Pre-weaning performance and commercial growth curve in Dorper, Katahdin, and Romanov crossed lambs in a highland zone from central Mexico.

The aim was to evaluate the pre-weaning productive performance and growth curve of Dorper*Katahdin (DPr; n = 46), Kathadin*Kathadin (KTn; n = 204) and Romanov*Kathadin (RMv; n = 40) of commercial crossed lambs from central Mexico. We considered 1450 data from 290 crossbred lambs. The variables contemplated in this study were cross (CR), lambing type (LT), sex, birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), test days (TD), and daily weight gain (DWG). Correlation analysis and adjustment of growth curve were performed. Differences in CR and sex were found only in BW (p < 0.05). No differences in DWG, WW, and TD (p > 0.05) by CR and sex were found. Single lambing had the highest (p < 0.05) BW, WW, and DWG. Phenotypic correlations differ among crosses. Lambs crossed with DPr presented the highest values in parameters a and b and the lowest in c. The productive behavior of DPr, KTn, and RMv cross with KTn lambs in central Mexico is similar in the pre-weaning period; however, the growth curve and parameters that characterize it suggest that DPr lambs show a tendency to enhance productive behavior in this period.

Coat Color in Local Goats: Influence on Environmental Adaptation and Productivity, and Use as a Selection Criterion.

This paper aims to review, systematically synthesize, and analyze fragmented information about the importance of coat color in local goats and its relationship with productivity and other important traits. Topics on current research on color expression are addressed, the relationship that has as a mechanism of environmental adaptation, its relationship with the production of meat, milk, and derivates, and the economic value of this characteristic. The use of this attribute as a tool to establish selection criteria in breeding programs based on results reported in the scientific literature is significant, particularly for low-income production systems, where the implementation of classic genetic improvement schemes is limited due to the lack of productive information, which is distinctive of extensive marginal or low scaled production systems around the world.

Status quo of genetic improvement in local goats: a review.

This review aims to summarize and synthesize the fragmented information available on the genetic improvement of local goats (criollo, indigenous, native) on the American and other continents, where populations with these goats have an important role in food security and the economy of rural communities, as well as in conservation of biodiversity and productivity improvement. Topics such as the current state of goat production globally, conservation programs, resistance to parasites and diseases, use of phenotypical characteristics and genomic information, and molecular markers for genetic improvement are addressed. The main challenges, opportunities, and limitations described in recent literature concerning local goats in the immediate future are discussed.