2013, Cilt 29, Sayı 2, Sayfa(lar) 070-075
Determination of growth performance of the Saanen kids reared in north-west Mediterranean condition
Aykut Asım Akbaş, Mehmet Çolak, Özkan Elmaz, Mustafa Saatcı
Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Burdur, Türkiye
Keywords: Saanen, kid, live weight, body measurements
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the growth and some body measurements of Saanen kids reared on the northwest Mediterranean until 90th days.

Materials and Methods: The research has been carried out on 136 Saanen kids which were born in 2010 and 2011. Birth weights of the kids were recorded using 50 g-sensitive precision scales within 12 hours following the birth. Kids live weights were taken from birth up to 90th days by 15 days intervals. Height at withers, rump height, body length and heart girth of kids were detected in the same period.

Results: The average live weights of Saanen male and female kids on birth, 30th, 60th and 90th days were determined to be 3.42 kg and 3.16 kg, 7.92 kg and 7.86 kg, 11.39 kg and 10.82 kg, 15.35 kg and 14.60 kg, respectively. The average of zoometrical body measurements such as height at withers, rump height, body length and heart girth were detected as 52.46 cm and 51.58 cm, 52.95 cm and 52.07 cm, 52.15 cm and 51.72 cm, 51.78 cm and 51.05 cm, respectively. While birth year had an important effect on all the growth periods, sex and the birth type affected 90th day value. Also, positive and high correlations were detected between live weight and body measurements until the age that were followed up to growth.

Conclusion: Consistent results can be obtained by determination of correlations between live weights and body parts measured easily. Also these correlations can be used as a criteria for early selection studies.

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