Post weaning relative body weight gains in Cheghu goats

A study was conducted on growth data of 1203 Cheghu goats reared over a period of 10 years. The least squares means of post weaning relative gain at 3–6 months (RG1), 6–12 months (RG2) and 12–18 months of age (RG3) were 0.463, 0.488 and 0.269 kg/kg respectively. Sire effect was significant only on the relative gain at 6–12 months of age. Significant effect of year and season of birth was on relative gain at 6–12 and 12–18 months period. The phenotypic correlations of relative gains at a particular period with the subsequent period studied were mostly negative. The heritability estimates of RGl and RG2 were not significantly different from zero while the estimates for RG2 was of lower order.