Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T06:39:23.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting pre-weaning survivability in kids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. K. Singh
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (Bihar) 834007, India
H. R. Mishra
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (Bihar) 834007, India
C. S. P. Singh
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (Bihar) 834007, India
Get access

Abstract

The present study was carried out on 1243 kids (379 Black Bengal; 568 Jamunapari × Black Bengal and 296 Beetal × Black Bengal) born between 1981 and 1986. Data were analysed to study the influence of genetic group, sex, season of birth, type of birth, birth weight, dam's weight at kidding, filial generation and parity of dam (as covariate) on survivability of kids during the pre-weaning period (0 to 90 days of age). The overall survival rates during 0 to 15, 16 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90 and 0 to 90 days of age were 81·68 (s.e. 2·89), 95·55 (s.e. 2·00), 90·77 (s.e. 2·33), 93·31 (s.e. 2·59) and 69·94 (s.e. 3·65) % respectively. Variation in survival rates from 0 to 15 days of age was significant due to genetic group (P < 0·01), birth weight (P < 0·01), dam's weight at kidding and parity of dams as a covariate (P < 0·05). Season of birth (P < 0·05), weight of kids (P < 0·01) and dam's weight at kidding (P < 0·01) had significant effects on survival rate during 0 to 90 days of age. Sex and type of birth had no significant effect on survival rates. The interaction effects of genetic groups with season of birth and sex on pre-weaning survival rates were not significant in all ages except the effect between genetic group and sex during 31 to 60 days of age. An improvement in survival rates during the period of study was noticed with the increase in filial generation number from Fj to F3, although the difference was not significant except from 61 to 90 days of age (P < 0·05). Birth weight of kids had a positive linear relationship with survivability during the pre-weaning period. Summer-born kids had a significantly lower survival rate than those born in the winter and monsoon periods from 16 to 30, 61 to 90 and from 0 to 90 days of age. A negative linear relationship was observed between dam's weight at kidding and survival rates of kids from 0 to 90 days of age except the 25 to 30 kg dams deviate. Heritability estimates of survival rates during pre-weaning periods were not significantly different from zero, indicating that improvement by simple selection is probably limited.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ahmad, I. A. and Tantaway, A. O. 1960. Studies on Egyptian Baladi goats. II. Some factors affecting mortality rate. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28: 104108 (Animal Breeding Abstracts, 1960, 28: 425).Google Scholar
Amble, V. N., Khandekar, N. C. and Garg, J. N. 1964. Statistical studies on breeding data of Beetal goats. ICAR Research Series No. 38. New-Delhi, India.Google Scholar
Garcia, O., Castillo, J., Verdes, O. and Osal, N. 1976. [Kid mortality in four imported goat breeds.] Memoria, Asociacio Latinoamericana de Produccion Animal 11: 27. (Animal Breeding Abstracts, 1978, 46: 168).Google Scholar
Gupta, U. D. and Sengar, O. P. S. 1985. Kid mortality as affected by birth weight, type, season and kid age in Indian goats under intensive management. Asian Journal of Dairy Research 4: 7175.Google Scholar
Harvey, W. R. 1966. Least squares analysis of data with unequal sub class numbers. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Kanaujia, A. S., Vina Yak, A. K., Pander, B. L. and Balaine, D. S. 1985. Studies on survivability of Beetal and Black Bengal goats and their crosses. Indian Journal of Animal Production and Management: 1: 183188.Google Scholar
Khan, B. U., Vihan, V. S. and Sahni, K. L. 1978. A note on mortality in Jamunapari kids. Indian Veterinary Medical Journal 2: 225226.Google Scholar
Mazumdar, N. K., Mazumdar, A. and Goswami, K. K. 1980. Studies on factors affecting mortality and survival rates in Pashmina kids. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 50: 251255.Google Scholar
Misra, R. K. and Acharya, R. M. 1983. Genetic analysis of growth, survivability, efficiency of feed conversion and carcass yield and composition in Sirohi (Goat) and its crosses with Beetal. Terminal Report, AICRP on Goat, pp. 7780, Makhdoom, India.Google Scholar
Mittal, J. P. 1976. A study on mortality of kids. Indian Veterinary Journal 53: 681684.Google Scholar
Prasad, S. P. 1983. Effect of season, birth weight and type of birth on the survival of neonatal Barbari kids. Indian Veterinary Journal 60: 325326.Google Scholar
Seth, O. N., Saraswat, K. C., Chorey, P. A., Naithani, S. P. and Roy, A. 1968. The effect of alterations in management practices on kidding percentage and lactational performance of Barbari goats as well as the survival of new born kids. Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry 38: 93100.Google Scholar
Sharma, P. C., Thakuria, K., Sharma, H. D., Borah, H. P., Mohan, M. and Pant, K. P. 1981. Note on kid mortality in Assam local breed. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 51: 248249.Google Scholar
Singh, D. K. 1987. Inheritance of growth, body conformation, carcass characteristics and survivability in goats. Ph.D. Thesis, Birsa Agricultural University, Bihar, India.Google Scholar
Swiger, L. A., Harvey, W. R., Everson, D. O. and Gregory, K. E. 1964. The variation of intra-class correlation involving groups with one observation. Biometrics 20: 818826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar