Comparative Reproductive Improvement of Fi and Fibc Progeny of West African Dwarf and White Bornu Goats Due to Backcrossing in Humid Nigeria

Abstract

A two phase breeding programme was conducted to assess the use of White Bornu (WB) breed of goat as an improver gene source to upgrade productivity of West Africa Dwarf (WAD) goat. Phase one was the breeding of adapted stock of both breeds within and between breeds to produce F₁ while selected F₁ progeny at sexual maturity based on performance characteristics and visual appraisal were mated back (backcrossed) to their pure bred parents to produce F_ibc progeny. Improvement due to backcrossing revealed values of 1.67 and 1.53kg to 1.47 and 1.91kg in birth weight, 4.28 and 5.14kg to 6.04 and 6.07kg in weaning weight, 22.76 and 27.25 to 34.43 and 38.78kg in body weight at sexual maturity and 85.71 and 61.11 to 71.43 and 61.11 percentage weaning for F₁ and F_ibc of WAD to WB X WAD crossbred respectively. However heterosis in F₁ and F_ibc of crossbred showed that weaning weight and body weight at sexual maturity had 72.63 and 21.72% for F₁ while 27.78, 10.02 and 35.21% were record for birth weight, weaning weight and body weight at sexual maturity respectively for F_ibc. From the result of the study goat farmers in humid environment should use white Bornu (WB) male goat to cross their West African Dwarf (WAD) females for improved productivity up to F_ibc