Growth and reproductive performance of West African dwarf goats at the Animal Research Institute, Katamanso Station

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the growth and reproductive performance of the West African Dwarf goat using records kept at the Animal Research Institute, Katamanso Station from 2004 to 2012. The liveweights and growth rates were adjusted for differences in the age of animal at time of weighing. The effect of sex of kid, year of birth, season of birth, parity and type of birth on the growth and reproductive parameters were analysed using the General Linear Model procedure of SAS. The birth weight of kids averaged 1.15 kg with 1.25 kg for males being significantly (p < 0.05) higher than 1.12 kg for females. Pre-weaning growth rate averaged 35.78 g/day and was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by type of birth. Single born kids (44.73 g/day) had a higher preweaning growth rate than the twins (35.59 g/day) and triplets (30.73 g/day). Weaning weight at 120 days averaged 5.44 kg and was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by any of the factors examined in this study except type of birth. Singles weighed heavier than the twins and triplets (6.63 kg versus 5.49 kg and 4.75 kg) respectively. Post weaning daily gain averaged 26.49 g. Year of birth significantly (p < 0.05) affected post weaning growth rate. Season of birth, type of birth and sex of kid did not significantly affect the post weaning growth rate. Yearling weight averaged 12.24 kg and was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by year and season of birth. The overall kidding interval averaged 247 days and was not affected by year of birth, season of birth and type of birth. However, parity had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on kidding interval as primiparous does had a longer interval than multiparous does. The age at first kidding for the does averaged 418 days.