Growth Performance of Sirohi Goats under Farm and Field Conditions in Southern Rajasthan

Abstract

The body weight in a goat is an important parameter related to selection, feeding and health care. Thus present study was undertaken to assess the growth performance of Sirohi goats based on their morphometric measurements viz., heart girth, height at withers and body length at birth, three, six, nine and twelve months of age. Analysis of growth data of Sirohi goats reared under farm and field conditions for a period of 5 years revealed that the least square means of body weights at birth, three, six, nine and twelve months of age  were 2.50 ± 0.39, 11.21 ± 0.36, 15.29 ± 0.41, 18.00 ± 0.57 and 21.86 ± 0.77 kg respectively. The present results revealed that effect of sex, type of kidding, cluster and dam’s weight at kidding significantly (p<0.01) affected body weight and body measurements viz, heart girth, height at withers and body length at birth, three, six, nine and twelve months of age. Influence of season was highly significant (p<0.01) on body weight and body measurements at 6 months of age. Significant (p<0.01) effect  of field cluster on body weight and body measurements was observed at birth, 3, 6,9 and 12 months of age.