Body Mass Index and Growth Model Prediction Analysis of Beichuan White Goat and Their Hybrids

PurposeTo reveal the growth development regularity of Beichuan white goats and the effect of their hybrids.

MethodsBody weight, body length and body mass index (BMI) of 145 Beichuan white goats (BB), 86 Boer goat ♂×Beichuan white goat ♀ (RB), 45 Saanen goat ♂×Beichuan white goat ♀ (SB), 58 Boer goat ♂×(Saanen goat×Beichuan white goat) ♀ (RSB) were measured and calculated. Gompertz and Logistic models were used to fit the growth development process of Beichuan white goat and their hybrids, and the growth parameters and the estimated values of the model were analyzed and compared.

ResultsAt two months of age, the body weight of male and female RSB was significantly higher than that of BB (P<0.05), reaching 14.29 and 12.36 kg, respectively. At six months of age, body weight and body length of RSB male goats were significantly higher than those of BB (P<0.05). At 12 months of age, the body weight of RSB male and female goats was significantly higher than that of BB (P<0.05), and the BMI of RSB male and female goats was significantly higher than that of SB (P<0.05). At 24 months of age, the body weight of RSB male and female goats were significantly higher than that of BB (P<0.05), the BMI of RSB male goats was significantly higher than that of BB (P<0.05). The Gompertz model was better fitting than that of the Logistic model. For RSB male and female goats, the maximum monthly weight gain were 3.80 and 3.10 kg, which were 60.34% and 38.39% higher than that of BB, respectively. The days of reaching 35 kg body weight were 248.74 and 340.35 days, respectively, which were 175.36 and 388.34 days earlier than those of BB.

ConclusionGompertz model have a high degree of fit to the goats growth development and the effect of RSB hybrids is remarkable, which may provide data support and basis for the local goat improvement and scientific feeding management.