Abstract
This study was made with 631 does of 3 genetic groups and 1,112 of their kids allocated into 3 different locations to examine gestation length, litter size and litter weight in goats. Attributes studied were genetic group, parity, age of dam at kidding, weight of dam at breeding, season and location. Genetic group of dam affected significantly (p<0.01) size of litter but not gestation length and weight of litter. Selected Black Bengal (SBB) genetic group performed better in litter size and litter weight than random bred Black Bengal (RBB) and its crossbreds with Jamunapari ♂ (JBB). Litter size and weight were significantly affected by age of dam at kidding (p<0.01), weight of dam at service (p<0.001) and parity (p<0001). Size and weight of litter were found highest in SBB does, or does having 35-40 months of age at kidding, or does with 19-20 kg live weight at service, or at 4th parity. Season, location and parity also affected significantly (p<0.05) gestation length. Shortest gestation length was found in 5th parity or in summer season, whereas the longest was in 2nd parity or in winter season. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 6 : 772-776)
Highlights
It is well known that reproductive efficiency is one of the important pre-conditions for increasing production potential in any given environment
Litter size in goat is affected by parity (Wilson and Light, 1986) and season of birth (Karua, 1989)
Found that gestation length did not differ between dam genotypes in Egypt local and Alpine
Summary
It is well known that reproductive efficiency is one of the important pre-conditions for increasing production potential in any given environment. The number of young born alive per kidding is an important factor in increasing productivity as it contributes more to the total weight weaned per dam than the growth rate of the kid (Bradford, 1985). Hafez (1993) considered that the genotype of the fetus accounts for almost two thirds of the variations in gestation length of sheep; male lambs are carried longer than female lambs, spring-born lambs longer than fall-born lambs, and singles longer than twins. The gestation length for sheep and goats varies between breeds and individuals. Keeping the above points in mind, this experiment was undertaken to investigate the genetic and non-genetic factors affecting gestation length, litter size and litter weight at birth in goats
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