Assessment of reproductive parameters in female dwarf goat (Capra hircus) on the basis of progesterone profiles

A study was undertaken to look into the reproductive performance of female Dwarf goats reared under traditional conditions at NIAB Farm, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The serum progesterone profile was used to monitor various reproductive parameters (length of postpartum period, resumption of cyclicity, gestation period, prepartum period, parturition) in two lots of goats. Litter size, birth weight of kids and kidding interval were also observed. Most of the animals conceived within 15-59 days of postpartum period. All the does conceived at first or second estrus. During gestation period, higher levels of progesterone were maintained with wide variations falling in the range of 3-13 ng ml(-1). However, a few days before parturition a decline was noticed at 6 +/- 0.9 days and it reached to the basal level of 0.1 ng ml-1 after the completion of parturition process. The length of gestation period was found to be 145.8 +/- 5 days in the first lot and 145.2 +/- f 4 days in the second lot. A very short kidding interval (203.7 +/- 46 days) and considerably bigger litter size (1.8 +/- 0.8) was observed. All the parturitions were normal and a considerable weight gain (8.2 +/- 0.3 kg) of mothers was recorded during pregnancy. The initial birth weight of kids was averaged as 2.1 +/- 0.5 kg in the first and 1.6 +/- 0.2 kg in the second lot. It was concluded that Dwarf goat has short gestation length, postpartum period and kidding interval along with multiple births being common. Due to these factors, its reproductive efficiency can be exploited for efficient goat meat production. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.