Improving Growth Rates in Romanian Carpatina Breed throughout Crossbreeding with Boer

Abstract

Aim of the current research was to evaluate the effects that crossbreeding Romanian indigenous Carpatina (CA) does with South African meat-specialized Boer (BO)  bucks have on the growth rates of the F₁ crossbred kids. Researches were carried out at the Research and Development Station for Sheep and Goats from Caransebes. A number of 65 purebred CA does were separated into two groups, first group (n=40) was mated with two purebred BO bucks, and the second group, the control group (CG) was mated with purebred CA bucks. Individual recording of the kids contained data regarding: genotype, birth date and weight, type of kidding (born as singleton or twin), sex, weight at 28 days and at weaning time, 56 days. Average daily gain (ADG) for F₁ crossbred was of 225,12 g/day, while kids from the CG, registered on average 159.76 g/day, differences being statistically significant (p<0.001). At weaning, crossbred kids achieved weights of 13.92 kg, while ones from the CG had an average weight of 10.34 kg. Using Boer bucks significantly improves growth rates of crossbred kids, and might prove valuable for the overall returns of the farms that will adopt this crossbreeding scheme.