The study of genotypic and phenotypic particularities at the goats of a local population in Republic of Moldova with the aim of preserving the genetic diversity

Vitalii Petcu, Oleg Mashner, Petr Lyutskanov

Abstract: The results of research at local goats are aimed at the accumulation of information for determining the level of their productivity, the specifics of their exterior and the existing variability for improvement actions both within the existing population, as well as the possible crossings with the breeding material from export that recently is appeared in our country. As the material of research were served goats from the local population belonging to different localities of the republic. The color of the pilose coating (the hair) is also an index that can characterize a specific breed of goats, especially of the improved. Under this aspect at the researched local goats is found a pronounced variability: about 25% have white hair, 19% are with black hair, a little over 17% are with brown (grey) hair, about 16% are with brown and red hair of different shades and about 23% have spotted color (mottled). Depending on every animal in all age groups, the limits of body measurement are wide demonstrating the pronounced variability as the body weight, which average at goats is low: 37.0±1.0 kg (lim. 25-50.5 kg), and which is increasing from 32.4 kg (at 2.5 years) to 40.7 kg in those over the age of 5 years. Milk is the base production for which the goats are bred in our republic. According to our research, the average production from local goats constitutes 305.8±13.8 kg of milk during 7 months of lactation with the individual limits between 100-500 kg. According to the chemical composition of the local goats milk, it can be said that it has indices corresponding to its transformation into cheese. Depending on the level of milk production the local goats can be classified as a rustic population that is not improved, and the existing variability under the appearance of the main indicators is denoting the possibility of the implementation and realization of selection programs on the level of the separate herds, in separated localities or districts.

Keywords: correlation; goats; production; selection; variability

Date published: 2019-09-05