Comparison of Growth Traits in Saanen and Saanen X Hair Crossbred (F1) Kids

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the growth, survival rate and some body measurements of 22 Saanen and 52 Saanen X Hair crossbred (F1) offspring raised by a farmer in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Mean birth weight, mean weaning weight and mean daily weight gain to the weaning period for Saanen kids were 4.04, 14.13 and 0.101 kg respectively. Those values were 4.08, 18.29 and 0.094 kg respectively for Saanen X Hair crossbred kids. Genotype and type of birth (single or twin) had a significant effect on weaning weight and live weight at 7 months (P 0.05). As a conclusion, the growth performance of Saanen X Hair kids was superior to that of purebred Saanen kids.