Analysis of environmental and genetic factors in growth characteristics of Balkan goat

Abstract

Research was conducted on animals of Balkan goat breed. The impact of environmental factors on the weight of kids was analyzed, and also the value of genetic parameters of growth traits of kids to weaning had been examined. The body weight of kids varied depending on the year from 2.27?0.09 kg to 2.43?0.08 kg at birth and 10.81?0.58 kg to 11.13?0.51 kg at weaning. Variations depending on the season, ranged from 2.24?0.09 kg to 2.51?0.05 kg. Sex also had an impact because the male kids had higher weight of 0.12 kg at birth and 0.20 kg at weaning. All differences caused by environmental factors were statistically significant (P<0.01). Single born kids in comparison with twin born kids had higher birth weight by 0.22 kg at birth and 0.37 kg in weaning. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). It is a known fact that the increase in litter size influences decrease in body weight of kids. We also found that the weight at birth is associated with body weight at weaning. Heritability for growth traits observed moving in the range of low values from 0.102 ? 0.039 to 0.153 ? 0.041. Repeatability of the observed traits varied from low to medium values in the interval from 0.118 ? 0.030 to 0.528 ? 0025.