Traditional system of goat management II. Postweaning growth performance of the SRD (nondescript) goats

The pattern of growth of SRD kids from an average of 153 days up to approximately 461 days of age was studied. Weights at the ages of 153 (W5), 181 (W6), 209 (W7), 237 (W8), 265 (W9), 293 (W10), 321 (W11), 349 (W12), 461 (W16) days and calculated weight gains (G) between every weight interval G5 = (W5 - Weaning weight) through G12 = (W12 - W 11) were evaluated. Data were initially recorded on 54 kids and diminished thereafter at every interval due to kid mortality. The least squares analysis of variance showed a significant season of birth effect (P < 0.05) for all variables except W11, W16, G7 and G9. Animals born during the rainy season were heavier up to W10 and had higher gains up to G7. An inversion of these trends was observed starting at W12 and G8 respectively. Sex, type of birth and all interactions analyzed were non significant (P > 0.05) with the exception of type of birth for G12 (P < 0.025). The covariables of mother's weight at parturition and exact age of kids at the time of weighing were not always significant. However, the birth weight covariable was significant for W7, W8, W10, (P < 0.005), W9 (P < 0.01), W6, W11 and G12 (P < 0.025).