Vol. 8, Issue 7 (2019)

Author(s):
Sunitha Thomas, Anil KS, Suraj PT and R Thirupathy Venkatachalapathy

Abstract:
A study was undertaken to assess the effect of non-genetic factors on Malabari goats in their home tract. Data on 316 Malabari goats over a period of 4 years (2014- 2017) were collected from the flocks of 40 farmers in Thalasserry and Thaliparamba, of Kannur district, functioning as field units of ICAR-All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Improvement of goats (Malabari). The significance of non-genetic factors on the body weight of goats was analysed using least-squares mixed models. Least-squares means for body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 month of age were 2.41 ± 0.01, 8.0 ± 0.04, 14.83 ± 0.06, 19.13 ± 0.10 and 23.04 ± 0.06 kg, respectively. Sex, year of birth, season, type of birth and age of dam had significant effect on body weight of Malabari goats.