Abstract
This research was conducted to determine the effect of age and sex on morphometric measurements and estimate correlation between body weights and morphological traits of Sahelian goat in Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina state. Experimental animals aged from 1-5 years were used for this study and were identified using physical appraisal. Physically healthy of both sexes and non-pregnant goats were sampled. The pairs of permanent incisors in the dentition of the goat were used to determine age, body weight by using bathroom weighing scale (kg), linear measurements using flexible tailor’s measuring tape and sex using physical observations. The results obtained, showed that age had significant (P<0.05) effects on RH, EL, HoL and TL, non-significant (P˃ 0.05) effect was found on BW, NL and BL. Sex had significant effect on BW, BL, HG and HoL and non- significant effect (P˃ 0.05) was found on RH, EL, TL and NL. Correlation coefficient between body weight and linear measurement shows that BW was highly correlated (P<0.01) with BL, HG and NL. BW was slightly correlated with RH and it was negatively correlated EL and HoL.
Highlights
Small ruminants are important genetic resources and play a predominant role in the sustenance of the livelihoods of impoverished families especially in the rural areas of tropical countries
The results obtained revealed that the average Body weight (BW), rump height (RH), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), ear length (EL), tail length (TL), horn length (HoL) and neck length (NL) of Sahelian goat is 17.52-31.52 kg, 52.40-61.42 cm, 49.95-60.55 cm, 40.9050.16 cm, 9.33-18.38 cm, 14.91-22.70 cm, 8.10-10.54 cm and 13.90-19.57 cm respectively
The results showed that sex had significant (p0.05) effect on the BW, RH, BL and HG, no significant (P>0.05) on EL, TL, HoL and NL in Sahelian goat
Summary
Small ruminants are important genetic resources and play a predominant role in the sustenance of the livelihoods of impoverished families especially in the rural areas of tropical countries. The Red Sokoto goat (RSG) or Maradi is the most predominant breed and accounts for about 70% of Nigeria‘s total goat population (Ademosun, 1994). It is commonly found with the agro pastoralist mainly within the northern sub humid and semiarid zones of the country (Akpa et al, 2001). (Gizaw et al, 2007) stated that morphostructural description of traits remained essential component of characterization that can be used to physically identify, describe and recognize a breed. It helps in the classification of livestock breeds. The knowledge of morphometric traits aids in appropriate breeding design, feeding and health management (Thiruvenkadan, 2005)
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