Post-Weaning Performance by Intact Male F1 Kiko × Boer Progeny from Does Selected Based on Parasite Resistance: 1-Year Summary

Abstract Text: Goats are popular with small landowners and fit into a variety of farming systems.  High market prices and continuing parasite challenges have led some producers to consider confinement feeding as a system to improve performance and avoid parasite problems.  Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate post-weaning performance by intact male F₁ Kiko × Boer progeny from does selected based on parasite resistance. Weaned, intact male F₁ Kiko × Boer progeny (n = 16; 10.7 ± 0.59 kg weaning weight; 94.4 ± 2.73 d of age) from two lines of does selected for high resistance to internal parasites (HL; n = 11) or for low resistance to internal parasites (LL; n = 5) were compared.  Animals were confined in a small ruminant barn with full access to a high-concentrate feed ration, water, and mineral supplement.  Kid weaning weight, 47-d post-weaning weight, and final weight did not differ (P ≥  0.19) across treatments.  Weaning to 47 d post weaning ADG, 47 d post-weaning to final ADG, and total ADG did not differ (P ≥ 0.15) across treatments.  Weaning to 47 d post weaning gain, 47 d post-weaning to final gain, and total gain did not differ (P≥ 0.20) for HL compared with LL.  Therefore, selecting does based on parasite resistance may not influence post-weaning performance of their crossbred male progeny when offered a high-concentrate diet.

Keywords: : goats, high-concentrate, parasite resistance