Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom-281 122, Uttar Pradesh
Data on 3693 Muzaffarnagari lambs born during 1992–2014 at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom (Uttar Pradesh) were analyzed to assess the influence of period, season, parity, type of birth, sex and dam's weight at lambing on post-weaning growth and Kleiber ratio (KR). The overall least squares means of average daily gain during 3–6 months (ADG1), 6–12 months age (ADG2), KR from 3–6 months (KR1) and KR from 6–12 months (KR2) were 85.80±0.82 and, 43.70±0.56 g, 8.10±0.06 and 3.30±0.04 g/kg body mass, respectively. The effects of period, season, type of birth, sex and dam's weight at lambing were significant (P<0.01) on all ADGs and KRs except non-significant influence of season on ADG2 and KR2. Parity of dam had nonsignificant influence on all traits. The results indicated declines in growth rate and Kleiber ratio with the advancement of age and the environmental factors, should be given weightage in the management of flocks. Therefore, for achieving higher body weight gains in Muzaffarnagari sheep selection should be made at 6 months age.
Average daily gain, Environmental factors, Kleiber ratio, Muzaffarnagari sheep
