Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:09:09.147Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Environmental and genetic causes of variation in production traits of Damascus goats. 1. Pre-weaning and post-weaning growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. P. Mavrogenis ,
A. Constantinou  and
A. Louca
A. P. Mavrogenis
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
A. Constantinou
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Nicosia, Cyprus
A. Louca
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Nicosia, Cyprus
Get access

Abstract

Data on 1542 Damascus kids, collected from 1977 to 1981, were used to study environmental and genetic factors influencing pre-weaning and post-weaning growth traits of kids. Season of birth, type of birth, sex of kid and dam lactation number were the environmental factors investigated. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated from paternal half-sib correlations. The average sire family size was 17·2 kids. Single kids were heavier at birth, at weaning and at 140 days of age than twins or other multiples (P < 0·01). Male kids were heavier (P < 0·01) and grew faster (P < 0·01) than female kids from birth to 140 days of age (4·7 and 4·2 at birth, and 29·2 and 24·6 kg at 140 days, respectively). Dam lactation number significantly affected pre-weaning growth, but had no effect on the post-weaning growth rate of kids.

Heritabilities for birth, weaning and 140-day weights, and pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rate, were 0·31 (s.e. 0·08), 0·27 (s.e. 0·07), 0·21 (s.e. 0·07), 0·16 (s.e. 0·06) and 0·22 (s.e. 0·07), respectively. Genetic correlations were mostly high and all positive, especially between weaning weight and 140-day weight (0·82 (s.e. 0·08)), and pre-weaning growth rate and 140-day weight (0·80 (s.e. 0·10)). The corresponding phenotypic correlations were also high and positive (0·71 and 0·67, respectively). No genetic antagonisms were found among the characters studied. Response to selection for post-weaning growth should be effective.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , February 1984 , pp. 91 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Au, S. Z. and Hasnath, M. A. 1977. Heritability estimate of birth-weight of Black Bengal kids at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Goat Breeding Project. Indian vet. J. 54: 632–637.Google Scholar
Amble, V. N., Khandekar, N. C. and Garg, J. N. 1964. Statistical studies on breeding data of Beetal goats. J.CAR. Res. Ser., No. 38.Google Scholar
Bouillon, J. and Ricordeau, G. 1975. [Genetic parameters of growth and milk production in the goat at a testing station. Estimates of direct and indirect responses to selection.] lères Journèes de la Recherche Ovine et Caprine, 2-3 et 4 Dècembre. Tome 1: Espece Caprine, pp. 124–132. INRA and ITOVIC, Paris.Google Scholar
Castillo, J., Garcia, O., Verde, S. O. and Peraza, F. 1976. [Growth of kids of four imported goat breeds.] Mems Asoc. Lat.-am. Prod. Anim. 11: 29–30 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Dickerson, G. E. 1959. Techniques and Procedures in Animal Science Research. American Society of Animal Science, Albany, NY.Google Scholar
Epstein, H. and Herz, A. 1964. Fertility and birth weights of goats in a subtropical environment. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 62: 237–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hadjipanayiotou, M. and Louca, A. 1976. The effects of partial suckling on the lactation performance of Chios sheep and Damascus goats and the growth rate of lambs and kids. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 87: 15–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, W. R. 1975. Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. U.S. Dep. Agric, ARS H-4.Google Scholar
Louca, A. and Hancock, J. 1977. Genotype by environment interactions for postweaning growth in the Damascus breed of goat. J. Anim. Sci. 44: 927–931.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Louca, A., Mavrogenis, A. and Lawlor, M. J. 1975. The effect of early weaning on the lactation performance of Damascus goats and the growth rate of the kids. Anim. Prod. 20: 213–218.Google Scholar
Moulick, S. K. and Syrstad, O. 1970. Genetic and environmental causes of variation in birth weight of Black Bengal goats. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 74: 409–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ricordeau, G., Poujardieu, B. and Bouillon, J. 1972. [Genetic parameters of growth in young Saanen female goats at a testing station.] Annls Gen. Sel. Anim. 4: 477–480.Google Scholar
Robertson, A. 1959. The sampling variance of the genetic correlation coefficient. Biometrics 15: 469–485.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tantawy, A. O. and Ahmed, I. A. 1960. Studies in Egyptian Baladi goats. I. Frequency of multiple births and sex rates. Emp. J. exp. Agric. 28: 74–82.Google Scholar