Pre-weaning performance of crossbred goat kids from Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

Objective. Birth and weaning weights were recorded, to valuate pre-weaning performance of crossbred kids, in eighth small milk goat flocks, from Guanajuato, Mexico. Materials and methods. Records of 234 kid dings were used; the goats were kept under grazing rangeland with supplementation of commercial concentrate. The kids were crossbred between Sannen, Alpine and Toggenburg breeds. Data was analyzed by a statistical model in which the flock effects (FL), contemporary group (CG), parity number (PN), litter size (LS) and sex of the kid (SK) were considered. Results. Birth weights averaged 3.4 +/- 0.5 kg (range 2 to 5.5 kg) and weight at 60 days of age averaged 13.7 +/- 1.8 kg (range 8.0 to 17.5 kg); and daily weight gain averaged 0.17 +/- 0.02 kg (range 0.08 to 0.23 kg). Birth weights were affected (p<0.01) by FL, CG, PN, LS and SK. However, weight at 60 days and daily weight gain were affected (p<0.05) by FL and SK. Conclusions. The flock affected the performance of the kids.