Mating weight and weight gain during gestation of native, exotic and crossbred goats in the semi-arid

The effects of month, year, order and type parturition on mating weight (MW) and weight gain during gestation (WG), respectively, of 753 and 527 Caninde native goats, 463 and 333 exotic Anglo Nubian and 374 and 296 Alpine goats, 151 and 87 crossbred 1/2 Alpine 1/2 SRD, and 92 and 73 3/4Alpine 1/4SRD goats, raised in the Experimental Station of the Governmental Research Institute (EMEPA-PB), Soledade-Paraiba-Brazil, were evaluated in the period from 1980 to 1994. The effect of month was significant on MW of the Caninde, Anglo Nubian and crossbred goats. The year influenced MW of all genetic groups and the effect on WG was significant for Caninde, Anglo Nubian, 1/2A 1/2SRD and Alpine goats. Mating weight increased as parturition order increased and WG was more evident in the goats of first kidding. Type parturition showed significant effect on WG of Nubian, 3/4 A 1/4 SRD and Alpine goats, that showed higher WG when had single kidding. Significant difference among genetic groups was observed for MW and WG. The native goats were more weightless than the exotic and crossbred goats, however showed better weight gain during gestation. There was superiority of mating weights of exotic than the native and crossbred goats. Animal genetic composition and environmental factors, as month, year, order and type of birth, affected mating weight and weight gain during the gestation of the studied flock.