DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i07.002

Pages: 373-384

Abstract: Pre-weaning death among kids in Pakistan is leading cause of economic loss to goat farmers. The study was conducted with an aim to identify the factors that contribute to kid mortality from birth to weaning. Data pertaining to various factors related to kids’ mortality in five goat breeds (Beetal, Nachi, Dera Din Pannah, Teddy and Pak Angora) were obtained from Livestock Experiment Station, Rakh Kherewala, District Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan for the period from 1998 to 2007. The factors hypothesized to be associated with the kid mortality, were; breed, sex of kid, age of kid, birth weight, types of birth (single, twin, triplet), season of birth, fodder availability, flock size, breeding system, predators and diseases both infectious & non-infectious. Significance of difference among associations of various factors contributing to kid’s mortality was statistically tested by Chi-square test. Maximum mortality (28.1%) and minimum (12.1%) mortality in beetal kids were noticed during 1998 and 1999, respectively. Maximum mortality (10.4%) in Teddy kids was found in 2006 against minimum (3.1%) in 2007. In Nachi maximum value was 16.4% (1998) whereas, no mortality recorded in 2007. In 2002, 7.7% mortality rate in Pak-Angora kids noticed as compared to no mortality in 1999 & 2003. Similarly, data showed 30.0% mortality in Dera Din Panah kids in 2005 as compared to in 4.1% in 2003. In conclusion, highest kid mortality was observed in teddy breed followed by Pak Angora. Pneumonia and Gastroenteritis were found as major cause of highest mortality in kids.