Established by the government on Chaitra 20, 2040 B.S., under the name Goat Development Farm, Budhitola, this Goat Genetic Resource Center is located in Budhitola, Ward No. 4 of Godawari Municipality, within Kailali District of the Sudurpaschim Province. The farm was later renamed in Shrawan 2075 B.S. as Goat Genetic Resource Center, Budhitola.

Situated at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level, this resource center lies adjacent to the Dhangadhi–Dadeldhura (Bhimdatta Highway), between the Chure hills and the Mahabharat range. It is located 25 km north of Attariya Chowk, a key junction of the East-West Highway (Mahendra Highway). Surrounded by forests on all sides, the center is around 40 km from the district headquarters, Dhangadhi.

This federal-government-run center, equipped with necessary infrastructure, is considered the only model goat farm in the country for goat development.

Early Operations

In its early years, the center provided various services upon request to the then District Livestock Service Offices, government and non-government bodies, farmer groups, cooperatives, and individual farmers across the country. These included:

• Local and improved goat breeds (e.g., Jamunapari and Barbari goats)

• Goat farming technologies

• Improved grass and fodder seeds and saplings

Current Focus

At present, the center focuses on supplying:

• Pure Khari goats for productivity

• Pure Boer goats

• Cross-bred Boer goats (with varying breed percentages)

These are made available to interested farmers.

Farm Facilities

The center spans 14.15 hectares and includes:

• 6 goat sheds

• 1 office building

• 2 residential buildings

• 2 staff buildings

• 1 storage building

There was also 1 training building, which was destroyed during the conflict period. As it was located under a high-tension power line, the Nepal Electricity Authority provided compensation, which has been deposited into the Government of Nepal's revenue account.

Boer Goat Introduction

To produce crossbred Boer kids using pure Khari goats, in Fiscal Year 2072/073 B.S., the center imported 25 female and 3 male pure Boer goats from Australia under the Agriculture and Food Security Project.

Fodder and Feed

The center produces a variety of winter, summer, perennial, and improved grasses, which fulfill the feed requirements of approximately 300 goats on average.

In addition to grasses, around 5,000 plants of nutritious fodder species such as:

• Kutmiro, Tanki, Kabhro, Timilo, Ipil-Ipil, Paiyu, Harro, Khanew, Bhimal, Koiralo, Tusare, Kimbu, Jamuna, Banjh, Bedulo, Bakaino, Mendula, Bhatmase, etc., have been planted.

These not only supplement goat nutrition but also enhance the scenic beauty of the center.

Grazing Challenges

Until a few years ago, the surrounding forests and sparse settlements provided sufficient open grazing space for the goats. However, due to:

• Expansion of human settlements

• Increase in goat population

• Conversion of traditional grazing land into community forests

• Continued expansion of community forest areas

• Lack of managed grazing systems

...the grazing area has significantly reduced. As a result, all goats except for 2 groups of Khari goats are now kept in full confinement (stall-fed).

Future Needs

Given the situation, it appears inevitable that all goats will need to be stall-fed in the near future. Therefore, it is crucial to:

• Expand the land area for the center

• Develop nutritious pasture lands

This is now an urgent policy-level requirement for the sustainable development of goat farming at the center.