Investigation of Survival Rate, Growth Performance and Some Body Measurements of Saanen X Hair Goat F1 Crossbred and Pure Hair Goat Kids Raised in Semi-Intensive Conditions

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine survival rate, growth performance and some body measurements of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred and pure Hair goat kids raised in semi-intensive conditions. The study was conducted at Research Farm of Yuzuncu Yil University in Van province, Turkey. Data were collected using 72 Saanen x Hair goats F1 crossbred and 41 Hair goat kids born in February and April in 2011. The survival rates of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred and Hair goat kids at 90 (weaning) and 180 days of age were 90.28 and 90.24 %; 84.72 and 90.24 %, respectively. Effects of genotype, gender and birth type on survival rates of kids at 90 and 180 days of age were not significant (P>0.05). Body weights at birth, weaning and 180 days of age of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred and Hair goat kids were 3.13 and 3.15 kg; 12.22 and 11.90 kg; 22.52 and 21.82 kg, respectively. Effects of dam's age (P<0.05) and dam's live weight (P<0.01) on birth weight of kids were significant; effects of gender, birth type (P<0.05) and dam's live weight (P<0.01) on live weight of kids at 90 days of age (weaning) were significant. The effect of only dam's live weight (P<0.01) on live weight of kids at 180 days of age was significant. Wither heights, body lengths, chest circumferences, chest lengths and chest depths of Saanen x Hair goat F1crossbred and Hair goat kids at 180 days of age were 54.5 ve 52.3 cm; 56.1 ve 53.2; 64.3 ve 65.7 cm; 31.4 ve 30.4 cm; 25.7 ve 25.7 cm, respectively. The findings of the present study showed that survival rates and live weights in various growth periods of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred and Hair goat kids raised in semi-intensive conditions were similar. Furthermore, wither heights, chest circumference, chest lengths and chest depths of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred and Hair goat kids did not differ, however body length was significant in favour of Saanen x Hair goat F1 crossbred kids.