Environmental factors influencing performance of West African Dwarf goats under semi-intensive management system

Abstract

The study used data on 562 kiddings from a flock of West African Dwarf goats maintained under semiintensive management system at the National Goat Breeding Station, Kintampo, over 5 years (1997 to 2001). Records of performance were birth weight, sex of kid, type of birth, weaning weight at the age of 90 days, and pre-weaning growth and survival rates among the kids.  The overall mean values for birth weight, weaning weight, and pre-weaning average daily gain were 1.17 kg, 4.05 kg and 32.0 g day-1, respectively. Preweaning kid survival rate was 92.2 per cent, resulting in an overall pre-weaning kid mortality rate of 7.8 per cent. The proportions of singles, twins and triplets were 4.2, 50.2 and 1.6 per cent, respectively. Average litter sizes at birth and at weaning were 1.35 and 1.25, respectively. Statistical analyses of the data showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the sources of
variation due to year and season of birth, type of birth and sex of kid, suggesting an influence of these factors on the growth and survival of kids up to weaning age.