Indigenous breeds of goat, pig from Nicobar gets recognition

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The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has recognised Teressa Goat and Nicobari pig found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands as new breeds, officials said today.
The recognition of these breeds is significant as measures for its conservation, preservation and propagation can now be taken up with funding from the central government, officials of the union territory said.
The breed can be developed to suit national and international markets which will present avenues for entrepreneurship and export of disease free germplasm and progenies.
Teressa Goats, as the name suggests, are mostly found in Teressa island and is reared for its meat by the tribal farmers of Nicobar archipelago.

These goats are generally tall, brownish or black or white in colour with white and black patches.
The Nicobari pig is also indigenous to Nicobars and has distinctive characteristic compared to the other recognised breed of pigs in India.

An adult pig weighs between 26 to 61 kg.
Nicobari pigs are reared more for their role in the tradition than economics by the tribal populace of Nicobar.
The department of animal husbandry and veterinary services, and the animal sciences division of Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair, had jointly taken up the conservation and propagation of these breeds.

The breed characterisation was conducted and genetic profile was completed following which an application to register the breeds was submitted, officials said.