Growth Performance of West African Dwarf Goats Reared in the Transitional Zone of Ghana

Abstract

The West African Dwarf (WAD) goats are the predominant breed of goats in Ghana. The present study aimed at assessing the growth performance (Birth weight-BWT, Pre-weaning growth rate-PREWGR, Weaning weight-WWT, Post-weaning growth rate-POSWGR and Yearling weight-YWT) of WAD goats reared in the transitional zone. About 809 breeding records from 2005-2012, live weight and linear body measurements (of 325 animals) were collected on WAD goats and subjected to GLM procedure to determine the fixed effects of sex, type of birth, season of birth and year of birth on growth performance. The fixed effects of sex and age on body measurements were also tested and then regression analysis done with body measurements. The sex of kid had significant effect (p<0.05) on pre-weaning growth rate and weaning weight, with males recording 32.42 g dayG 1 and 5.30 kg and females recording 31.75 g dayG 1 and 5.21 kg, respectively. Only birth and weaning weights were significantly (p<0.01) affected by type of birth as single born kids recorded highest values for BWT (1.56±0.02) and WWT (5.49±0.03). Kids born in the rainy season had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for POSWGR and YWT. The influence of year of birth was significant (p<0.05) on all growth parameters.

Effect of Birth Type on Production, Characteristics and S omatic Cell Count in Milk of Bafra and Karayaka Ewes

“…For animals of 10-12 month age group, PC 1 had a high value of variance as 50.05% and PC2 and PC3 had values as 10.67% and 9.05% respectively and their cumulative variance was 69.79%. WH, HG, and BL had high variance and high commonalities, and our results are also supported by Mavule et al (2013), Khan et al (2014), Eyduran et al (2013) and Birteeb and Lomo (2015).…”

“…The correlations among different morphometric traits of 10-12-month age group of Thalli sheep such as WH, BL, HL, HW, EL, EW, NL, NW, HG, RL, BD, SPW, BiW, and BW. A similar type of results was reported by Salako (2006), Vincent et al (2014), Pesmen and Yardimci (2008), Eyduran et al (2013), Birteeb and Lomo (2015) and Yakubu (2010).…”

Electrocardiographic parameters in West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto (Maradi) goats

“…(2010); management- Ogebe et al (2000); influence of environment on their well-being- Birteeb et al (2015). There was no record of electrocardiographic measurement of the Nigerian local breeds of goats (e.g WAD and RS), in the Veterinary Literature.…”

Correlations between body measures with live weight in young male goats

“…Nevertheless, the author added that in that prediction, body volume was superior than thoracic perimeter because it represents the product of two parameters: body volume and thoracic perimeter. It was also confirmed by Birteeb, Danquah, and Salifu (2015), that determined by equations that body length and thoracic perimeter when associated were superior to estimate body weight than body length or thoracic perimeter, individually.…”