Genetic studies on growth traits of Mehsana goat of Gujarat, India

Data from Mehsana kids born during the period of 2006 to 2012, maintained at Sheep and Goat Research Station (SGRS), Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat, India, were used to evaluate the effect of various non-genetic factors on the different growth traits. The least squares means of body weights at birth, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age were 2.75 ± 0.03, 10.33 ± 0.16, 13.83 ±0.23, 16.98 ± 0.35 and20.44 ±0.31 kg, respectively. Thepre-weaning and post-weaning average daily weight gains were 84.75±1.82, and 35.58±0.92 g, respectively. Although year of birth was having highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on the different growth traits of kids but no concrete pattern could be observed. Season of birth (P < 0.05) and sex of kids (P < 0.01) had significant effect on all the growth traits studied. Both pre and post weaning average daily gains were significantly affected (P < 0.01) by all the non-genetic factors studied except the effect of sex on pre-weaning average daily gain. The heritability estimates of different growth traits under study were found to be moderate to high in magnitude. The phenotypic correlations among the growth traits ranged from low to high.