding. Gulabi goats milk and meat are in high demand. The Gulabi kids are fair and good looking, most of the hobby farmers love to have few on their farm.