1Siirt University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Siirt, Turkey
2Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur Vocational School, Program of Meat and Meat Products, Burdur, Turkey
3Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Van, Turkey
4Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Nutrition, Kirikkale, Turkey
Siirt University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Siirt, Turkey
*Corresponding author's e-mail: bolacali@gmail.com
Online published on 30 December, 2017.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genotype and non-genetic factors on the growth traits and survival rates of Turkish indigenous Hair goats (n=63) and their first crosses with Boer bucks (n=91), reared under a semi-intensive management system in the Van province of Turkey. The live weights of the kids at birth and on days 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 were determined to be 3.64, 8.89, 13.99, 18.97, 23.62, 27.22 and 30.44 kg, respectively. The average daily gains in the pre-weaning, post-weaning and overall periods were 171.09, 136.43 and 148.34 g, respectively. The multiple-birth kids had lower survival rates than the single-birth kids (P<0.01). As a result, it may be recommended to Hair goat breeders in the region to use Boer bucks in cross-breeding in order to ensure a better growth performance from the kids; to apply a sustainable selection program; and to improve management conditions. In addition, the data obtained from this study may be used as a model for designing policies on Hair goat breeding in this region.
Boer x Hair goat F1 crossbred, Growth, Hair goat, Kids, Survival rate
