Phenotype based selection of milking Marwari goat under field conditions in Rajasthan

Abstract

Marwari goat is well define goat breed of Rajasthan which is highly adaptable, faster growing, good meat and milk producing goat in the arid and semi-arid region of state. The phenotypic database of milking Marwari doe (n=29226) regarding body weight and body measurements at birth, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months and adult age over a period from year 1990 to 2015, was collected from the ICAR sponsored all India coordinated research project on Marwari goat improvement, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Least square analysis using general linear model was carried out to estimate the mean value of different traits under field conditions with due consideration for the effect of season, year and cluster. Body weights of milking doe were predicted through regression equations by linear regression method with body weight as dependent variable and different body measurements as independent variables. Highest coefficient of determination was observed at 9 month age. The study concluded that heart girth and body length could be effectively utilized to predict the body weight of Marwari goat under field conditions and thus more economical benefits could be delivered to farmers through selection of good milking doe at an early stage.