Open AccessHeritability and variance components estimates for growth traits in Saudi Ardi goat and Damascus goat and their crosses
Author(s) -
K. M. Mohammed,
M. Kamal El-den,
A. Y. Dahmoush
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of reproduction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.167
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2305-0519
pISSN - 2305-0500
DOI - 10.4103/2305-0500.220984
Subject(s) - heritability , crossbreed , breed , weaning , biology , zoology , body weight , restricted maximum likelihood , variance components , season of birth , genetic correlation , veterinary medicine , genetic variation , maximum likelihood , genetics , medicine , mathematics , statistics , endocrinology , gene
Objective: To study the genetic and non-genetic factors and their interactions affecting growth\udrate and body weights at birth, weaning and at 6 months of age in Saudi Ardi, Damascus\udgoats and their crosses. Methods: Crossbreeding program between Saudi Ardi(A) goats\udwith Damascus(D) was carried out to improve the meat productivity of Ardi goats through\udcrossbreeding. The pedigree records of the body weights were obtained from 754 kids (397\udmales and 357 females) produced from 46 Sires and 279 Dams. Birth weight, weaning weigh\udand 6 months weight as well as average daily gain during different growth stages from birth\udto weaning (D1), weaning to 6 months (D2) and from birth to 6 months of age (D3) were\udrecorded during winter/autumn and summer/spring. Data were classified according to breed,\udgeneration, sex, season, year, and type of birth. Data were analyzed using GLM procedure for\udthe least-squares means of the fixed factors. Heritability and genetic parameters were estimated\udwith derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood procedures using the MTDFREML\udprogram. Results: The percentages of variations were moderate for body weights and high for\uddaily gains. Genetic groups had a highly significant (P<0.01) effect on the body weights traits.\udDamascus goats had higher (P<0.01) birth and weaning weights, but ½D½A group kids had a\udhigher (P<0.01) body weight at 6 months. The genetic groups had a significant effects on the\uddaily weight gains for D1 (P<0.01) and D3 (P<0.05) periods, whereas, it had no effects on D2\udperiod. The fixed effects of sex, season, year and type of birth were significant differences for\udbody weights. Male kids were heavier (P<0.01) than females for different growth stages. Body\udweights and daily gains during winter/autumn were significantly higher (P<0.01) than summer/\udspring. Kids born and raised as singles were significantly (P<0.01) heavier than those were\udborn as twins or triplets. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between birth and weaning\udweights were positive for both Damascus and Ardi goats. Conclusions: Genetic program for\udArdi goats through upgrading with Damascus is possible to improve meat production