EFFECT OF TRANSFERRIN POLYMOROPHISM ON REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF BLACK BENGAL GOAT

The present investigation was carried out to find out the relationship of biochemically polymorphic blood protein transferrin with important reproductive traits in adult Black Bengal goats. Least square analysis of data depicted non-significant relationship of transferrin types with most of the reproductive traits except age at puberty and age at first kidding where transferrin phenovariants had significant effect (p<0.01, p<0.05). The TfBC phenovariant was significantly related with lower age at puberty (5.987 ± 0.205 months), lower estrous interval (20.233 ± 0.410 days) and lower age at first kidding (11.966 ± 0.190 months) while TfCC phenovariant performed better for post-partum heat period (40.267 ± 2.220 days) and average kidding size (2.841 ± 0.203). Black and white coat colour performed better for these reproductive traits in Black Bengal does. The average estimates were 6.344 ± 0.258 months for age at puberty, 20.522 ± 0.551 days for estrous interval, 11.977 ± 0.229 months for age at first kidding, 40.375 ± 1.783 days for post-partum heat period and 2.338 ± 0.134 for average kidding size. Analysis of interaction effect of phenovariant and coat colour revealed that black and white mixed coat colour goat having TfBC phenovariant was superior for age at puberty (5.000 ± 0.010 months), estrous interval (18.500 ± 1.500 days) and age at first kidding (11.250 ± 0.250 months) while TfAC phenovariant with mixed black and white coat colour animal showed minimum days of post-partum heat period of 35.000 ± 2.886 days. White coat colour animal with TfCC phenovariant was better performer for maximum average kidding size (3.250 ± 2.000).