ELSEVIER Small Ruminant Research17 ( 1995) 45-50 Effect of weaning age and feeding system on growth performance and carcass traits of male kids in three breeds in India A.K. Nagpal”, D. Singhb,*, V.S.S. Prasadc, P.C. Jaind zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedc “W estern Regional Research Centre, Central Institute for Research on Goats, CIRG, Avikanagar (Via: Jaipur). Rajasthan - 304 501, India ‘YIRG, Makhdoom, P.O. Farah Mathura - 281122, India ‘Goat Products Technology Section, CIRG, Makhdoom, P.O. Farah Mathura - 281122, India dComputer Section, CSW RI, Avikanagar (Via: Jaipur), Rajasthan - 304 501, India Accepted 15July 1994 Abstract A total of 82 Sirohi, Marwari and Kutchi kids born during autumn 1987 were weaned at 60 or 90 days of age, and randomly alloted to intensive or semi-intensive feeding systems to study post-weaning performance until 180 days of age. Genotype, weaning age, feeding system and weaning age X feeding system interaction affected (P < 0.01) body weights, average daily gain and pre-slaughter weight. Feeding regimen influenced carcass traits more (P<O.Ol) than other sources of variation. Weaning at 3 months and intensive feeding affected (P < 0.01) pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, enhanced (P < 0.01) dressing percentage, loin eye area, and decreased bone percentage. Weaning at 3 months of age and feeding intensively was the most expensive (Rs 28.92 to 32.84 per kilogram gain) compared with weaning at 2 months of age and rearing under a semi- intensive system (Rs 6.09 to 7.25 per kilogram gain). The latter system also resulted in surplus milk of 12.7 to 22.5 kg for human consumption. Keywords: Kids; Weaning age; Growth; Intensive feeding 1. Introduction India possesses a large goat population of more than 110 X lo6 goats accounting for at least 18% of the world population (FAO, 1991) and contributing 35% to the country’s total meat production. The majority of Indian goats are nondescript and maintained mainly on brows- ing and grazing. Of the 20 well defined breeds of goats in India, Sirohi, Marwari and Kutchi are three important breeds of the north-western region. These goat breeds are maintained at the research farm under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Goats. *Corresponding author. While Sirohi and Kutchi are dual-purpose breeds, Mar- wari is principally a meat type goat. These goat breeds are widely distributed in the arid and semi-arid parts of Rajasthan and Gujrat States. The three breeds have fairly similar adult body size (males 50-60 kg; females 30-35 kg), kidding rate (70-80%)) lactation yield of about 100 kg per lactation of nearly 200 days length and dressing-out percentage of around 48%. The present study was undertaken to evaluate growth and meat production performance of kids of the above three breeds under intensive and semi-intensive feeding systems after their weaning at 60 or 90 days of age. The results of this study will be helpful in developing feeding practices for goats without much dependence Elsevier Science B.V. SSD10921-4488(95)00649-4