Investigation of growth, fattening performance and carcass characteristics in hair goat and saanen x hair goat (F1) crossbreeds

2. ABSTRACT This study was carried out in order to examine the growth rate, survivability, fattening performance, feed conversion, carcass characteristics, sensory characteristics of meat and body sizes of pure Hair goats and Saanen x pure Hair goats (Fi) crossbreed kids. At this study, for the growth period 40 pure Hair and 33 Saanen x Pure Hair crossbreeds (Fi) kids, for the fattening period 19 pure and 15 crossbreeds (Fj) male kids and for the carcass characteristics also 8 male kids from each groups were used. Averages birth weight of pure breed and crossbred were 2.992, 3.320 kg, respectively and difference between groups were statistically significant (P<0 01). Weaning weight of each groups were 17.772, 17.068 kg, daily live weight gains from birth to weaning were 0.137, 0.131 kg, live weight gains in fattening period were 0.123, 0.108 kg, feed conversion values of concetrate and roughage feed were 8.834, 1.768 kg and 10.270, 1.819 kg, dressing persentages 47.32, 48.38 %, sensory analyse of meats were 7-8.5 points. Weaning survivability of each groups were 82.50 % and 90.63 %, respectively. Results of this study indicated that crossbreeding of Hair goats with Saanen did not provide a significant advancement in the traits investigated. Further investigation is required for fertilitiy and milk yield traits of the crossbreed. Key Words: Saanen, Hair Goat, Growth, Fattening, Carcass.