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Genotype by Environment Interactions for Postweaning Growth in the Damascus Breed of Goat¹

Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus

Abstract

Data on 111 twin sets of the Damascus breed of goat were utilized to estimate set by diet interactions which were used to evaluate the importance of genotype by environment interactions for postweaning growth. The environments represented three pelleted diets with different protein content, i.e., 16.6, 14.7 and 10.9%. There were 63 like-sexed (36 male-male and 27 female-female) and 48 unlike-sexed (male-female) twin sets. Sets were assigned to the treatment diets so that some had both members on the same diet (non-split sets) while others were split on different diets in a balanced incomplete block design. The kids were weaned from their dams at 76 ± 3.3 days of age and were placed on the experimental diets 1 week later. The duration of the trial was 16 weeks and the kids were fed throughout ad libitum. Growth rate of kids increased with increasing protein in the diet and male kids grew faster and gained 4.9 kg more live weight than female kids. With the exception of the 16-week weight gain in the unlike-sexed twins the set by diet interactions were not significant. It was concluded that genotype x environment interactions for postweaning growth in goats is not of importance and should not constitute a handicap to selection.

¹ This work was conducted in conjunction with the livestock Production Improvement Project, a joint undertaking between UNDP/FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nicosia, Cyprus.