Growth, Mortality and Production Performance of Mehsana Goat

Abstract

Data on 265 Mehsana kids born during 2006 to 2008 recorded for growth and production performance on 221 does maintained at sheep and goat research station of SD agricultural university was analyzed. The overall means ± SE for body weight at birth, weaning and six months of age were 2.68 ± 0.03, 9.33 ± 0.10 and 12.93 ± 0.19 kg., respectively, whereas, daily gain-I (birth to weaning) and daily gain -II (weaning to 6 months) were 73.22 ± 1.48 and 38.16 ± 1.64 gms., respectively. The type of birth revealed better growth in kids born as single up to weaning, however weight gain was more in twins during post weaning period. The overall mortality (birth to six months) was 23.02 %, whereas, pre-weaning (birth to three months) mortality was 12.83 %. Pre-weaning mortality was minimum in 2008 (6.32%), followed by 2007 (11.65%) and maximum in 2006 (27.88%). The overall kidding performance was 85.54 percent and twining percentage was 25.84. The overall means ± SE for total lactation milk yield, lactation length, service period, dry period, kidding interval, weight at first kidding, age at first kidding and gestation period were 76.35 ± 1.67 kg, 219.05 ± 4.86 days, 204.19 ± 3.58 days, 110.73 ± 8.29 days, 360.04 ± 5.63 days, 28.42 ± 0.39 kg, 701.16 ± 16.92 days and 147.25 ± 0.42 days, respectively.