EFFECT OF DAM PARITY ON MEASURES OF GROWTH IN RED SOKOTO GOATS AT 1, 3, 6, AND 9 MONTH OF AGE
Authors/Creators
- 1. Animal Science Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,Nigeria, 2Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Description
Data on measures of growth (birth weight, body weight (BW), height-at-withers (HW), body length (BL) and heart girth (HG)) were taken in 1000 Red Sokoto goat kids belonging to smallholder farmers in Kano and environs. The data collected were analyzed to determine the effect of dam parity on measures of growth of kids at 1, 3, 6, and 9 month of age. The result revealed that parity had significant effect (P<0.01- 0.05) on birth weight and bodyweight of kids at 1,3, 6 and 9, month of age. The effect of dam parity on the linear body measurements ( HW,BL and CG) was significant (P<0.01- 0.05) at 1,3 and 6 month of age but not significant (P>0.05) at 9 month of age. Birth weight and bodyweight increased with parity up to the 5th parity and declined. Also kids of higher parity had larger body size (HW, BL, CG) than those of the lower parity. The significant effect of parity of dam on birth weight, body weight and linear body measurements in this study therefore, indicates that parity of dam is an important factor to consider in making appropriate selection and/ or culling decision in Red Sokoto goats