The performance, potentials and limitations of the West African Dwarf goat for meat production in the forest belt of Ghana
Production records (1970-1989) for a flock of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats kept on the farm of the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in the forest belt of Ghana were analysed. The mean age at first kidding and the mean kidding interval were 543.18 and 284.26 days, respectively. The month of kidding did not (P < 0.05) affect kidding interval. The prolificacy of the does was 185.5%. Type of birth affected (P<0.01) birthweight (1.207, 1.145, 1.008 and 0.847 kg for singles, twins, triples and quadruplets, respectively) and weaning weight(5.49, 5.30, 4.86 and 4.34 kg for singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets, respectively). Pre-weaning growth rate (39.6,33.1,31.6 and 29.0 g/day for singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets, respectively) was not (P<0.05) affected by type of birth. Pre-weaning mortality rate was affected (P<0.01) by type of birth (34.92, 34.78, 36.25 and 55.56% for singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets, respectively).The breed has good qualities such as adaptation to the environment, trypanotolerance, high prolificacy and good kidding interval but growth rate is low.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Conference Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1992
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| Subjects: | goats, breeds, animal production, animal performance, kids, productivity, growth rate, birth weight, weaning weight, |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70839 |
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