Abstract This study aimed to measure the productive and reproductive performance of does managed to have three mating seasons in two consecutive years, under an agro-ecological system in the semi-arid region of Brazil. At each mating season, an average of 57 non-defined genotype does were mated to two bucks. During the rainy season, animals were kept in Caatinga vegetation, while in the dry season they were maintained in buffel grass pastures. Average kidding interval (period between two parturitions) was 8.4 months, kidding rate (does that delivered kids/exposed does) was 55.4%, prolificacy (kids born/kidding does) was 1.82, weaning rate (kids weaned/kids born) was 81.8%, and average liveweight production at 240 days was 11.60 kg/exposed doe. Kids born in February/March (MS3) had a greater (p<0.05) bodyweight at birth, and at the age of 30 and 90 days than kids born in July/August (MS1) or May/June (MS2). The bodyweight at 240 days (16.3±0.7 vs. 12.7±0.8) and total weight gain (13.4±0.7 vs. 10.1±0.7) were greater (p<0.05) in MS3 than MS2, respectively. A kidding interval of 8.4 months (1.4 parturitions.doe.year) is technically feasible and has the potential to improve the annual productive performance of goats in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Key words: Fertility, goats, mating season, meat, reproduction |