ESTIMATES OF REPEATABILITY OF LITTER SIZES AT BIRTH AND WEANING IN TRADITIONALLY-MANAGED RED SOKOTO GOATS

Abstract

Records of litter size at birth and weaning of 497 Red Sokoto goats belonging to 87 farm families in 5 communities located in Niger and Kebbi states were obtained using Progeny History Technique of the Participatory Rural Appraisal. The data collected were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Estimates of repeatability of litter size at birth and litter size at weaning were obtained from the variance components. Litter size at birth and litter size at weaning averaged 1.28±1.14 kids and 1.14±1.04 kids, respectively. The highest litter sizes at birth and weaning were recorded in the second parity (1.75±0.65 kids and 1.69±0.67 kids, respectively), after which they declined. Estimates of repeatability were very low for the two traits (0.25 and -0.12 for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning, respectively). The present study suggests that both litter size at birth and weaning are largely influenced by non-genetic factors. There is therefore the need for multiple records of each female goat for improved litter sizes at birth and at weaning.