Objective: The study was carried out to determine the reproductive performance of Black Bengal (BB) goats in the selected industrial and nonindustrial areas of Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods: The data were collected from 200 farmers using a pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire contained primary information about the reproductive performances, such as age at puberty, conception rate, postpartum heat period, kidding interval, litter size, estrous behavior and interval, abnormalities during pregnancy and parturition, kid mortality, developmental abnormalities, total number of goats, and goat rearing system.
Results: The data showed that the average age at puberty and conception rate of BB goats in the industrial areas were 188.20 ± 2.372 days and 88%, respectively, whereas the values were 164.70 ± 2.077 days and 96%, respectively, in the nonindustrial areas. The data significantly differed (p < 0.05). The average estrous cycle and kidding interval of BB goats also differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the industrial (21.50 ± 0.824 and 205.80 ± 1.445 days, respectively) and nonindustrial areas (17.50 ± 0.479 and 189.40 ± 0.922 days, respectively). However, the average litter size of goats in the two areas did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The average kid mortality rate was higher in industrial areas (14.0% ± 0.155%) than in nonindustrial areas (8.5% ± 0.118%).
Conclusion: BB goats reared in industrial areas have lower reproductive performance than those raised in nonindustrial areas. Factory pollution may be one of the main reasons for reducing kids in BB goats.
Key words: Black Bengal goats; reproductive performance; industrial and nonindustrial areas
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