Differences among four meat goat breeds for doe fitness indicator traits in the southeastern United States

Sustainable meat goat production begins with the identification and use of maternal breeds that demonstrate relatively enhanced levels of fitness under less-than-optimal conditions. The Myotonic goat is a heritage breed that is lacking in comparative assessment for female fitness. In this study, Boer ( = 73), Kiko ( = 115), Myotonic ( = 80), and Spanish ( = 114) meat goat does were compared for traits associated with health and reproduction. The herd was semi-intensively managed on humid subtropical pasture for 6 yr. The study included 838 doe-year matings and over 2,000 records for BW, fecal egg count (FEC), and packed cell volume (PCV). Body weights of Boer and Kiko does were heavier ( < 0.05) than for Spanish does, which, in turn, were heavier ( < 0.05) than for Myotonic does. In production does, FEC were lower ( < 0.05) for Myotonic does than for Boer does, whereas Kiko and Spanish does had intermediate FEC that differed ( < 0.05) from Myotonic and Boer does. Kiko, Myotonic, and Spanish does had greater ( < 0.05) PCV than Boer does. Doe age and physiological status also affected ( < 0.05) BW, FEC, and PCV. Annual kidding rates, weaning rates, doe retention rates, and kid crop weaned were greater ( < 0.05) for Kiko and Spanish does than for Boer does, whereas Myotonic does were intermediate and differed ( < 0.05) from the other 3 breeds. The results suggest that Kiko and Spanish does should be preferred over Boer and Myotonic does for sustainable meat goat doe performance under limited-input management conditions. Myotonic does maintained the lowest FEC among all doe breeds and warrant further evaluation as a genetic resource for controlling gastrointestinal parasitism.