Abstract

Amor Gaddour and Sghaier Najari

Data from 16 years performances schedule of local goat, Alpine, Damascus, Murciana and crossed groups were used to study the genotypes productive behaviour under Tunisian oases conditions. The aim was to evaluate the possibilities of local goat productivity improvement by cross-breeding in intensive mode and also, to choose the better improving breed and the propice crossing level. So, data of periodic individual weighing were used to estimates kids weight at some standard ages and dairy performances such as, daily milk average, total production by lactation and milking period of studied genetic goat groups. Statistical analyses of about 1928 kids' weights and 1923 individual goat milking showed that the cross-breeding allowed to improve the growth performances since the first generation with respect to local population production. ANOVA test showed an important effect of genotypes and environment upon kids weights (P < 0.01). The mean kid's weight at birth and at 120 days age were 3.49 and 15.78 kg respectively. The cross breeding second generation allowed the improvement of local goat potentialities kids weight at 120 days reaches 16.19 kg for Damascus*local goat cross. The dairy production with this generation was 164.5 kg for the Alpine one, 183.4 kg for Damascus, 179.5 kg for Murciana and 133.5 kg by lactation for the local breed. All imported breeds registered low performances than those known in their original regions.