Estimates Of Genetic Parameters For Economic Traits In West African Dwarf Goat

Abstract

Records of 848 West African Dwarf goat kids and 220 kiddings over a period of eight years (1982-1989) were analysed. The records were used to provide heritability and repeatability estimates for litter size at birth, kidding interval (repeatability estimate alone) and body weight at birth, weaning, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year of age. Heritability estimates of 0.28±0.005, 0.18±0.003, 0.14±0.003, 0.29±0.005, 0.11±0.003 and 0.17±0.004 were obtained for litter size at birth, body weight at birth, and at weaning, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months of age respectively. Corresponding repeatability estimates were slightly higher than the heritability estimates. However, repeatability estimates of 0.04±0.030 was obtained for kidding interval.