Influence of crossbreeding on meat goat doe fitness when comparing Boer F1 with base breeds in the Southeastern United States1

Abstract

Understanding fitness level among various breeds is essential for sustainable meat goat production. Research on the relative fitness of Boer F 1 does and straightbred base breed has been limited. Meat goat does of various genotypes (Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko reciprocal F 1 crosses, and Boer × Spanish reciprocal F 1 crosses) were studied to evaluate breed effects on doe fitness traits and the expression of heterosis over 7 production years. The herd was semi-intensively managed under humid subtropical pasture. Doe age affected (P < 0.05) various traits. Boer × Kiko does were heavier (P < 0.05) than Boer does at fall breeding, but Boer × Spanish does did not differ (P > 0.05) from Boer does for breeding weight. The body weights of Boer × Spanish and Boer × Kiko crosses did not differ (P > 0.05) from the weights of their respective Kiko and Spanish base cohorts at breeding, kidding, or weaning. Boer does had lower (P < 0.05) kidding rate (KR) and weaning rate (WR) than the other breeds and crosses. Boer × Kiko and Kiko were similar for KR and WR. Boer × Spanish and Spanish were also similar for KR and WR. However, the combined group of Boer F 1 does had lower (P < 0.01) KR and WR than the combined purebred biotype group of Kiko and Spanish does. Boer does weaned smaller (P < 0.05) litter sizes per doe exposed compared with Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko, and Boer × Spanish does with the latter four doe breedtypes not differing from each other. The combined Boer F 1 doe group weaned smaller (P < 0.05) litter sizes per doe exposed than the combined purebred group of Kiko and Spanish does. Boer × Kiko dams had higher (P < 0.05) fecal egg counts at parturition than Kiko dams. Significant heterosis was observed for reproductive traits within each of the 2-breed diallels. Boer F 1 does exhibited reproductive output similar to or lower than Kiko and Spanish straightbred does and higher than Boer straightbred does.

Effects of creep feeding and its interactions with other factors on the performance of meat goat kids and dams when managed on pasture

“…Myotonic-sired goats (dams or litters) had lower ( P < 0.05) litter weights than the other breeds, while Kiko- and Spanish-sired dams produced litters with higher gross revenue values ( P < 0.05) than litters produced by Boer- and Myotonic-sired dams (data not shown). It was previously reported that the Myotonic breed is a smaller-sized meat goat than Kiko and Spanish breeds and that significant variation existed among Boer, Kiko, and Spanish does for traits similar to those recorded here ( Browning et al, 2011 ; Wang et al, 2017 ; Khanal et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Kids of Myotonic dams tended to be on the lower end of the weight ranges and kids of Kiko dams tended to be on the higher end of the weight ranges ( Tables 3 and 4). Breed comparisons should be viewed with some caution because this creep-feeding study was conducted across three separate mating schemes that were part of concurrent breed evaluations ( Wang et al, 2017 ; Stevens, 2018 ; Khanal et al, 2019 ). Sire and dam breeds, although managed together, were not fully represented across all three mating schemes.…”

Growth performance of Black Bengal, Saanen, and their crossbred F1 as affected by sex, litter size, and season of kidding

“…Besides litter size, age, and parity number of does may affect the growth rate of kid. The growth rate of kids was higher in doe of older age (Khanal et al., 2019). Doe with higher parity number also had higher milk production (Dhara et al., 2012).…”

Genome‐wide selection signal analysis of Australian Boer goat reveals artificial selection imprinting on candidate genes related to muscle development

“…2019; Khanal et al . 2019). Several studies have investigated the nutritional requirements and optimal feeding mode of these animals (Paine et al .…”

“…Boer goat is globally recognized as one of the most ideal meat-breeding goat breeds and was originally developed from a variety of native goats in the Republic of South Africa (Malan 2000). At present, it is widely used to improve local indigenous goats and increase their economic value (Basinger et al 2019;Khanal et al 2019). Several studies have investigated the nutritional requirements and optimal feeding mode of these animals (Paine et al 2018).…”