B. E. Abdel-Aziz, T. E. Ali and F. A. Ahmed

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of
Gezira, P.O. Box 20, Wad Medani, Sudan

SUMMARY

Two thousands seven hundreds and ninety nine Kenana (K) calves were studied for birth weight at Nisheishiba and UmBanein Research Centres during the period 1966 to 1986 inclusive.

Dam parity , year x season of birth interaction and sex of calf were found to be highly significant (I’ < 0.001) source of variation upon calf weight at birth, but herd location was not significant (P < 0.05).

Mean birth weight of Kenana sub-type was found 22.48 SD 4.94 kg. First – parity dams gave the lightest calves at birth (21.45 kg) followed by the second-parity dams (22.49 kg). Male calves (23.21 kg) were found to be heavier than female calves (21.75 kg). UmBanein herd had heavier (22.53 kg) but insignificant mean birth weight than Nisheishiba (22.39 kg). Heritability of birth weight of Kenana-subtype was 0.21± 0.04.

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