Research On Animal Production

Extended Abstract

Background: The high population of goats in Bushehr province indicates the favorable adaptation of this species to the environmental conditions of the region. Native goats have low production and are often not raised in an industrial and economic manner. Since the main goal of livestock breeding is to increase the profit of the livestock farmer, it is necessary to increase livestock production. One way to increase the production of native livestock is to use superior foreign male animals through crossbreeding to introduce desirable genes into the herd. Considering the importance of goat breeding and its role in meeting the protein needs of the community, the project of crossbreeding native goats with Saanen and Alpine goats, which have the characteristics of multiple births and desirable growth, is being implemented and developed as a way to achieve these goals. Therefore, determining the appropriate level of participation of foreign genes in crossbreeding and examining the production and reproductive performance of hybrid goats in tropical regions are key questions in breeding programs. Therefore, one of the fundamental questions is what are the production characteristics of crossbred goats, especially in tropical regions.
Methods: In this study, 9645 records related to different births and body weight records of Adani goats and Adani × Saanen crossbreeds collected at the Tangestan Adani Goat Breeding Station between 2009 and 2019 were used. Animals grazed on pasture for six months of the year and were hand-fed during the remaining period. Mating programs were controlled. Identification data for each animal included: animal ID, sire ID, dam ID, date of birth, date of kidding, weighing dates, sex of kids, birth type, birth weight, weights at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, recording dates, and breed proportion. Body weight traits were evaluated across four genetic groups: Adani, 25% Saanen cross, 50% Saanen cross, and 75% Saanen cross. Data editing and preparation were done using FoxPro and Excel (2010), And the analysis of records was done in R software (version 4.1.1). Statistical analysis of growth traits was done using general linear model (GLM) and comparisons of genetic groups were done using Duncan's test.
Results As the proportion of Saanen genes increased in crossbred goats, the average of all body weight traits improved, reaching the highest values in the 75% Saanen group. Comparisons of average body weight traits revealed statistically significant differences among genetic groups (P < 0.05). The highest mean body weights were observed in the 75% Saanen cross, which were significantly different from other groups, highlighting the strong paternal breed effect on kid weight traits. Considering that weaning age is at three months and kids are marketed between three and six months, results showed that the body weights at three and six months in 75% Saanen crossbreds were over 60% heavier than those of Adani kids. This outcome is highly desirable for farmers, although it requires better management practices. Given the economic inflation in society, higher market weights are very important for goat producers.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that crossbred goats resulting from Adani × Saanen matings outperformed pure Adani goats in all studied traits. For many traits, the 75% Saanen genetic group showed superiority compared to other groups, making it the recommended option for Bushehr Province conditions. Specifically, three- and six-month weights in 75% Saanen crossbred kids were more than 60% higher than those of Adani goats, which is economically advantageous for farmers despite requiring improved management. However, it should be noted that under certain conditions, native goats may perform better than crossbreds. Therefore, crossbreeding does not guarantee improved traits or profitability for every breed or environment.