Abstract:
Records of 2644 kids born between 1983 and 1990 from a crossbreeding programme
involving Boer, Jamnapari and Kottukachchiya breeds were analyzed to study the effects of
breed types, sex and month of birth on the birth weight of goats. Average birth weights of
Boer, Jamnapari, Kottukachchiya and 50% Boer crossbreds were 3.02, 2.76, 2.23 and 2.69
kg, respectively. Inter se mating of 50% Boer crossbreds did not cause any reduction in the
birth weights. Backcrossing the 50% Boer crossbreds to the Boer increased birth weights.
Male kids were significantly heavier at birth than the females. The effect of month of birth on
birth weights was not significant.
