Studies on improvement of the productivity of Turkish Angora goats by crossing with South African Angora goats

Abstract

The three leading countries in the world in rearing Angora goats are Turkey, the USA and the Republic of South Africa. in order to improve the important yield characteristics of Turkish Angora goats by using North American gene sources, studies have been carried out since 1982. In this study, the effect of South African genotype on Turkish Angora goats was investigated. During the study, a total of 187 pure Turkish Angora goats (TT) were intra-vaginally inseminated with frozen semen and 79 (42.25%) goats conceived and kidded. There was no significant difference between the birth weights of kids of TT and F-1 crossbred (South African x Pure Turkish) groups (2.76 and 2.72kg). There was an increase in favour of F-1 crossbreds at 105th day weaning weights (14.48 and 15.42 kg) and 6th month weights (20.39 and 21.99 kg). The liveweights of does after shearing (in spring) and before insemination (in autumn) were similar in both genotypes. The mohair yields of female goats at various age were 2.44 kg in TT group and 2.55 kg in F-1 crossbred group (P < 0.05). The effect of genotype on birth weights of kids and mohair yields of does was statistically significant (P < 0.05) but not significant for other characteristics. Therefore, it is suggested that crossing with a South African genotype can improve the mohair yield of Turkish Angora goats.