COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BODY WEIGHTS AT BIRTH, WEANING AND POST-WEANING IN KALAHARI RED AND WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

Abstract

This study investigated birth weight, weaning weight and 6-month post-weaning of Kalahari Red (KR)and West African Dwarf (WAD) goats semi-intensively managed at the Federal  University of Agriculture Abeokuta in South West of Nigeria. Body weight records for 61 KR and 63 WAD kids were subjected to least squares analysis of variance using the General Linear Model procedure of Statistical Analysis Software Program (SAS) to evaluate the effects of breed, sex, season, birth type and parity. The results showed significant (P<0.05) effect of breed with indication that KR kids exceeded WAD kis in body weights at birth (2.7440. 06 kg vs 1.61+0.05kg), weaning (11.87+0.19 kg vs 4.36+0.15 kg) and post—weaning (17.10+0.34 kg for KR and 6.390.33 kg). Male kids were heavier (P<0.05) than female kids With corresponding weights of 2.4540.06 kg and 1.9040.05 kg at birth, 8.97+0.21 kg and 7.26+0.14 kg at Weaning and 12.42+0.43 kg and 11.07+0.26 kg at 6-month post-weaning. Wet season born kids were better (P<0.05 ') than dry season born kids for all the three traits measured. Single born kids weighed heavier (P<0.05) than twin-born kids at weaning (8.0840.49 kg vs 7.2440.61 kg) and post-weaning (8.08+0.49 kg vs 7.24£0.61k), while litter size didnot affect birth weight significantly. Parity was insignificant for birth weight, weaning and pos; weaning weights. These results clearly indicate the superiority of Kalahari over Dwarf goats in terms o¢ body weights at all stages. Information from this study can be utilized to carry out further study on genetic improvement of body weights of WAD goats.