Global Research Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences Vol.4(1) pp.1 –5  May 2013.

Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/grjabs

Copyright ©2013 Global Research Journals

 

Full Length Research.

 

Non-Additive Genetic Effect of Upgrading the West African Dwarf Goat with French Alpine Goat on Birth Weight of the crossbreds

Salako, A.E.

 

Animal breeding & genetics laboratory, Department of Animal science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria.

email:aesalak@yahoo.com

Abstract

The study was undertaken to examine the effect of non-additive genetic variance revealed by heterosis on the birth weight of crossbred kids of the West African Dwarf and French Alpine goats as compared to the West African Dwarf (WAD) kids. The aim was to make a case and justify the importation of the French Alpine goat for upgrading the WAD goat in Nigeria. Birth weight records of 65 kids comprising 32 West African Dwarf (WAD) and 33 WAD x French Alpine crosses reared on the teaching and research farm of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria were analyzed.   Mean birth weights of male and female WAD were 1.29 ± 0.29 kg and 1.51 ± 0.40kg respectively. Corresponding values for the crosses were 1.40 ± 0.33kg and 1.31 ± 0.30 kg.  The female WAD kids appeared heavier than their male counterparts but for the crosses, the males were heavier than the females. The male crosses appeared heavier than their WAD counterparts, while the female WAD also appeared heavier than their crossbred counterparts. However, pooled values for the crosses were lower than WAD (1.38 ± 0.35 versus 1.42 ± 0.38 kg). Birth weight within groups was homogenous with coefficient of variation of 0.27and 0.25 for WAD and crosses respectively. Birth weight of both groups were not significantly different (P<0.05). Male and females were also not significantly (P>0.05) different within groups.  Heterosis was negative probably due to the segregation pattern which contributed to dominance and epistatic variance in the hybrid. The negative heterosis is probably due to the segregation pattern which contributed to dominance and epistatic variance in the hybrid. Adaptive and fitness defects due to the environment suffered by the French Alpine and small sample size could have contributed to the effects observed. Other possibilities are discussed.

Keywords: Crossbreeding, West African Dwarf, French Alpine, birth weight, heterosis.