The spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the livestock health status in the developing countries like India are complex. In this regards, the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) is valuable as it has many features that make it an ideal tool for use in animal health surveillance, monitoring, prediction and its management strategy. The goal of the present study is to find out the effect of ambient temperature on goat health in two different agro-climatic zones in West Bengal, India with the additional help of GIS technology. The highest mean value of temperature (42.6 ± 1.5 ºC) has been reported during the month of April or May in the season of pre-monsoon in Purulia. Survey of India (SOI) topographical sheets (73 I/3 and 79 B/5) are used to map the study areas. Top sheets are scanned, geo-referenced and then digitized with the help of GIS software. The biochemical and meteorological data are entered to the newly prepared digitized map as the non-spatial data or attributes. Moreover, the present work aims to confer an indication of the potential applications and usages of a GIS in the field of animal health for advancing the knowledge about this innovative approach of goat heath surveillance and monitoring.

Keywords: Goats; GIS; Pre-Monsoon; Post-Monsoon; Purulia; Nadia.