Genetic And Environmental Factors Affecting Growth Traits Of Goats In Semi Arid Area Of Nigeria

Abstract

BSTRACT Growth performance of 194 kids of Sahel (S), Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) breeds of goats from birth to 9 months of age was studied. Effect of breed was significant (p<0.001) with S (2.07kg-13.49kg) breed being heavier than RS (1.81kg-13.77kg) and WAD (1.42KG-8.63 kg) though they were comparable with RS at 9months. At all ages, WAD was the lightest. Seasonal effect showed that animals born in the wet season were significantly (p<0.001) heavier than those born in the dry season at the early ages, while those born in the dry cold were heavier at the late ages. Litter size and sex also affected body weights. Single birth (1.96kg-13.64kg) and male (1.88kg-12.64kg) kids had significantly heavier weights compared with multiple birth (1.66kg-12.33kg) and female (1.67kg-11.28kg) kid, respectively. Sahel (56.33g/day) and RS (56.22g/day) had similar preweaning average daily gain but, both gained more significantly (p<0.001) than WAD (35.31g/day). Red Sokoto, however gained more than S at postweaning stage, while WAD still had the lowest (p<0.001) gain. Effect of season on preweaning gain followed the same trend as body weights. Effect of parity, litter size and sex on rate of gain, which significantly (p<0.01) favoured 4 th parity, single and male kids respectively at the preweaning stage were not significant at the postweaning stages. The results of this study revealed that growth of Nigerian breeds of goats is generally low. Effort is required to provide standard environment, particularly at the preweanig stages, for improved productivity. In addition, before selection, adjustment in needed for any factors that affect performance.

Genetic Analysis of Pre-Weaning Growth Traits of Anglo-Nubian and Baladi Kids التحلیل الوراثی لصفات النمو قبل الفطام للجدیان الأنجلونوبیان والبلدی

“…The results of analysis of variance in Table (2) show that fixed effects on the studied traits were generally significant (P<0.01or P<0.05), except for the effect of parity on WW and ADG of Baladi kids which were not significant. The results found in this study are in agreement with those reported by Alade et al 2008, Boujenane and El Hazzab 2008, Otuma and Osakwe 2008, Rashidi et al 2008, Hermiz et al 2009, Zhang et al 2009, Thiruvenkadan et al 2009, Sodiq et al 2010, Supakorn et al 2011, Mohammadi et al 2012, Andries 2013, Bedhane et al 2013, Deribe and Taye 2013, Kuthu et al 2013, Osman 2013, Bingol et al 2014, Ray et al 2015, Gupta et al 2016, Syahirah et al 2016, Bolacali et al 2017, Msalya et al 2017, and Rout et al 2018.…”