ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to phenotypically characterize goats in Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria based on some measured traits and derive regression equation for predicting body weight from linear body measurements. Records were taken on a total of 372 goats (151 males and 221 females) kept by traditional farmers, covering six out of thirteen Local Government Areas (LGA) two from each of the three senatorial districts of the State. In each LGA, 15 farmers were randomly selected and measurements taken of a random sample of 2-5 goats depending on the flock size. Categorical traits scored were coat type and texture, coat colour, presence or absence of horn, horn type and orientation, presence or absence of wattle, presence or absence of supernumerary teat, sex and age of each animal were also recorded. Body weight and linear body measurements were recorded for each animal. Categorical traits were analyzed using simple percentages. Linear body measurements were correlated with body weight and with each other. Regression equation for prediction of body weight from linear body measurements were estimated for sex and ages of the goats. The categorical traits of goats studied conform to the breed characteristics of the WAD goats. The predominant coat colour of the goats was all black/predominantly black (43.55%). The coat type was the stiff short and straight type. There were no incidences of polledness among the goat population. Only 5.9% of goats in Ebonyi State had wattle. The body measurements of the goat population in the study area were within the reported ranges for WAD goats by several authors. There was high, positive and highly significant (P<O.O1) correlation between body weight and linear body measurements and among linear body measurements. Highly significant (P<O.O1) coefficient of determination were recorded for the three regression models used. The relationship between body weight and linear body measurements was best described by the quadratic equation. The R2was better in adult goats than in the kids. The R2value for the male was higher than that of the female goats. A stepwise multiple linear regression equation showed that heart girth, height at withers and body length could be used to predict body weight, with heart girth being the single factor that can predict body weight with high degree of reliability. Hip width was shown to be not good enough for prediction of body weight from body measurements.