Performance of local goats and their backcrosses with several breeds in Mexico

Performance data of goats raised in a stall-fed system in northern Mexico (n = 1424) were analysed in order to compare highgrade (goats with ⩾ 15/16 of any breed) and low-grade (goats with ⩽ 7/8 of any breed) crosses of Alpine, Granadina, Nubian, Saanen and Toggenburg sires with local Mexican goats. Alpine, Saanen and Toggenburg crosses had greater milk production, lactation length and efficiency (milk production/post-kidding body weight) than Granadina and Nubian crosses or local does (P < 0.05). High-grade Saanen were superior to low-grade Saanen for milk production and lactation length (P < 0.05). Average increases for milk production, lactation length and efficiency over local goats for low-grade Alpine, Saanen and Toggenburg were 46%, 10% and 41% respectively; similar figures for high-grade were 60%, 19% and 50%, respectively. Post-kidding body weight was 8% greater in Nubian and Saanen than in Toggenburg crosses (P < 0.05). Alpine had a litter weight at birth 18% greater than Granadina (P < 0.05). Effects of year, season and age affected significantly (P < 0.05) most characteristics studied. Goats with two or more kids at birth had greater milk production, efficiency and body weight (P < 0.05) than goats with one kid.