Study on marketing of Sirohi goat (meat) in Sirohi district of Rajasthan

The Sirohi goat, a dual-purpose breed originating from the Sirohi district of Rajasthan, has gained prominence due to its adaptability to harsh climatic conditions, strong survival ability, and economic significance in rural livelihoods. This medium to large-sized breed, characterized by its compact body, light brown or brown coat with white patches, and coarse hair, is valued for both meat and milk production. Its hardy nature, prolific breeding capacity, short kidding intervals, and an average milk yield ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 liters per day contribute to its widespread adoption in arid and semi-arid regions. The breed’s fast growth and high-quality meat further enhance its role in commercial goat farming. A comparative analysis of Sirohi goat meat marketing across three channels revealed distinct differences in cost, margin, price spread, and efficiency. In Channel-I, the marketing cost amounted to ?7,230, entirely forming the price spread, with no intermediary margin, resulting in the highest marketing efficiency of 4.91 percent. Channel-II, with a higher cost of ?8,329 and an additional wholesaler’s margin of ?1,809, increased the price spread to ?10,138, reducing efficiency to 2.70 percent. Channel-III recorded the highest marketing cost of ?10,799, with intermediary margins of ?2,405, leading to the widest price spread of ?13,204 and the lowest efficiency of 1.99 percent. The findings indicated that marketing efficiency decreased with the involvement of more intermediaries, as higher costs and wider price spreads eroded producers’ benefits. Thus, Channel-I was identified as the most efficient, while Channel-III was the least favorable for farmers.