A comparative study on the growth performance of crossbred goats (Mashona-Boer and Mashona-Kalahari red) at Bindura University Farm
- Author
- Madziyo Melline
- Title
- A comparative study on the growth performance of crossbred goats (Mashona-Boer and Mashona-Kalahari red) at Bindura University Farm
- Abstract
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ABSTRACT
The objectives of the study were to compare the birth weights and growth performance of Mashona x Boer and Mashona x Kalahari Red (KR) F1 crosses from birth up to weaning. The birth weight and fortnightly weights of 62 F1 crosses, broken down as 31 Mashona x Boer and 31 Mashona x KR were monitored over the period January to June 2022. The goats were exposed to the same management, housing, feeding, and general husbandry practices at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) Goat Breeding Centre at Shamva. The mean birth weight of Mashona x Boer F1 crosses was (3.081 ± 0.6 Kgs) which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of Mashona x Kalahari Red F1 crosses (2.68 ± 0.9 Kgs). The weaning weights followed a similar trend to birth weights. It was concluded that both Red Kalahari and Boer goats cross breeding can improve the growth performance of Mashona breed. This study confirms the superiority of exotic goat breeds that were specifically selected for meat production over our indigenous unimproved Mashona goats for birth weight and growth performance and it also confirms the superiority of indigenous unimproved Mashona breeds on hardiness and adaptive traits. These results will likely lead to massive crossbreeding by smallholder farmers aiming to upgrade the quality of their goats. If this is done indiscriminately, this will lead to loss of valuable indigenous goat genetics. - Date
- JUNE 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
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-Goat Breeding
-general husbandry practices
-Mashona goats - Supervisor
- Dr. P. Chatikobo
- Item sets
- Department of Animal Sciences
- Media
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Madziyo Melline