<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Birth weight (BW) is frequently considered as an indicator to detect possible restrictions of intrauterine development. This study evaluated the effect of breeding season (BS) across year: spring (SP), summer (SM), fall (FL) and winter (WT) upon the expression of BW. This meta-analysis considered records (n = 1,084) collected from a commercial herd kept under intensive conditions (22° NL, 1,835 m). The definitive statistical model for BW analysis considered the independent variables kidding year, (KY), genetic group (GT), litter size (LS), gender (GN), breeding season (BS), kidding season (KS) plus the interactions (KY*GT) and (GN*BS). BW expression was affected (P&lt;0.05) by KY, GN, LS, KS, and KY*GT. Interestingly, while BW expression was not affected (P>0.05) by kidding season, it was affected (P&lt;0.05) by breeding season. The highest and lowest BW values were observed in SP and WN (3.34 vs. 3.10 kg; P&lt;0.05), respectively. This physiological scenario could be the result of embryonic-fetal adaptive responses representing homeostatic adaptations due to alterations including doe nutritional status, available quantity and quality of food to both the embryo and the fetus as well as to a changing external environment.</abstract>

Birth weight (BW) is frequently considered as an indicator to detect possible restrictions of intrauterine development. This study evaluated the effect of breeding season (BS) across year: spring (SP), summer (SM), fall (FL) and winter (WT) upon the expression of BW. This meta-analysis considered records (n = 1,084) collected from a commercial herd kept under intensive conditions (22° NL, 1,835 m). The definitive statistical model for BW analysis considered the independent variables kidding year, (KY), genetic group (GT), litter size (LS), gender (GN), breeding season (BS), kidding season (KS) plus the interactions (KY*GT) and (GN*BS). BW expression was affected (P<0.05) by KY, GN, LS, KS, and KY*GT. Interestingly, while BW expression was not affected (P>0.05) by kidding season, it was affected (P<0.05) by breeding season. The highest and lowest BW values were observed in SP and WN (3.34 vs. 3.10 kg; P<0.05), respectively. This physiological scenario could be the result of embryonic-fetal adaptive responses representing homeostatic adaptations due to alterations including doe nutritional status, available quantity and quality of food to both the embryo and the fetus as well as to a changing external environment.

The Expression of Birth Weight is Modulated by the Breeding Season in a Goat Model

Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico

Campus Loma Bonita, Universidad del Papaloapan, Oaxaca, Mexico

Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Torreón Coahuila, Mexico

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, ICA, Mexico

Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Mexico

Annals of Animal Science

Birth weight (BW) is frequently considered as an indicator to detect possible restrictions of intrauterine development. This study evaluated the effect of breeding season (BS) across year: spring (SP), summer (SM), fall (FL) and winter (WT) upon the expression of BW. This meta-analysis considered records (n = 1,084) collected from a commercial herd kept under intensive conditions (22° NL, 1,835 m). The definitive statistical model for BW analysis considered the independent variables kidding year, (KY), genetic group (GT), litter size (LS), gender (GN), breeding season (BS), kidding season (KS) plus the interactions (KY*GT) and (GN*BS). BW expression was affected (P0.05) by kidding season, it was affected (P<0.05) by breeding season. The highest and lowest BW values were observed in SP and WN (3.34 vs. 3.10 kg; P<0.05), respectively. This physiological scenario could be the result of embryonic-fetal adaptive responses representing homeostatic adaptations due to alterations including doe nutritional status, available quantity and quality of food to both the embryo and the fetus as well as to a changing external environment.

Birth weight (BW) is frequently considered as an indicator to detect possible restrictions of intrauterine development. This study evaluated the effect of...

The Expression of Birth Weight is Modulated by the Breeding Season in a Goat Model

Published Online: Apr 20, 2012

Page range: 237 - 245

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10220-012-0020-8

Keywords
birth weight, breeding season, fetal growth and development, intrauterine environment

This content is open access.

The Expression of Birth Weight is Modulated by the Breeding Season in a Goat Model

Published Online: Apr 20, 2012

Page range: 237 - 245

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10220-012-0020-8

Keywordsbirth weight, breeding season, fetal growth and development, intrauterine environment

This content is open access.

Keywords
birth weight, breeding season, fetal growth and development, intrauterine environment