ON-FARM REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF THE WEST-AFRICAN DWARF GOAT AT GANAWURI IN THE SUBHUMID ZONE OF NIGERIA

Thirty-two herds of West African Dwarf goats raised under village cond itions and which grazed stylosanthes (Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano) or natural pasture in the wet season were monitored for 30 months to d etermine herd productivity. Average litter size was 1.67 +/- 0.082, ki dding interval 250 +/- 12.0 days, and age at first kidding 471 +/- 18. 0 days. Birth weight was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by parity, year and season of birth, and birth type (P < 0.01). Weaning weight at 150 days of age was affected by year of birth (P < 0.01), parity (P < 0.01), and sex (P < 0.05). Growth rates decreased with age and were s ignificantly affected (P < 0.01) by season. Litter size was significan tly affected (P < 0.05) by parity. The cumulative mortality to one yea r of age was 14.5% and accounted for about 50% of all disposals. It wa s significantly affected (P < 0.01) by season and was very low for kid s born in the dry season. Postpartum weight was significantly affected by parity (P < 0.001), season of birth, and birth type (P < 0.01). Th e results suggested that a strategic health intervention would be bene ficial; peste des petits ruminants (PPR) immunization markedly reduced mortality and increased animal productivity index.