Reproductive performance of boer goats in a moderate climate zone

The objective of this study was to determine the reproductive performance in Boer goats under semiintensive management in north-western Croatia over three consecutive years.Sixty Boer does, aged 2 to 6 years, were divided into three groups.A total of 1.80 kids were born per doe (435 newborn in 242 pregnancies).Boer goat fertility was 93.44%.Does with single kids accounted for 22.53% (n = 98), with twins 49.20% (n = 107), triplets 18.62% (n = 27), quadruplets 7.35% (n = 8) and quintuplets 2.29% (n = 2).The average birth weight of Boer kids was 3.48 ± 0.04 kg (1.70 kg to 5.4 kg).The birth weight of goat kids in pluriparous Boer does was signifi cantly (P<0.05)higher in comparison to kids in primiparous does by gender.The birth weight of Boer male goat kids was signifi cantly (P<0.05)higher than female Boer kids.There was no impact from goat age, number of kiddings and birth weight.More than 76% of Boer does delivered in the winter and spring.It is supposed that after transferring from the southern to the northern hemisphere, Boer goats have gradually acclimated to a new seasonality.