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Effects of buck and doe size on the growth performance and survival of their progeny
Effects of paternal and maternal goat size on kid growth and survival in a pasture-based tropical environment were assessed by grouping bucks and does into big/elite and small/control categories and mating between the sub-groups to create four progeny groups whose body weight and mortality rate were assessed for fixed and variable effects at birth, 10, 20 and 30 weeks of age. Big sized bucks and does had heavier progeny than those of small sized parents at all ages except at birth. Due to sexual dimorphism, male progeny were heavier than their female counterparts at most ages. Birth type had a profound effect on both live weight and survival. Over 85% of kids that died were born as a twin, negating the advantage twinning in such a goat flock. Using elite bucks does have potential financial benefits of about $300 per buck, for Mubende goat farmers.
Keywords: goats, maternal effect, selection
