Morphometric features and performances of Black Bengal goat in Bangladesh.

Black Bengal goat (BBG) is the most adaptable, widely distributed, and prominent goat breed in Bangladesh, well known in the world for its high prolificacy, low demand of feed, tolerance to harsh weather conditions, and disease resistance with remarkably good quality red meat and skin. A large number of indiscriminate research reports on BBG have been published; however, the review on the productive and reproductive performances with different physiological features of BBG in Bangladesh is scarce. This review was conducted to investigate and summarize the available research reports on BBGs to highlight the gaps and provide coherent recommendations for the future research plan for sustainable BBG production in Bangladesh. It covers research works in morphometric features, feeding and nutrition, reproduction, diseases and health management, husbandry practices, and production performances of BBG under local conditions. Due to the contemporary increased demand for animal protein (meat and milk), the scope of small ruminants, especially goat farming, increases with other large ruminants farming. The key constraints of BBG production in Bangladesh include higher disease prevalence with low or no management practices, kid mortality, inadequate feeds and fodder supply, and poor marketing channel with some other stumpy genetic potentialities (slower body weight gain, low milk production) of this goat. Future research would be required to assess the contribution of BBG to household economies and food securities throughout the year and evaluate the constraints, adaptation and extension of artificial insemination (AI), and genetic improvement of economically important traits using molecular techniques and the selective breeding program.

Environmental adaptability, morphometric features with reproductive and productive potentialities of indigenous sheep in Bangladesh.

Indigenous sheep are highly adaptable and widely distributed in different regions of Bangladesh. They are famous for their tolerance to harsh environmental conditions, low demand for feed, and disease resistance with minimum or no housing and management facilities. Ample indiscriminate research reports and case studies on the native sheep of Bangladesh have been published. Nonetheless, a comprehensive review of reproductive and productive performances, as well as their various morphometric physiognomies and climate resilience capabilities, is lacking. This review was designed to explore and summarize the available research reports on indigenous sheep to highlight the gaps and provide an updated database for the future research plan for sustainable native sheep production in Bangladesh. It covers studies on sheep biodiversity, their adaptability to the local environment, morphometric features, feeding and nutrition, reproduction and production performances, diseases and health management, and the problems and prospects of sheep farming in Bangladesh. Due to the increased demand for animal protein, especially red meat, the scope of sheep farming increases along with that of other large and small ruminants. The vital constraints of sheep production in Bangladesh include insufficient feed and fodder supply with its high prices, higher disease occurrence with low or no management practices, kid mortality, and a poor marketing channel with the lower popularity of sheep meat than goat meat. Future research would be a prerequisite to measuring the impact of native sheep on household economies and food security during the year, evaluating the other challenges, and finding out the possible interventions in the fields of nutrition, reproduction, and health management.