It is unfortunate that, Indian farmers are dying from hunger and malnutrition even though Indian economy based on agriculture. Out of other remedies goat rearing is a way to fight from poverty and providing nutrition to small and marginal farmers. A study was made to assess competitive advantage of rearing goat in the district of Mahoba between small marginal and large farmers. The aim of this study was to find out the socioeconomic characteristics and economics of goat keepers in mahoba of Bundelkhand. The study was carried out in mahoba district during 2012. 45 per cent of respondents had average family size of 3 to5 persons, 35 per cent respondents had average family size of 1 to 3 persons and 20 per cent had family size of 5 to 10 persons. 33 per cent and 24 per cent respectively had intermediate and high school level of education. 8 per cent respondents were illiterate. Agriculture was the main occupation and so as the source of income too. Most of the farmers had more than fifteen years of farming experience. The socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents were found to be significantly related to dairy management practices. The capital investment per goat was highest on large farms (` 772.01/year), followed by marginal farms (` 763.17/year) and small goat keepers (` 733.36/year). The margin of profit on large farms was highest. The overall return over cost A (paid out expenses and depreciation) was ` 3186.21, over cost B (cost A + interest on fixed capital) was ` 3093.65 and over cost C (cost B + input value of family labour) was ` 1635.32.

Observations are reported of skin follicle types, ratios, population densities, and percentages of medullated fibres in four Rajasthan sheep breeds – Chokla, Marware, Jaisalmere, and Malpura. Data from three body regions – shoulder, side, and breech – were available for a total of 21 sheep, and for 12 more there were observations for at least one of the three regions. The Chokla breed had the highest total and highest primary follicle population density (9.4 and 3.1 per mm2 respectively), as well as the highest ratio of secondary to primary follicles (2.1) and the lowest percentage medullation (24 per cent. of all fibres, 2 per cent. of secondary fibres). The Malpura breed had the lowest total and lowest primary follicle population density (5.6 and 2.5 per mm2), and was equal with the Marware breed for the lowest ratio (1.3). The Malpura breed had the highest percentage medullation (77 per cent. of all fibres, 60 per cent. of secondary fibres). Of the three body regions studied, the side had the highest ratio of secondary to primary follicles in all four breeds, while the breech had the highest percentage of medullated secondary fibres. The percentage of medullated primary fibres in the breech was equal to or greater than that in either of the other regions.