Bengaluru, 31 July

The seizure of around 2,700kg of Sirohi goat meat at KSR Bengaluru Railway Station on 26 July has highlighted the popularity of this goat breed among Bengalureans.

Initially, the meat was suspected to be dog meat, sparking controversy. However, the Karnataka Food Safety and Standards Department and DNA analysis conducted by the National Meat Research Institute in Hyderabad confirmed it was mutton. The Sirohi goat, commonly found in Rajasthan and the Kutch-Bhuj areas of Gujarat, has slightly elongated tails and spots that can be mistaken for those of dogs.

Sirohi goat meat is as popular as that of the Bannur and Jamunapari breeds. Tabrez Khan, owner of Giddu Mutton Stall, Pattareddy Palya, Kanakapura Main Road, told Salar News “We usually get only two kinds of goats here — Bannur and Sirohi. People usually prefer Sirohi meat due to its quantity and taste. Out of 50 customers coming for mutton daily, about half choose Sirohi meat, and sometimes, we even run out of it.”  

The price of Sirohi goat meat ranges from Rs 370 to Rs 500 per kilogram, and a live goat costs between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,000. In comparison, Bannur goat meat, which is often priced higher due to its local popularity, costs between Rs 450 and Rs 600 per kg, and a live goat can cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000. Jamunapari goats are relatively cheaper, with meat prices ranging from Rs 350 to Rs 480 per kilogram, and a live goat costing between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000.

The meat of the Sirohi goat is soft and flavourful compared to other varieties, said Manjunatha Lingappa, a caretaker at Namma Goat Farm near Nettigere Gate, Kanakapura Main Road. "It is tender and has the right amount of fat and flesh, making it juicy and preventing it from drying out during the cooking.” In contrast, Bannur and Jamunapari goats have tighter muscles, which make their meat dry and chewy, he said.

Sirohi goats gain weight quickly on a normal diet. “The Sirohi goat's cylindrical body shape indicates a higher meat yield compared to other breeds. The males can weigh up to 50kg, and females up to 23kg," Khan said. Bannur bucks weigh around 35-40kg, while does weigh 20-25kg. Jamunapari male goats weigh up to 45kg and female ones up to 30kg.

Originating from the Sirohi district of Rajasthan, the Sirohi goat is reared for both meat and milk. It is identified by its brown spots and medium-sized tail. The breed is exceptionally well-adapted to India's diverse climatic conditions, particularly the dry tropical desert climate of Rajasthan. -Salar News