Climate resilience of goat breeds in India: A review

India possesses vast genetic resources in terms of holding several indigenous breeds of goats. This review highlights the climate resilient potential of various indigenous goat breeds in the Indian sub-continent. Given the fact of goat being projected as ideal climate resilient species, the information in this review could be very useful for the policy makers to propagate ideal breeds to specific agro-ecological zone. With the projected climate change associated fodder deficit, it is very vital to concentrate on sustaining goat production for the various advantages associated with this species. In general, the morphological characteristics of goats that results in higher adaptive and resilient capacity in different climatic zones are body conformation (body size, shape), legs (long), hair coat length (short), hair coat color (light), skin structure (lightly pigmented), sweat glands, subcutaneous fat (less), large surface area, salivary glands, volume and anatomy of the digestive tract. Sirohi, Jakhrana, Jamunapari, Beetal, Gohilwadi, Zalawadi, Kutchi etc are large sized breeds and their long legs helps them to prevent the ground radiation affecting their body and thus imparts them the potential to survive in hot arid and semi-arid tropical environment. On the other hand, goat breeds in Himalayan regions of India namely Assam Hill, Black Bengal, Ganjam, Chegu, Gaddi, Pantja etc are having small sized body and ears, short legs and are naturally adapted to cooler weather conditions. Further, the black coat breeds were found to be more efficient thermo-regulators than white coat breeds. Several biomarkers covering both phenotypic and genotypic traits were suggested to assess the climate resilience in different indigenous breeds of goats. All these basic information could be very useful to identify and propagate ideal goat breeds specific to different agro-ecological zone and such approach may play a significant role in sustaining goat production in the changing climate scenario in India.