Changra or Changthangi

The Changra or Changthangi is found in the northern temperate Changthang region of Leh district in Jammu and Kashmir, which is one of the highest plateaus in the world. These goats are largely reared by a nomadic tribe called the ‘Changpa’.

The breed is most often white, but is also seen in black, grey or brown. They have large twisted horns. The breed is raised for both meat and the valuable cashmere also known as pashmina. The Changra are also useful as pack animals.  The goats are reared under an open grazing system throughout the year. During summer they migrate to high altitude (12,000 to 19,000 ft) alpine pastures for grazing and in winter the herds are brought down to the valleys. 

Kidding takes place once a year and only a single kid is born. Mature does yield 200 – 300 ml of milk a day once the kids are weaned.  About 15 – 20% of the goat population is culled every year and sold to butchers for meat. The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has put the Changthangi goat breed on the ‘endangered species list’. According to the 18th Livestock Census 2007, the number of Changthangi goats in the country is 205,758, found mainly in Jammu & Kashmir with a few numbers in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Nagaland. (Refer to maps below) 

Text Source:NBAGR

Photo Source: http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/agtrweb/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&func=detail&id=168&Itemid=230#joomimg and http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinay83/4841128213