Quantitative and Qualitative Body Traits of Longling Yellow Goats in China

Abstract

Quantitative, qualitative and phenotypic body measurements were determined on Longling Yellow goats in Longling of Yunnan Province in China. Body weight was determined at birth and then at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 mon of age. Body measurements traits including height at wither (HW), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), chest depth (CD), and circumference of cannon bone (CCB) were determined at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 mon of age. Phenotypic traits including coat colour, horns type, tip horn torsion, nose type, hair on forehead, wattles, ear lobes, black back line, hair on legs, and black hair on belly were determined at 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 mon of age. Males were heavier ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) than females; and except for chest depth at 24 mon of age ( P > 0.05), all other body measurements were also higher ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in males. HW, BL, CD, HG, and BW increased ( P < 0.01) with age, except for 48 mon of females ( P > 0.05); while CCB did not always increase with age. HG had the highest correlation ( P < 0.01) with body weights of both sexes. No differences were observed between the two sexes in the colour of the coat, horn type, tip horn torsion, nose type, ear lobes, black back line, and black hair on belly. However, differences exist between the two sexes in the presence of hair on forehead, wattles and long hair on legs. The female goats absence of tip horn torsion had positive effect on all variables measured at 36 and 48 mon of age ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The presence of wattles was associated with heavier body weights from 18 mon ( P < 0.01) of age onward, and also with longer HW, BL and CD ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in female goats. Female goats with ear lobes had heavier body weights at 12, 36 and 48 mon ( P < 0.01) and longer CCB at 12 and 24 mon of ages ( P < 0.05). Hair on legs and black hair on belly only had partly effect body measurements on 12 mon of Longling Yellow female goats. Results of this study provide valuable information that will assist breeders and genetic improvement specialists when conducting selection and preservation programs in Longling Yellow goats in China.