Phenotypic characterization of Nandidurga goats was conducted in its breeding tract. A total of 17 flocks were surveyed in 8 villages of Challakere and Chitradurga talukas of Chitradurga district. The observed flock size was 25-30 with 2-3 bucks, 12-14 does and about 10-12 kids. Smaller flocks were generally housed in the part of the residence, whereas the larger flocks (30-40 goats) were housed separately. Usually the goat sheds were of open type with a thatched/ iron sheet roof inside it and the area was guarded by some locally available materials. Random mating was observed as male and female goats were grazed and housed together. Farmers generally availed the services of State Animal Husbandry department for vaccinating against Enterotoxaemia and PPR, and deworming of their animals. Majority of Nandidurga goats were completely white and few were white with black spots on extremities. The forehead was convex in almost all the animals observed but few had straight forehead. Only 5 per cent of the animals had beard (usually bucks) and 9 per cent of the animals had wattles. Majority of these goats were horned and were straight or curved, oriented backwards and downwards. Most of these goats had leafy and pendulous ears and few had horizontal or atrophied ears. The age at first estrus, first kidding, weaning age and kidding interval observed were 7-8, 14-16, 3-4 and 7-9 months, respectively. Twinning was very common (50-60%), and at times triplets, quadruplets and occasionally pentaplets were also observed. The mean body weight in adult goats recorded was 39.57±1.53 kg in bucks and 35.80±0.77 kg in does. The statistical analysis showed positive and significant (p<0.01) correlation of body weight with chest girth, height at wither and body length (0.86, 0.73 and 0.81) and body weight was regressed on chest girth, height at wither and body length.

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