Determination of the effect of the dam age, birth type, and sex on growth curve traits of hair goat kids

This study was conducted to investigate the best-fit growth curve and dam age, sex, and birth type effect on growth curve traits of hair goat kids. Monthly 3858 test day body weight (BW) records of 643 hair goat kids from birth to 150 days of age were used to determine the best-fit growth curve and estimate growth curve parameters with Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models. The BW records were assigned to three groups: dam age (3, 4, 5, 6, 7 years), sex (female, male), and birth type (single, twin). The Gompertz model gave more consistent results than the Von Bertalanffy model according to the goodness of fit criteria. Dam age had no significant effect on any of the growth curve traits. Sex of kids showed a significant effect on maturity index (parameter K) ( P