Effects of Sex, Breed and Season on Birth Weight of Kids and Effect of Season on Kid Mortality in South Eastern Nigeria

Data on the birth weight of 104 kids managed intensively at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Teaching and Research farm Umudike during the period of 1996 to 2006 were studied. The kids comprised 55males and 49 females. The effect of season, sex and breed on birth weight of West African Dwarf (WAD) and the cross between WAD and Red Sokoto goats were also evaluated. The results showed that the effect of sex on birth weight of kids was significant (P < 0.05). The males weighed heavier than the females. The season of birth significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the weight of kids at birth. The kids born during the early dry season were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier (1.47kg) than those born in the rains but similar (P > 0.05) with those born in the late dry season. The breed of goat similarly influenced the weight of kids at birth. The crossbreds weighed heavier (1.48kg) than the WAD breeds (1.19kg). The season of birth equally affected mortality of kids. The late dry season kids recorded 51.7% mortality whereas the early rainy season kids recorded 20.00% mortality. It is advised that kidding should be synchronized to take place during the early dry season such that the dams would have taken advantage of lush pasture during the rainy season.