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

Authors

Piush Khanal, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Maria L. Leite-Browning, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Richard Browning Jr., Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-5-2018

Abstract

Understanding fitness level among various breeds is essential for sustainable meat goat production. Research on the relative fitness of Boer F₁ does and straightbred base breed has been limited. Meat goat does of various genotypes (Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko reciprocal F₁ crosses, and Boer × Spanish reciprocal F₁ 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 F₁ 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 F₁ 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 F₁ does exhibited reproductive output similar to or lower than Kiko and Spanish straightbred does and higher than Boer straightbred does.

Recommended Citation

P. Khanal, M.L. Leite-Browning, R. Browning "Influence of crossbreeding on meat goat doe fitness when comparing Boer F1 with base breeds in the Southeastern United States" J Anim Sci. 2019 Jan; 97(1): 78–89. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjas%2Fsky421