STUDY THE MANAGEMENT AND LIVE WEIGHT AND LIVE WEIGHT GAIN OF DIFFERENT GOAT BREEDS UNDER SEMI-INTENSIVE CONDITIONS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to know the management and live weight and live weight gain of goats under semi-intensive conditions at Panchlaish thana of Chittagong district during the period of July, 2012 to January, 2013. The current management of the studied farm was investigated and it was found that the farms maintain standard housing, feeding, breeding, vaccination, deworming. Data were collected from 36 Black Bengal and 16 Jamunapari goats and the kids birth weight and their subsequent live weight at weekly intervals for up to age and weight of weaning at sexual maturity was recorded. The weight gains from birth to sexual maturity of two different breeds under 2 different farms were studied. Average birth weight of male and female Black Bengal goats kids were 1.22 ± .15 and 1.01 ± .14 kg, and 1.42 ± .10 and 1.12 ± .27 kg, respectively for farm-1 and 2. And for Jamunapari goats kid birth weight was 1.51 ±.07 and 1.42 ± .09 kg, for the farm - 2. The average weaning age was 4 months and the average weaning weight of male and female Black Bengal goats were 5.19 ± .358 and 5.05 ± .28 kg and 5.63 ± . 61 and 5.54 ± .41 kg, respectively in Farm -1 and 2. But the average weaning weight of male and female Jamunapari was 6.59 ± .69 and 6.79 ± .31 kg, respectively in farm -2, which was higher than Black Bengal. The average age at sexual maturity of Black Bengal Goat was 8 months. The average weight at sexual maturity of male and female Black Bengal goats were 9.82 ± .75 and 9.52 ± .62 kg, respectively in Farm -1 and 9.65 ± .75 and 9.138 ± .70 kg respectively in Farm -2 .The average age at sexual maturity was 9 months for Jamunapari goat. The average weight at sexual maturity of male and female Jamunapari goats were 13.2 ± .75 and 14.1 ± .82 kg, respectively. The average daily body weight gain from birth to weaning for male and female Black Bengal goat was 33.70 and 35.11 g /day and was 35.67 and 45.94g/ day, respectively in Farm- 1 and 2 and for Jamunapari goat was 42.97 and 45.47 g/day, respectively. The average daily weight gain from birth to sexual maturity of male and female Black Bengal goats were 36.11 and 35.76 g /day , respectively in farm -1 ; 34.60 and 33.65 g /day, respectively in farm -2. And for Jamunapari goats that was 42.88 and 46.51 g /day, respectively. The predicted live weight gains for both breeds were lowered after fitting the linear regression. The co-efficient of determination (R²) of male and female Black Bengal and Jamunapari goats kids similar.

Key Words: Goats, live weight, age and weight at sexual maturity, semi-intensive. V