title: Performance of Boer-Spanish and Spanish goats in Texas I: Body weights, fertility, prolificacy, and number of kids weaned.
abstract: Production records from 291 Boer-Spanish and Spanish does, collected between 1994 and 2004 in the Edwards Plateau region of West Texas, were examined to compare Boer-Spanish and Spanish does for body weights, fertility, prolificacy, and number of kids weaned. Traits were analyzed using single-trait mixed models. Boer-Spanish does were heavier at birth than Spanish does (2.79 vs. 2.67 kg, P = 0.05) but similar weight at weaning (15.2 vs. 15.0 kg, P = 0.59). Boer-Spanish does had a heavier body weight at breeding than Spanish does (46.5 vs. 43.5 kg, P < 0.01). Boer-Spanish does had similar fertility over 8 annual breeding seasons (0.87 vs. 0.84, P = .22). Boer-Spanish does had an advantage over Spanish does for fertility to a 30-d breeding season (0.53 vs. 0.48; P = .09). Boer-Spanish does produced more kids than Spanish does (1.70 vs. 1.62, P = .09). Boer-Spanish does weaned a similar number of kids (1.30 vs. 1.31, P = .76). Age of doe significantly affected (P < 0.05) both number of kids born and number of kids weaned, with older does giving birth to, and weaning, more kids. Boer-Spanish does had greater birth weight, body weight at breeding, and number of kids born than Spanish does. Boer-Spanish does had a similar number of kids weaned as Spanish does.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rhone
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Herring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013781:Texas; D014886:Weaning