Growth performance and carcass characteristics of central highland goats in Sekota District, Ethiopia

On farm monitoring of central highland goats were conducted in Sekota district of the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia to evaluate the growth performances under the traditional management practices. On farm feeding trial was also conducted to see the feeding performances and carcass characteristics of Central Highland goat types. Data used for the study was collected from randomly selected on-farm flocks for two years. Yearling bucks were assigned randomly in to two feed types: grazing only and grazing plus concentrate. The overall mean birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight obtained were 2.01±0.03, 9.02±0.18 and 20.61±0.74 kg, respectively. All the fixed effects considered were significantly affected birth weight and weaning weight. However, at yearling age, parity and type of birth were not significant. Kids from larger parity does, single born kids, male kids and kids born in the wet and cool season had higher (p<0.001) birth and weaning weights from their group. Male kids and kids born in the dry season had heavier weight than female and wet season born kids. The overall mean pre- and post- weaning growth rate obtained were 76.6±2.3 and 42.8±2.9 g/day, respectively. Kids born from later parity does, single and kids born at wet season had higher (P<0.001) pre-weaning growth rates than kids born from first parity, as twins and kids born during hot dry season, respectively. The overall mean final body weights of goats from the feeding trial were 28.7 and 30.8 kg for the control and supplemented groups, respectively. Even though, there were numerical differences on final body weight and carcass parameters, there was no significant difference between supplemented and non supplemented groups of yearling bucks. Central Highland goat in this study showed better growth performances than most of the goat breeds in Ethiopia. The significant effect of fixed effects needs to be considered in developing breeding strategy for the breed. Moreover, integrated efforts combining the feed, breeding and health aspects of production are very important to make use of the breed