Survey for Productive Performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) does and Savanna Brown Goat (SBG) does reared under traditional husbandry system

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the productive performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) does and Savanna Brown Goat (SBG) does reared under the traditional management system in Makurdi Benue State Nigeria, between March and June, 2015. Data on some productive indices such as age at first kidding, kid mortality rate, fecundity and kidding rate were collected by use of a questionnaire interview. Other parameters studied were types of feed supplement, medication and management system. A total of 60 WAD and 60 SBG farms were surveyed. Proximate analysis of feed supplement was carried out. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics which include numerical means, standard error of the means (SEM) and percentages. Kidding rates, mortality at birth and at weaning, age at first kidding and fecundity were analyzed using the Chi-square test. The result showed that kidding rate of WAD does (97.2%) was higher than that of Savanna Brown Goat (SBG) does (68.9%; p > 0.05). Similarly, age at first kidding for WAD (363 days) and SBG (360 days) were not significantly different (P>0.05) whereas kid mortality at birth and weaning were (4.4% and 3.4%) and (7.3% and 3.7%) for WAD and SBG does, respectively. These mortality rates at birth were significantly different (P<0.05). Furthermore, the fecundity of WAD does for singles (1.75±0.10), twins (5.45±0.32), triplets (8.46±0.70) and quadruplets (6.80±1.34) was higher than that of SBG does single (1.49±0.09), twins (4.77±0.33), triplets (5.28±0.47) and quadruplets (4.00±0.00). These differences were statistically not significant (P>0.05) except for triplet (P<0.05). In conclusion, the current study has shown that WAD goats under the traditional management system has higher fecundity (P<0.05) than SBG in Makurdi Benue State Nigeria and that SBG is gradually getting adapted to Middle belt zone.

Keywords: West African Dwarf (WAD) does, Savanna Brown Goat (SBG) does, traditional management system, Benue state, Productive performance