Deribe Gemiyo Talore^1*, Girma Abebe², Azage Tegegne^3
1Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Areka, P.O. Box 79, Ethiopia; ²Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P. O.Box 5, University of Hawassa, Ethiopia; ³International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
*Correspondence: deribeg2000@yahoo.com

Abstract:
Sluggish early growth and mortality are the major constraints for goat production in Ethiopia. We evaluated the effects of non–genetic factors on early growth performance of kids in Adilo district of southern Ethiopia with 587 kids owned by 60 households. Body weight (kilograms) of kids at birth, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days were 2.34+0.03, 4.39+0.10, 6.61+0.14, 9.85+0.29, 11.8+0.24 and 13.7+0.24, respectively, while the average daily gain (ADG; gram) from birth to 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days were 68.3+3.02, 70.4+2.16, 82.3+3.18, 78.3+1.93 and 75.0+1.54, respectively. Season had profound effect on body weights of kids at all ages (except at 120 days) and ADG. There was significant sex effect (P<0.05) on body weights at 30 to 120 days. Except at weaning age (90 days), parity effect was important on body weights of kids. Type of birth influenced pre–weaning body weights (P<0.05) and ADG from birth to 30, 60 days (P<0.01), and birth to 90 days (P<0.05). There were significant (P<0.05) effects of parity by sex and parity by type of birth on body weights and ADG at weaning. The non–genetic factors evaluated in this study are important sources of variation and need to be taken into account in the improvement plan of Adilo goats under semi–arid tropical conditions. Efforts geared towards improved prolificacy (through dam age management), improved nutrition and healthcare would help farmers to exploit these huge indigenous goat genetic resources efficiently.