Research Journal of Animal Sciences

Year: 2008
Volume: 2
Issue: 3
Page No. 87 - 91

Assessment of the Reproductive Performance and Post Weaning Growth of Crossbred Goat in Derived Guinea Savanna Zone

Authors : M.O. Otuma and I.I. Osakwe

Abstract: In Abakaliki and Nigeria in general, goats are kept primarily for meat yield, so production traits of interest are the number of young weaned per breeding female per year and their growth rate. The assessment of the reproductive performance and growth of cross bred local (RSG � F1) an adapted breeds of goats in Nigeria provide vital information to understanding its productive potentials. Reproduction data of 1,1304 kids from 510 does were collected for 9 years in the Small Ruminants Research and Multiplication u it of the Department of Animal Production, Enugu State University, of Science and Technology, Abakaliki Campus, Nigeria. The reproductive performance evaluated included prolificacy, fertility, kidding, post-weaning growth, mortality and gestation length. Growth traits studied were birth and 72 weeks of live weights and average daily gains. Statistical analysis showed significant effects (p<0.05) due to season of rearing with early and late rainy displaying superior values over other seasons on live weights. Sex of kids and types of birth had significant effects (p>0.05) on birth and 72 weeks live weights with males, singles and twins displaying superiority over females and triplets kids, respectively. Average daily gains were significantly affected by sex, type of birth and season of rearing. The overall mean for gestation days was 131.21�0.73 and was affected by season, sex and type of birth. Single birth males, early and late rainy seasons recoded more number of days of gestation than others. Conclusively the crossbred Nigeria Red Sokoto goats (RSG � F1) have high reproductive performance under certain season of rearing with the males having higher meat yield potentials.

How to cite this article:

M.O. Otuma and I.I. Osakwe , 2008. Assessment of the Reproductive Performance and Post Weaning Growth of Crossbred Goat in Derived Guinea Savanna Zone. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 2: 87-91.

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