ABSTRACT
This research work was conducted to
examine the effect of crossbreeding in improving economically important traits
necessary for commercial production of hybrid meat goat. Heterosis of body weight
and some conformation and reproductive traits were evaluated in Red Sokoto goat
and West African Dwarf goat and their crosses namely: main cross (RS X WAD)and
reciprocal cross (WAD X RS). Data was collected from 38 kids comprising 22
males and 16 females for a period of 18 weeks. Parameters measured include body
weight changes, and linear body measurements. Estimates of direct and parentage
heterosis of the main and reciprocal crossbred progenies were recorded. Result showed
that the RS X RS males weighed heaviest (1840±230.98g) at birth than the RS X
WAD (137 l.43±56.54g) WAD X RS (1430±144.56g) and WAD X WAD (1150±35.36g). The
RS X WAD female kids were superior in body weight (BW) to the two parental
lines and maintained this superiority till the 18t11 week of life. The linear
body parameters were generally highest in the RS X RS kids which were
significantly longer in body length (BL). They also had the highest height-at-withers
(rHW) and hearth girth (HG).The RS X RS males had the longest scrotal length
(SL) and biggest scrotal circumference (SO). The RS X WAD kids ranked next in
nearly all of these parameters studied. Estimates of direct and percentage
heterosis were positive for RS X WAD for most of the body measurement except in
body length which had a negative value. The RS X WAD goat had higher heterosis
value of 5.07% and 1.62% for body weight (BW) and heart girth (HG)
respectively. Negative heterosis value of -0.05% and -3.09% for body weight and
heart girth were obtained in the WAD X RS goat. Other body measurement like the
scrotal circumference (SO) and scrotal length (SL) also showed positive
heterosis effect in the RS X WAD goat with values of 8.20% and 2.5%
respectively and lower values of -6.6% and -5.04% in the WAD X RS goat. These
positive heterosis effects for most measured parameters in RS X WAD seem to
show that the RS X WAD is a more promising and suitable hybrid for meat goat production
in the rainforest zone of South Eastern Nigeria.
OKOJI, U (2021). Heterosis Of Body Weight And Some Major Body Conformation Traits In Crossbred Red Sokoto And West African Dwarf Goats. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Sep 08, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/heterosis-of-body-weight-and-some-major-body-conformation-traits-in-crossbred-red-sokoto-and-west-african-dwarf-goats-7-2
U., OKOJI. "Heterosis Of Body Weight And Some Major Body Conformation Traits In Crossbred Red Sokoto And West African Dwarf Goats" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 14 Jul. 2021, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/heterosis-of-body-weight-and-some-major-body-conformation-traits-in-crossbred-red-sokoto-and-west-african-dwarf-goats-7-2. Accessed 08 Sep. 2024.
U., OKOJI. "Heterosis Of Body Weight And Some Major Body Conformation Traits In Crossbred Red Sokoto And West African Dwarf Goats". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 14 Jul. 2021. Web. 08 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/heterosis-of-body-weight-and-some-major-body-conformation-traits-in-crossbred-red-sokoto-and-west-african-dwarf-goats-7-2 >.
U., OKOJI. "Heterosis Of Body Weight And Some Major Body Conformation Traits In Crossbred Red Sokoto And West African Dwarf Goats" Mouau.afribary.org (2021). Accessed 08 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/heterosis-of-body-weight-and-some-major-body-conformation-traits-in-crossbred-red-sokoto-and-west-african-dwarf-goats-7-2