On farm monitoring of central highland goats were conducted
in Sekota district of the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia to evaluate
the growth performances under the traditional management
practices. On farm feeding trial was also conducted to see the
feeding performances and carcass characteristics of Central Highland
goat types. Data used for the study was collected from randomly
selected on-farm flocks for two years. Yearling bucks were assigned
randomly in to two feed types: grazing only and grazing plus
concentrate. The overall mean birth weight, weaning weight and
yearling weight obtained were 2.01±0.03, 9.02±0.18 and 20.61±0.74
kg, respectively. All the fixed effects considered were significantly
affected birth weight and weaning weight. However, at yearling age,
parity and type of birth were not significant. Kids from larger parity
does, single born kids, male kids and kids born in the wet and cool
season had higher (p<0.001) birth and weaning weights from their
group. Male kids and kids born in the dry season had heavier weight
than female and wet season born kids. The overall mean pre- and
post- weaning growth rate obtained were 76.6±2.3 and 42.8±2.9
g/day, respectively. Kids born from later parity does, single and kids
born at wet season had higher (P<0.001) pre-weaning growth rates
than kids born from first parity, as twins and kids born during hot dry
season, respectively. The overall mean final body weights of goats
from the feeding trial were 28.7 and 30.8 kg for the control and
supplemented groups, respectively. Even though, there were
numerical differences on final body weight and carcass parameters,
there was no significant difference between supplemented and non
supplemented groups of yearling bucks. Central Highland goat in this
study showed better growth performances than most of the goat
breeds in Ethiopia. The significant effect of fixed effects needs to be
considered in developing breeding strategy for the breed. Moreover,
integrated efforts combining the feed, breeding and health aspects
of production are very important to make use of the breed.