The Effects of Sire Breed on Reproductive and Progeny Performance in Kiko Meat Goats (Capri hircus)
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- Select Volume / Issue:
- Year:
- 2020
- Type of Publication:
- Article
- Keywords:
- Kiko, Meat Goats, Sire, Prolificacy
- Authors:
- Okere, Chukwuemeka; Bolden-Tiller, Olga; III, Henry J. Henderson
- Journal:
- IJRAS
- Volume:
- 7
- Number:
- 6
- Pages:
- 251-262
- Month:
- November
- ISSN:
- 2348-3997
- Abstract:
- The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of different sire types (Boer vs. Kiko) on reproductive performance of purebred Kiko dams as well as growth and health performance of their offspring. Doe performance was analyzed by evaluating prolificacy (litter size), fecundity (fertility x prolificacy), and birth types (single, twins, or triplets). Progeny performance was evaluated for the effect of breed, gender, and litter size on weight, and average daily gain (ADG). A total number of 19 Kiko does were used in this study, 11 of which were bred to a Kiko buck and 8 to a Boer buck. Results revealed individual breed combination prolificacy values of (1.9 vs.1.75 kids/doe) for the Kiko Sired Group and Boer Sired group respectively. There were non-significant sire differences for gestation length (150.38 ± 2.66 vs. 147.64 ± 3.108 days, P = 0.06) for Boer and Kiko sires respectively. Weights of Kiko dams assigned to Boer and Kiko sires at breeding were similar (45.63 ± 10.17 vs. 42.39 ± 6.91, kg, P = 0.41). At weaning, dams breed to Boer and Kiko sire weighed the same (52.77 ± 14.64 and 42.76 ± 7.13, kg, P = 0.10). Litter size at birth and at weaning did not differ among sire breed (1.75 ± 0.46, P= 0.37 vs. 1.90 ± 0.30 and 1.50 ± 0.53 vs. 1.75 ± 0.46, P = 0.33) respectively. Boers sired kids were significantly heavier at birth but not at weaning (3.41 ± 0.48 vs. 2.78 ± 0.53 kg, P = 0.001 and 13.82 ± 2.78 vs. 12.43 ± 3.47 kg, P = 0.26). This suggests a growth-improvement potential for progeny when utilizing Boer sires. Non- significant differences were observed for ADG (0.15 ± 0.03 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03 kg/d) for Boer and Kiko sired kids respectively. Birth and weaning weights were heaviest, although not significant (P > 0.05) for male kids compared with female kids, and kid weights decreased with increasing litter size from singles to twins and triplets. Pre weaning mortality rates of kids were 69% and 73% for Kiko and Boer sired kids respectively. Overall, results showed no consistent differences in reproductive and progeny performance traits between the main sire types used in this project. Since variation within sire type is greater than the variation between sire types, genetic selection should be focused on identifying the best sires within each breed type.
Full text:
IJRAS_912_FINAL.pdf [Bibtex]
