EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS ON PREWEANING SURVIVABILITY OF BLACK-BENGAL KIDS

Survivability of Black Bengal kids produced in four different location s of Bangladesh was studied. Records on 892 kids born over a period fr om 1987 to 1991 were included. Data were analysed considering the fixe d effects as region, parity, birth type, sex, season and year. Overall survival rates during birth -1, 1-2, 2-3 and birth -3 months of age w ere 84.4 +/- 1.9, 91.3 +/- 1.6, 95.9 +/- 1.1 and 71.7 +/- 2.4%, respec tively. Regional effect on birth weight was significant (P < 0.05) for the period from birth to 3 months having highest survival rate in Reg ion 1 (76.9 +/- 1.4) and lowest for Region 4 (61.1 +/- 5.5). Effect of parity was insignificant but survivability increased gradually with t he increase in parity number having the highest survival rate in the 5 th parity, Birth weight of kids and milk yield of dams had a relations hip with survivability during the pre-weaning period. It was evident t hat survivability of kids increased with the increase of birth weight of kids and milk yield of dams. Season had a significant effect (P < 0 .01) on survival rates of kids, with the highest survivability in the rainy season and the lowest in summer. Type of birth had no significan t effect on survival rates but single kids always had a higher surviva l rate than twins and triplets. Effect of sex was significant (P < 0.0 1) for birth -1 and birth -3 months of age, male kids having a higher survival rate than females. Year had a significant effect (P < 0.01) o n survival and increased gradually with advancing months. Lower birth weights, dams with insufficient milk and lack of husbandry knowledge w ere considered the main factors responsible for higher kid mortality.