SUMMARY
A total number of 48 crossbred does (50% Egyptian Nubian . 50% Baladi)
were used to investigate effects of gestation period on doe traits (litter size and
weight at birth, kids weight and mortality at birth). The does were bred during
autumn (the breeding season was 1.5 months) and kidding occurred during winter
and spring. Gestation length and doe traits (of their kids) at birth, were recorded.
After parturition, does were classified according to their gestation length, to: does
with a gestation length 140 to 145 days as pre-term (First group), does with a
gestation length of 146 to 152 days as full-term (Second group) and those with a
gestation length >153 days as post-term does (Third group). Detection of litter size
by using body measurements of the same does, were also studied. The results
showed that incidence of full-term were the highest (54.5%), followed by pre-
(36.9%) and post-terms (8.9%), respectively. Litter size, litter weight, kid weight
and mortality at birth were significantly (P<0.01 or 0.05) affected by gestation
length. Parity affected significantly (P<0.01) litter size and litter weight at birth.