Reproduction, health and kid growth of Boer F1 and Myotonic does in Southeastern United States
Abstract
Reciprocal Boer F1 crossbred does and Boer, Kiko, and Spanish foundation straightbreds were evaluated for doe-kid traits. A parallel assessment was made on Myotonic purebred does. All does were bred to Myotonic bucks. Fertility was higher (P<0.01) for Boer F1 than for Boer but not different from Spanish or Kiko does. Fertility in daughters of Boer dams was lower (P<0.05) than for Kiko and Spanish dams. More ( P<0.001) daughters of Kiko or Spanish dams weaned a kid than from Boer. A higher proportion (P<0.05) of Kiko-sired and Spanish-sired daughters weaned a kid than Boer-sired. Higher proportion (P=0.09) of Boer tended to be treated for internal parasitism than Kiko. Higher proportion (P=0.06) of Kiko-sired and Spanish-sired daughters stayed in the herd than from Boer sires. Breed direct genetic effect on fertility was important (P<0.05) for Boer (-74.4%), Kiko (37.5%) and Spanish (39.2). Breed direct effect on weaning rate was important ( P<0.01) for Boer (-94.6) and Kiko (64.8). Heterosis level was important for fertility (P<0.05). Kid growth did not differ among genetic groups. Among straightbreds fertility was lower (P<0.02) for Boer does than for Kiko, Myotonic and Spanish does; the later three were similar. For weaning rate Myotonics were similar to Boer and Spanish but different (P<0.05) from Kiko. Kiko does had more kids at kidding and weaning (P<0.05) than Myotonics. At kidding, Kiko and Spanish does had heavier (P<0.005) litters than Myotonics. At weaning all breeds differed (P<0.0001; Kiko>Spanish>Myotonic) for litter weight. Fewer Myotonic and Kiko does were treated for internal parasites than Spanish and Boer. Kids from Myotonic does were lighter at birth ( P<0.005) and weaning (P<0.0001). In conclusion, Boer F1 had better performance than Boer does but did not differ from Spanish and Kiko. Myotonic had better stayability rates, but lower reproductive rates than other doe genotypes.
Subject Area
Animal sciences
Recommended Citation
Athumani Shabani Nguluma,
"Reproduction, health and kid growth of Boer F1 and Myotonic does in Southeastern United States"
(2011).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI1492282.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI1492282