The reproductive performance of Red Sokoto goats in Nigeria

Abstract

An analysis has been made of the reproductive performance of Red Sokoto goat of Nigeria. Data are based on records of 140 kiddings from 96 does. Age at first kidding was 435 ± 18-9 days. The mean litter size at first kidding was 1-45. Prolificacy increased with parity, the kidding percentages from first to third parities being 141, 186 and 200 respectively. Doe weight was significantly correlated with litter size (r = -0-27). Repeatabilities of litter size per doe kidding and of litter weight were negative. Heritability of litter size was 0-08 ± 0-02. Birth weights were low, the mean weight of kids during the 3 years ranging from 1-48 to 1-64 kg. Doe weight was related to litter weight in a manner such that litter weight as a proportion of doe weight tended to decline as doe weight increased. The ratio of litter weights of singles to twins at any given weight of the doe was 100:180. Kid mortality by 3 months of age was 30-8 %. Mortality among twins was only slightly higher than singles. However, mortality in kids born in multiple births (triplets and quadruplets) was much higher. Birth weights of surviving kids were significantly higher than of those that died.

Crop-residue supplementation of pregnant does influences birth weight and weight gain of kids, daily milk yield but not the progesterone profile of Red Sokoto goats

“…The lower values in this study are justifiable given the fact that it was conducted in the long-dry season of the year when naturally grazed pasture and feed resources are critically low. The average littersize of 1.3 reported herein was similar to the findings of Adu et al [1]. The observation that supplementation did not affect littersize agreed with that of Sibanda et al [18], indicating that littersize may be controlled more by genetic, rather than nutritional, factors.…”

“…The observed values of daily milk yield in does fed rations 2A and 1C were higher than those reported by Adu et al [1], Akinsoyinu et al [22] and Ehoche and Buvanendran [16]. This increase in milk yield may be due to improvement as a result of selection over the years within the Red Sokoto breed.…”

“…In the northern region of Nigeria where most of the nation's livestock are concentrated, there is a long and pronounced dry season lasting for six to nine months, often causing serious feed shortages for animals. The prolonged dry season and high temperatures are also accompanied by rapid deterioration in the nutrient quality of available pasture hence, the basic nutritional requirements of the animals during pregnancy or lactation are not met [1]. The majority of Nigerian smallholder goat farmers resort to the easily available, cheap and abundant crop-residues from post-harvest farm operations to feed their animals instead of using the expensive, conventional concentrate ration.…”

Evaluation of some factors influencing growth performance of local goats in Nigeria

“…The long-legged Sahel found in the arid and Sahel regions, the relatively small body-sized Red Sokoto found in the savanna zone and the hardy, short-legged West African Dwarf restricted to high altitude areas and humid forest of the south [1,2]. Virtually all these breeds are found in Bauchi State, the study area.…”

Scrotal circumference, bodyweight and serum testosterone concentration of Red Sokoto weaner bucks as influenced by dry season crop‐residue supplementation

“…Detailed descriptions of its herd size (Gefu & Adu 1982), production (Mathewman 1980;Otchere et al . 1987), lactation (Ehoche & Buvanendran 1983) and reproductive performance (Adu et al . 1979) have been documented.…”