Effect of age at castration and type of birth on weight gain of savanna brown goat.

Abstract

A 10 week study was conducted on twenty four (24) Savanna brown goats kids) to investigate the effect of castration and type of birth on weight gain of savanna Brown goals The goats were allocated to 4 treatments (T1 - T4). Each treatment had 4 replicates comprising of I kid per replicate. The treatments were castration at 4 weeks (T1). at 6 weeks (T2), at 8weeks (T3) and non-castrate (T4). The animals were managed semi-intensely and were supplemented with concentrate, and water was provided ad-libitun. Castration and type of birth (single birth had significant effect (p<0.05) on the body weight than those on the control while the twin birth had no significant difference (P>0.05). Therefore, it was concluded that if castration is desired then late castration is recommended and goats of single birth could be castrated; as goals of 6 (6.45 Kg) and 8 weeks (6 61 Kg) gave better performance.