Effect of Non-Genetic Factors on The Reproductive Performance and Milk Yield Characteristics of Hair Goats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the potential effect of non-genetic factors on certain productioncharacteristics of Hair goats raised under semi-intensive management and dry- sub humid conditions, and toinvestigate phenotypic correlations between these traits. A generalized linear model was used to investigate theeffect of non-genetic factors on gestation length (GL), number of services per conception (NSPC), lactationlength (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY) and daily milk yield (DMY), while the Chi-square method was used toevaluate other fertility parameters. The pregnancy rate, birth rate and single-birth rate in the Traditional Groupwere higher, while the infertility rate and NSPC were lower, than those in the Artificial Group (P<0.001).Furthermore, it was determined that LL, LMY and DMY increased (P<0.001), the NSPC decreased (P<0.001),and birth and twinning rates fluctuated (P<0.01) as age increased. The best fertility and milk yield characteristicswere in the ?5 year-old-goats and live weights of 45.0-49.9 kg. In addition, it was determined that kid yield wasincreased in the goats synchronized with intravaginal sponges impregnated with fluorogestone acetate and inthose bred via the traditional method.