HETEROSIS OF SOME ECONOMIC TRAITS IN LOCAL BREEDS OF GOATS, DAMASCUS AND THEIR CROSSES UNDER TWO DIFFERENT REGIONS IN EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agric., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Department of Animal Production, Fac. Agriculture, Alex. Univ., Alex., Egypt.

Abstract

Data of 532 records of 150 does reared at a Valley farm and 382 does at a
Desert farm during the period 1999-2003 were used to estimate the hypothetical and
real heterosis of some economic traits under two different regions. In each region, the
genotypes were local Baladi or Barki (B), Damascus (D) and DB.
The first generation gave greater and heavier litters either at birth or at
weaning and yielded more milk than the local breed in both farms. The DB does
produce milk with the highest protein and fat percentages. In Valley farm, the DB does
milked for longer period than those in the Desert farm and the former does had the
longest lactation length (24 weeks). The hypothetical heterosis value was positive in
both farms and ranged from + 2.82 to + 23.07 in the Valley farm and ranged from +
0.37 to + 12.72 in the Desert farm. The positive value of real heterosis was found in
case of protein and fat percentage in both farms while in Valley farm litter size at
weaning and lactation length showed positive real heterosis (+ 16.66 and + 4.34,
respectively). Results showed that there was a good prospect of crossbreeding
amongst goats to achieve higher milk production for long period which reflected on
growth of kids.