ESTIMATES OF PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN TURKISH ANGORA-GOATS

Birth weight (4528 observations), weaning weight at 100 days (5393 observations), yearling's (5024 observations) and adult's fleece weight (3234 observations), number of kids born (4557 observations), kid's weight at 100 days (4802 observations) and subjectively scored fertility status of 6547 does were studied using an animal model with maternal effects. For body and fleece weights, interactions of higher order were significant in the analysis of variance. Coefficients of determination ranged from 16% to 41%. Overall means (phenotypic standard deviations in parentheses) were: birth weight and weaning weight, 1.87 kg (0.27) and 10.82 kg (1.89); yearling's and adult's fleece weight, 0.92 kg (0.29) and 2.37 kg (0.43); number of kids born and kids weight at 100 days, 0.92 kids (0.35) and 7.96 kg (3.58), respectively. Male kids were heavier, especially at birth, and produced heavier yearling's fleece. Young does had fewer and smaller kids at birth and weaning, with less mohair weight at one year. In most traits, 3-year-old does with second parity were inferior to all other age groups. Twins were rare and only born by older does. Abortions were more frequent in first-parity does. Beginning breeding with 2-year-old does (1 year earlier than usual) was unfavourable under Turkish conditions. This age group was inferior even in the following parity, if they were fertile at all. Year effects had a strong influence on performance. When establishing breeding programmes or estimating genetic parameters, models should account for the large environmental effects and interactions, especially that between birth year and period.