Kiko and Spanish Does Should be Preferred

Researchers at Tennessee State University evaluated health and reproductive traits of Boer, Kiko, Spanish, and Myotonic  does. The Myotonic, a heritage breed, was previously lacking in comparative assessment.

Kiko doe with twins

In the study, Boer (n=73), Kiko (n=115), Myotonic (n=80), and Spanish (n=114) meat goat does were compared for traits associated with health and reproduction. The herd was semi-intensively managed on humid subtropical pasture for 6 years. The study included 838 matings and over 2,000 records for body weight (BW), fecal egg count (FEC), and packed cell volume (PCV).

Boer and Kiko does had heavier BW than Spanish does, which were heavier than Mytonic does.  Myotonic does had lower FEC than Boer does; Kiko and Spanish were intermediate. Kiko, Myotonic, and Spanish does had higher PVC than Boer does. Annual kidding rates, weaning rates, doe retention rates, and kid crop weaned were greater for Kiko and Spanish does than for Boer does, whereas Myotonic does were intermediate.

The results suggest that Kiko and Spanish does should be preferred over Boer and Myotonic does for sustainable meat goat doe performance under limited-input management conditions. Myotonic does maintained the lowest FEC among all doe breeds and warrant further evaluation as a genetic resource for controlling gastrointestinal parasitism.

 Read Journal of Animal Science Abstract (April 2017)