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Milk production, reproductive and growth performances of Damascus goats under northern Cyprus conditions
Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
Technical note
Milk production, reproductive and growth performances of Damascus goats under northern Cyprus conditions ¨ O. G¨uney, O. Torun, O. Ozuyanık, N. Darcan ∗ Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 01330 Adana, Turkey Available online 19 September 2005
Abstract This experiment was carried out at the Ercan State Farm in northern Cyprus, near Nicosia. This research was focused on the evaluation of milk production, reproduction and growth performances of Damascus goats with the aim of examining methods to improve the milking ability of does nursing kids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the Damascus goat for milk yield, reproduction and growth performance in the region. According to the data observed, birth rates (based on the number of does bred) for 2001 and 2002 were 70.2 and 80.5%, litter size (based on the number of kids born to the number of does giving birth) for 2001 and 2002 were 1.62 and 1.56, kidding percentage (based on the number of kids born per 100 does brought to the buck) were 114.3 and 125.9%, respectively. Average daily milk yield, lactation milk yield and lactation length of Damascus does were 1.900 ± 0.042, 489.4 ± 12.784 kg and 254.7 ± 2.359 days, respectively. Average 73.4 ± 3.5 kg extra marketable milk was obtained by using our recommended system (30 days suckling + 30 days milking and residual suckling). By this way, milk yield increased 39% in the first 90 days (259.0 kg) and it means 16% on the whole lactation period. Average daily weight gain of kids was determined as 174.1 ± 4.4 g for our recommended system (30 days suckling + 30 days milking and residual suckling). © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Damascus goat; Selection; Milk production; Reproduction; Growth performances
1. Introduction The Damascus goat is a dairy goat breed known for its high milk yield and reproductive performance in near and Middle East countries such as Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, etc. (Ozcan and G¨uney, 1983; Constantinou, 1987; ICARDA, 1997; Abbasoglu, 1999; Keskin, 2002). It is reported that the ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 322 3386512; fax: +90 322 3386576. E-mail address: [email protected] (N. Darcan).
0921-4488/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.07.026
breed is ancestor of some Indian dairy goat breeds and the Kilis goat, a Turkish dairy breed (Epstein and Herz, 1964). Live weight in adults is 55–65 kg and 70–90 kg in does and bucks, respectively (Keskin, 2002). Damascus goats have been introduced into Cyprus island some 50 years ago and have been used to improve the native goats. The major studies done on Damascus goat in the Mediterranean Basin have been mainly focused in the southern side of Cyprus island. On the other hand, Damascus goat has a big importance for the northern side of the island; 140 farmers have nearly 5500 heads of goats. That means a big number of
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
people depend on this goat population for their living. Although Gazi Magusa province has the important part of this population, there are quite a number of Damascus goats in Nicosia and Girne provinces (Pekel, 2000). A small ruminant improvement project focusing on goat production has been developed. The objective of the project is to establish an elite Damascus goat flock for prolificacy, growth and milk yield by using an appropriate selection programme in Ercan State Farm near Nicosia. The purpose of this research was to evaluate present performance of the Damascus goat in terms of reproduction, growth and different lactation parameters at the above mentioned farm. Moreover, effects of different suckling regimes on kid growth and some lactation characteristics are considered within the aim of the project.
2. Material and methods The trial was carried out for 2 years starting from the 2001 mating season (April). On the other hand, the does were mated in April 2002 mating season and the non-pregnant does were introduced again in September in order to reduce infertility rate. The animal material was 2–4 years old Damascus goats and their kids. The mating period lasted for 45 days. Does in heat, were detected by using teaser bucks and then mated according to the prepared mating programme. The data on reproductive traits were calculated according to Kaymakci and Sonmez (1995). Machine milking was practised and milking control was applied in fortnightly intervals. Lactation characteristics were calculated using Holland Method (Kaymakci and Sonmez, 1995). Milk samples were randomly collected twice at the beginning and at the end of lactation by considering their lactation number. Lactose, protein, fat and dry matter contents were determined at the NCTR Milk Industry Corporation (Anon., 2004). The goats were housed in semi-open sheds under semi-intensive conditions and were grazed for 8–9 months a year. All animals were given 500–1000 g of concentrate (16–18% crude protein and 2500 kcal/kg ME in dry matter), vetch–barley hay in groups according to their physiological stage. Kids were assigned into two groups in order to determine the effects of two different suckling regimes on growth performance of kids and lactation performances
177
of does. The trial group of kids were suckled for 30 days after birth and then allowed for residual milk for 30 days. The control group kids were raised in traditional method, which is based on 30 days suckling and then 60 days feeding with the residual milk. They were individually weighed weekly. In order to eliminate the effects of dams’ age and sex, 20 male and 20 female kids from same age does were randomly selected. Data were analysed using the SPSSX computer program.
3. Results and discussion 3.1. Reproductive characteristics According to the working programme, reproduction traits of both the 2001 and 2002 production years are given in Table 1. Reproduction traits of 2001 included only the April results, they showed that infertility rate was too high. Due to this fact, mating occurred twice in 2002; the first one occurred in April while the second one in September. As seen in Table 1, birth rate and litter size were very similar in both 2001 and 2002 April mating. But birth rate was increased in 2002 (April + September mating) by means of mating twice annually while the litter size decreased. This can be considered as a result of shifting the mating programme. Non-pregnant does in April were introduced again in September in order to increase the fertility. Data obtained on litter size (1.56 and 1.62) were in agreement with the findings of Mavrogenis and Hadjipanayiotou (1989). 3.2. Milk yield characteristics Results of some lactation characteristics are given in Table 2. As it is expected, dams’ age affected the lactation traits. While lactation lengths were found to be very similar among age groups, daily milk yield and lactation milk yield were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our findings on lactation characteristics are generally in line with reports of different researchers. Louca et al. (1975) has determined lactation milk yield of Damascus goats as 511–558 kg in 263–267 days. On the other hand, Mavrogenis and Hadjipanayiotou (1989) reported 557.1 and
178
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
Table 1 Reproductive performance of Damascus goats at Ercan State Farm for the 2001 and 2002 production years Mating performances
2001
2002 (total)
2002 (April)
2002 (September)
Number of does at mating Number of kidded does Single kidding Twin kidding Triplet kidding Number of kids Number of male kids Number of female kids Number of infertile goats Number of abortions Still born kids Mortality of goats (mating–kidding)
342 240 96 138 5 391 206 185 84 5 4 9
543 437 208 211 18 684 357 327 67 12 8 19
366 286 131 142 13 454 247 207 54 8 3 15
177 151 77 69 5 236 110 120 16 4 5 1
Prolificacy (total annual kid production) Birth rates (%) Litter size (%) Kidding percentage
70.2 1.62 114.3
80.5 1.56 125.9
78.1 158.7 124.0
85.3 156.3 133.3
Table 2 Lactation performances of Damascus goats at Ercan State Farm in the 2001–2002 production years (according to ages) Traits
Daily milk performances (kg) (mean ± S.D.)
Lactation milk yield (kg) (mean ± S.D.)
Lactation length (mean ± S.D.)
Age of does 4 3 2 f
1.866 ± 0.082ab 1.717 ± 0.086b 2.010 ± 0.058a
482.2 ± 24.804ab 429.2 ± 26.796b 523.1 ± 16.880a
254.8 ± 4.492 246.1 ± 6.581 258.8 ± 2.533 –
58 40 84
Total
1.900 ± 0.042
254.7 ± 2.359
182
* P < 0.05;
*
*
489.4 ± 12.784
n
different letter as superscript in same column shown significantly differences among the age groups.
415.7 kg of milk yield for first and second lactation, respectively. According to Abbasoglu (1999), lactation milk yields were 282.21 ± 18.45 kg in 263.11 ± 54.59 days at G¨uzelyurt State Farm in North Cyprus; while according to Ozcan and G¨uney (1983) findings, first and second lactation performances of Damascus goats (Cyprus originated) were 271.5 ± 48.6 and 256.2 ± 13.4, respectively, under the subtropical Adana (Turkey) conditions. 3.3. Milk composition Data on milk composition are shown in Table 3. Protein, fat and dry matter contents increased while lactose content decreased at the end of the lactation. These values were higher at the beginning of lactation
than towards the end. This is an expected result (Anon., 1988). 3.4. Kid rearing comparison Results were summarized in Table 4. As it is seen, while some values related to kid rearing were quite similar, only on 90th day, live weight was found to Table 3 Milk contents of Damascus goat milk (%) Period
Lactose
Protein
Fat
Dry matter
n
Beginning of the lactation (2nd month) End of the lactation (9th month)
4.15
3.85
2.36
11.31
36
3.85
4.31
4.43
13.70
30
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
179
Table 4 Effects of different suckling systems on growth of kids and milk yields of does Traits
Trial (mean ± S.D.)
Daily milk yield (kg) Marketable milk yield (kg) Birth weight (kg) At 90th day (kg) Daily weight gain (0–90 days, g)
2.549 73.4 3.98 18.60 174.1
± ± ± ± ±
0.110 3.535 0.116 0.374 4.439
Control (mean ± S.D.)
f
n
2.878 ± – 3.92 ± 21.53 ± 209.6 ±
– – –
30 30 40 40 40
0.126 0.118 0.52 5.929
* *
* p < 0.05.
be different (p < 0.05) between groups. Moreover, milk yield until weaning time 73.4 ± 3.5 kg marketable milk was obtained by using the recommended system. While two systems compared, milk production of the treatment group was higher (39%) than the control group in 90 days of suckling period. On the other hand, average daily weight gain of kids was 174.1 ± 4.4 g for the trial group and 209.6 ± 5.93 g for the control group. Results of many studies on this subject support our findings (ICARDA, 1997; Abbasoglu, 1999; G¨uney and Darcan, 1999; Keskin, 2002). Our findings compared to other research results show the daily weight gain of Damascus kids to be quite higher for both groups, than the kids reared under normal management conditions.
4. Conclusions As conclusions: (1) two mating season is recommended to Damascus goat farmers in order to increase reproductive traits; (2) lactation performances can be improved by using appropriate selection programmes; (3) applied kid rearing system is recommended when goat milk bring higher profit than kid sales.
References Abbasoglu, S., 1999. A study on reproduction and milk yield of Damascus Goats at Guzelyurt Enterprises at northern Cyprus. Master
Thesis. Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cukurova University, No. 1571, Adana, Turkey, p. 88. Anon., 1988. Unpublished Data of Research Farm of Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. Anon., 2004. NCTR Milk Industry Corporation. Constantinou, A., 1987. Small Ruminants in the Near East. FAO Animal Production and Health, Paper No. 55, vol. II, Rome, pp. 23–28. Epstein, H., Herz, A., 1964. Fertility and birth weights of goats in a subtropical environment. J. Agric. Sci. 62, 237– 244. G¨uney, O., Darcan, N., 1999. Lactation performance of does and growth rates of kids under different milking methods. In: Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on the Milking of Small Ruminants, vol. 95, Athens. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 315–317. ICARDA, 1997. Small Ruminant Genetic Resources for Dry Areas, Shami Goat. Technical Note. Designed by Dr. Fahed Hariri, ICARDA, Syria. Kaymakci, M., Sonmez, R., 1995. Sheep Production. Hasad Publication. Keskin, M., 2002. Effect of rearing systems on kid performance, lactation traits and profitability of Shami goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 22, 267–271. Louca, A., Mavrogenis, A., Lawlor, M.J., 1975. The effect of early weaning on the lactation performance of Damascus goats and the growth rate of the kids. J. Anim. Prod. 20, 213. Mavrogenis, A.P., Hadjipanayiotou, M., 1989. Dairy meat aptitudes of the Damascus goat in Cyprus within Extensive and Intensive Systems. Technical Note. Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus. Ozcan, L., G¨uney, O., 1983. A study on performances of Damascus goats under Cukurova conditions. J. Cukurova Univ., Fac. Agric. (Adana, Turkey) 14 (1), 12–27. Pekel, E., 2000. North Cyprus Agricultural Research and Development Project, Presentation Brochure, Adana, Turkey, p. 11.
Technical note
Milk production, reproductive and growth performances of Damascus goats under northern Cyprus conditions ¨ O. G¨uney, O. Torun, O. Ozuyanık, N. Darcan ∗ Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 01330 Adana, Turkey Available online 19 September 2005
Abstract This experiment was carried out at the Ercan State Farm in northern Cyprus, near Nicosia. This research was focused on the evaluation of milk production, reproduction and growth performances of Damascus goats with the aim of examining methods to improve the milking ability of does nursing kids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the Damascus goat for milk yield, reproduction and growth performance in the region. According to the data observed, birth rates (based on the number of does bred) for 2001 and 2002 were 70.2 and 80.5%, litter size (based on the number of kids born to the number of does giving birth) for 2001 and 2002 were 1.62 and 1.56, kidding percentage (based on the number of kids born per 100 does brought to the buck) were 114.3 and 125.9%, respectively. Average daily milk yield, lactation milk yield and lactation length of Damascus does were 1.900 ± 0.042, 489.4 ± 12.784 kg and 254.7 ± 2.359 days, respectively. Average 73.4 ± 3.5 kg extra marketable milk was obtained by using our recommended system (30 days suckling + 30 days milking and residual suckling). By this way, milk yield increased 39% in the first 90 days (259.0 kg) and it means 16% on the whole lactation period. Average daily weight gain of kids was determined as 174.1 ± 4.4 g for our recommended system (30 days suckling + 30 days milking and residual suckling). © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Damascus goat; Selection; Milk production; Reproduction; Growth performances
1. Introduction The Damascus goat is a dairy goat breed known for its high milk yield and reproductive performance in near and Middle East countries such as Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, etc. (Ozcan and G¨uney, 1983; Constantinou, 1987; ICARDA, 1997; Abbasoglu, 1999; Keskin, 2002). It is reported that the ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 322 3386512; fax: +90 322 3386576. E-mail address: [email protected] (N. Darcan).
0921-4488/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.07.026
breed is ancestor of some Indian dairy goat breeds and the Kilis goat, a Turkish dairy breed (Epstein and Herz, 1964). Live weight in adults is 55–65 kg and 70–90 kg in does and bucks, respectively (Keskin, 2002). Damascus goats have been introduced into Cyprus island some 50 years ago and have been used to improve the native goats. The major studies done on Damascus goat in the Mediterranean Basin have been mainly focused in the southern side of Cyprus island. On the other hand, Damascus goat has a big importance for the northern side of the island; 140 farmers have nearly 5500 heads of goats. That means a big number of
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
people depend on this goat population for their living. Although Gazi Magusa province has the important part of this population, there are quite a number of Damascus goats in Nicosia and Girne provinces (Pekel, 2000). A small ruminant improvement project focusing on goat production has been developed. The objective of the project is to establish an elite Damascus goat flock for prolificacy, growth and milk yield by using an appropriate selection programme in Ercan State Farm near Nicosia. The purpose of this research was to evaluate present performance of the Damascus goat in terms of reproduction, growth and different lactation parameters at the above mentioned farm. Moreover, effects of different suckling regimes on kid growth and some lactation characteristics are considered within the aim of the project.
2. Material and methods The trial was carried out for 2 years starting from the 2001 mating season (April). On the other hand, the does were mated in April 2002 mating season and the non-pregnant does were introduced again in September in order to reduce infertility rate. The animal material was 2–4 years old Damascus goats and their kids. The mating period lasted for 45 days. Does in heat, were detected by using teaser bucks and then mated according to the prepared mating programme. The data on reproductive traits were calculated according to Kaymakci and Sonmez (1995). Machine milking was practised and milking control was applied in fortnightly intervals. Lactation characteristics were calculated using Holland Method (Kaymakci and Sonmez, 1995). Milk samples were randomly collected twice at the beginning and at the end of lactation by considering their lactation number. Lactose, protein, fat and dry matter contents were determined at the NCTR Milk Industry Corporation (Anon., 2004). The goats were housed in semi-open sheds under semi-intensive conditions and were grazed for 8–9 months a year. All animals were given 500–1000 g of concentrate (16–18% crude protein and 2500 kcal/kg ME in dry matter), vetch–barley hay in groups according to their physiological stage. Kids were assigned into two groups in order to determine the effects of two different suckling regimes on growth performance of kids and lactation performances
177
of does. The trial group of kids were suckled for 30 days after birth and then allowed for residual milk for 30 days. The control group kids were raised in traditional method, which is based on 30 days suckling and then 60 days feeding with the residual milk. They were individually weighed weekly. In order to eliminate the effects of dams’ age and sex, 20 male and 20 female kids from same age does were randomly selected. Data were analysed using the SPSSX computer program.
3. Results and discussion 3.1. Reproductive characteristics According to the working programme, reproduction traits of both the 2001 and 2002 production years are given in Table 1. Reproduction traits of 2001 included only the April results, they showed that infertility rate was too high. Due to this fact, mating occurred twice in 2002; the first one occurred in April while the second one in September. As seen in Table 1, birth rate and litter size were very similar in both 2001 and 2002 April mating. But birth rate was increased in 2002 (April + September mating) by means of mating twice annually while the litter size decreased. This can be considered as a result of shifting the mating programme. Non-pregnant does in April were introduced again in September in order to increase the fertility. Data obtained on litter size (1.56 and 1.62) were in agreement with the findings of Mavrogenis and Hadjipanayiotou (1989). 3.2. Milk yield characteristics Results of some lactation characteristics are given in Table 2. As it is expected, dams’ age affected the lactation traits. While lactation lengths were found to be very similar among age groups, daily milk yield and lactation milk yield were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our findings on lactation characteristics are generally in line with reports of different researchers. Louca et al. (1975) has determined lactation milk yield of Damascus goats as 511–558 kg in 263–267 days. On the other hand, Mavrogenis and Hadjipanayiotou (1989) reported 557.1 and
178
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
Table 1 Reproductive performance of Damascus goats at Ercan State Farm for the 2001 and 2002 production years Mating performances
2001
2002 (total)
2002 (April)
2002 (September)
Number of does at mating Number of kidded does Single kidding Twin kidding Triplet kidding Number of kids Number of male kids Number of female kids Number of infertile goats Number of abortions Still born kids Mortality of goats (mating–kidding)
342 240 96 138 5 391 206 185 84 5 4 9
543 437 208 211 18 684 357 327 67 12 8 19
366 286 131 142 13 454 247 207 54 8 3 15
177 151 77 69 5 236 110 120 16 4 5 1
Prolificacy (total annual kid production) Birth rates (%) Litter size (%) Kidding percentage
70.2 1.62 114.3
80.5 1.56 125.9
78.1 158.7 124.0
85.3 156.3 133.3
Table 2 Lactation performances of Damascus goats at Ercan State Farm in the 2001–2002 production years (according to ages) Traits
Daily milk performances (kg) (mean ± S.D.)
Lactation milk yield (kg) (mean ± S.D.)
Lactation length (mean ± S.D.)
Age of does 4 3 2 f
1.866 ± 0.082ab 1.717 ± 0.086b 2.010 ± 0.058a
482.2 ± 24.804ab 429.2 ± 26.796b 523.1 ± 16.880a
254.8 ± 4.492 246.1 ± 6.581 258.8 ± 2.533 –
58 40 84
Total
1.900 ± 0.042
254.7 ± 2.359
182
* P < 0.05;
*
*
489.4 ± 12.784
n
different letter as superscript in same column shown significantly differences among the age groups.
415.7 kg of milk yield for first and second lactation, respectively. According to Abbasoglu (1999), lactation milk yields were 282.21 ± 18.45 kg in 263.11 ± 54.59 days at G¨uzelyurt State Farm in North Cyprus; while according to Ozcan and G¨uney (1983) findings, first and second lactation performances of Damascus goats (Cyprus originated) were 271.5 ± 48.6 and 256.2 ± 13.4, respectively, under the subtropical Adana (Turkey) conditions. 3.3. Milk composition Data on milk composition are shown in Table 3. Protein, fat and dry matter contents increased while lactose content decreased at the end of the lactation. These values were higher at the beginning of lactation
than towards the end. This is an expected result (Anon., 1988). 3.4. Kid rearing comparison Results were summarized in Table 4. As it is seen, while some values related to kid rearing were quite similar, only on 90th day, live weight was found to Table 3 Milk contents of Damascus goat milk (%) Period
Lactose
Protein
Fat
Dry matter
n
Beginning of the lactation (2nd month) End of the lactation (9th month)
4.15
3.85
2.36
11.31
36
3.85
4.31
4.43
13.70
30
O. G¨uney et al. / Small Ruminant Research 65 (2006) 176–179
179
Table 4 Effects of different suckling systems on growth of kids and milk yields of does Traits
Trial (mean ± S.D.)
Daily milk yield (kg) Marketable milk yield (kg) Birth weight (kg) At 90th day (kg) Daily weight gain (0–90 days, g)
2.549 73.4 3.98 18.60 174.1
± ± ± ± ±
0.110 3.535 0.116 0.374 4.439
Control (mean ± S.D.)
f
n
2.878 ± – 3.92 ± 21.53 ± 209.6 ±
– – –
30 30 40 40 40
0.126 0.118 0.52 5.929
* *
* p < 0.05.
be different (p < 0.05) between groups. Moreover, milk yield until weaning time 73.4 ± 3.5 kg marketable milk was obtained by using the recommended system. While two systems compared, milk production of the treatment group was higher (39%) than the control group in 90 days of suckling period. On the other hand, average daily weight gain of kids was 174.1 ± 4.4 g for the trial group and 209.6 ± 5.93 g for the control group. Results of many studies on this subject support our findings (ICARDA, 1997; Abbasoglu, 1999; G¨uney and Darcan, 1999; Keskin, 2002). Our findings compared to other research results show the daily weight gain of Damascus kids to be quite higher for both groups, than the kids reared under normal management conditions.
4. Conclusions As conclusions: (1) two mating season is recommended to Damascus goat farmers in order to increase reproductive traits; (2) lactation performances can be improved by using appropriate selection programmes; (3) applied kid rearing system is recommended when goat milk bring higher profit than kid sales.
References Abbasoglu, S., 1999. A study on reproduction and milk yield of Damascus Goats at Guzelyurt Enterprises at northern Cyprus. Master
Thesis. Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cukurova University, No. 1571, Adana, Turkey, p. 88. Anon., 1988. Unpublished Data of Research Farm of Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. Anon., 2004. NCTR Milk Industry Corporation. Constantinou, A., 1987. Small Ruminants in the Near East. FAO Animal Production and Health, Paper No. 55, vol. II, Rome, pp. 23–28. Epstein, H., Herz, A., 1964. Fertility and birth weights of goats in a subtropical environment. J. Agric. Sci. 62, 237– 244. G¨uney, O., Darcan, N., 1999. Lactation performance of does and growth rates of kids under different milking methods. In: Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on the Milking of Small Ruminants, vol. 95, Athens. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 315–317. ICARDA, 1997. Small Ruminant Genetic Resources for Dry Areas, Shami Goat. Technical Note. Designed by Dr. Fahed Hariri, ICARDA, Syria. Kaymakci, M., Sonmez, R., 1995. Sheep Production. Hasad Publication. Keskin, M., 2002. Effect of rearing systems on kid performance, lactation traits and profitability of Shami goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 22, 267–271. Louca, A., Mavrogenis, A., Lawlor, M.J., 1975. The effect of early weaning on the lactation performance of Damascus goats and the growth rate of the kids. J. Anim. Prod. 20, 213. Mavrogenis, A.P., Hadjipanayiotou, M., 1989. Dairy meat aptitudes of the Damascus goat in Cyprus within Extensive and Intensive Systems. Technical Note. Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus. Ozcan, L., G¨uney, O., 1983. A study on performances of Damascus goats under Cukurova conditions. J. Cukurova Univ., Fac. Agric. (Adana, Turkey) 14 (1), 12–27. Pekel, E., 2000. North Cyprus Agricultural Research and Development Project, Presentation Brochure, Adana, Turkey, p. 11.