Comparative evaluation of the reproductive performance of West African dwarf goats and sheep in a humid environment

Abstract

A study was conducted to compare and evaluate the reproductive performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats and sheep in terms of age at first kidding and lambing, kidding and lambing interval, gestation period, birth weight and weaning weight. Records of the total number of WAD goats and sheep were collected from the productive record of the herd kept over ten – year period (1997 – 2006) at the University Livestock farm. The data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results obtained showed that 271 WAD goats and 317 WAD sheep were kept over a period of ten years. Age at first kidding and lambing, kidding and lambing interval, gestation period and birth weight of kids/lambs were significantly different (P<0.05) with values of 17.72 months, 249.55 days, 5.11 months, 1.11kg and 19.37months, 303.80 days, 6.19 months, 1.52kg for WAD goats and sheep respectively while weaning weight was similar (P>0.05) in both WAD goats (8.63kg) and sheep (8.27kg). Age at first kidding and lambing was significant (P<0.05) in WAD sheep (19.37 months) and in WAD goats (17.72 months). Kidding/lambing interval was significant (P<0.05) in WAD sheep (303.80 days) and  in WAD goats (249.55 days). Gestation period was significant (P<0.05) in WAD goats (5.11 months) than in WAD sheep (6.19 months). Birth weight of kids/lambs was higher in WAD sheep (1.52kg) than in WAD goats (1.11kg). Apart from the birth weight of kids, WAD goats performed better than WAD sheep in terms of kidding and lambing interval, age at first kidding and lambing and gestation period.