GENETIC STUDIES ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS GOATS IN NORTHERN ODISHA

Data on the reproductive parameters of 622 does, sired by 28 bucks, born during the period of 3 years from 2012 to 2015 in 28 villages of three districts viz. Deogarh, Keonjhar and Balasore of Odisha, India were included in the present study. It was observed in the present study that these goats in north Odisha attain sexual maturity at 249.15±1.01 days weighing 9.47±0.53 kg and drop the first kid at an average age of 410.72±1.17 days weighing 13.52±0.62 kg. Season of birth had no significant effect on any of the reproduction traits. The heritability estimates of age at sexual maturity, weight at sexual maturity, age at first kidding, weight at sexual maturity and kidding interval were found to be 0.18±0.08, 0.34±0.11, 0.26±0.19, 0.31±0.07, 0.36±0.12, respectively. Except kidding interval all other reproductive traits of economic importance showed moderate to high and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations ranging from 0.17±0.16 to 0.84±0.12.