Response to phenotypic screening of Mubende meat goats

Abstract

Sixty-two mature goats of the Mubende breed sampled from the field on the basis of heart girth were used in a study to estimate the contribution of parental phenotype to body weight gain at different ages in indigenous goats. Four mating groups were formulated on the basis of weight and heart girth of the does and bucks. At birth, kids from the elite mating group were heavier (P<0.05) than those of the controls. Kids born to elite bucks though not significantly heavier from kids born to ordinary ones at birth, were progressively heavier with time, 8 weeks (P<0.01), weaning (P<0.01) and at one year (P<0.05). Average kid birth weights were 2.34, 2.12, 2.28, 2.11 kg for elite, reciprocal 1, reciprocal I and control, respectively. Male kids were significantly heavier (P<0.001) at birth and all subsequent ages up to 40 weeks, and showed a faster growth rate (P<0.01) to 52 weeks of age, than female kids. Kids from single birth weighed an average of 2.29 kg at birth compared to 2.05 kg for kids born as twins. The differences in birth weight were significant (P<0.001) and persisted up to 44 weeks of age. Post weaning kid diet had a significant influence on body weight gain with animals weaned on a diet of 25% crude protein (P) gaining at a faster rate than those fed a 15% CP diet.