A Study of Body Weight and Milk Traits in Two Local Goat Breeds-Sulaimani Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of some factors on birth weight (BW), 30, 60, weaning weight (WW),120, 150 days, total daily gain (TDG), pre- and post-weaning, daily milk yield (DMY), total milk yield (TMY), and milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, SNF, and total solids). A 51 does in two flocks used. The fixed effects were doe age, kid sex, and birth type, generally had no significant effects on most body weight and milk traits in both breeds. The month of kidding showed significant effects (P ≤ 0.05) on BW, weight at (30,60, WW, and 150 days), TDG, post-weaning, DMY, and some milk components in Black doe. In contrast, the lactation stage showed significant effects (P ≤ 0.05) on DMY, TMY, and certain milk composition traits. Overall, milk composition remained relatively stable compared to milk yield. Maraz goats were more sensitive to these factors than Black goats. These results indicate that management practices exert a greater immediate influence, whereas genetic selection appears to have a comparatively limited effect under the prevailing conditions