INFLUENCE OF SOME NON GENETIC FACTORS ON BIRTH WEIGHT OF TEDDY GOAT KIDS

Abstract

Data on birth weight of Teddy goats maintained at the Livestock Production Research Institute, Bahadurnagar, were collected. A total of 1666 kidding records spread over a period of 25 years were available. Overall least square mean for birth weight was 1.44 ± 0.06 kg. The variation in birth weight due year and season of birth was significant. The winter born kids were heavier (1.46 ± 0.06 kg) than summer born kids (1.42 ± 0.06 kg). Least square mean for birth weight of male kids was 1.49 ± 0.06 kg and this value was higher than that for female kids ( 1.40 ± 0.06 kg), Birth weight was significantly (P<0.01) affected due to birth type and single born kids were the heaviest ( 1.75 ± 0.05 kg) amongst affected birth types. Birth weight significantly decreased with an increase in number of kids born. Twin, triplet and quadruplet born kids weighed 1.55 ± 0.05, 1.46 ± 0.05 and 1.03 ± 0.13 kg, respectively; Parity had no effect on birth weight. The least square means for different parities ranged from 1.40 ± 0.03 to 1.47 ± 0.061 kg.

Keywords

• Teddy Goats
• Environmental effects. Birth weight