Effect of early breeding on production performance of goats and its relation with hormonal mechanism under Cukurova subtropical climate conditions

This study has been conducted on Cukurova Saanen goats under Cukurova sub tropic climate conditions in order to determine the effect of early breeding on production performance and its relation with hormonal mechanism. Cukurova Saanen goats have been divided into two groups for the experiment. Erarly mated group (E) has been mated at 8 months of age the other group at 18 months of age (N). During pregnancy once a month FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone and prolactin hormones were evaluated from both of the groups by collecting blood. Litter size and lactation milk yield has been also determined by experimental design conducted as repeated measurement with two factors in completely randomized design.According to the obtained results, statistically important results have been obtained on lactation milk yield both in early and normal breeding groups (p<0.01). No significant differences has been found on birth weight of the kids in normal and early breeding groups (p>0.05). According to the obtained results, early breeding of goats has a depressive affect in the first year which may result with early culling from the flock, however, their higher performance in the following years makes an important contribution on the rantability.