Morphometric Structural Differentiation of Breeds of Goats in Abia State:- Eke, Collins

ABSTRACT

 Morphometric structures of Sokoto Red (SR) and West African Dwarf goats (WAD) in three selected Local government areas (LGA) - Isiukwuato, Umuahia south and Ikwuano were studied. The unique characteristics of these breeds were determined and their physical descriptors developed to characterize these goats. A total of 180 animals, 30 animals each from the two breeds of Sokoto Red and WAD, were studied. The animals comprised adults that were not more than 21 months of age. Ten linear traits measured were withers height (WH), rump height RH), body length (BL), tail length (TL), face length (FAL), foreleg length (FL), head width (HW), heart girth (HG), neck circumference (NC) and shoulder length (SL). The results indicate that the linear body measurements of WAD goats in all the 3 (three) LGAs were not significantly (P>0.05) different while Sokoto Red in the 3 LGAs were significantly (P<0.05) different for withers height (56.77cm, 59.47cm, 58.10cm), rump height (71.37cm, 77.30cm, 75.33cm), body length (71.37cm, 77.30cm, 75.33cm), head width (36.97cm, 39.20cm, 37.97cm) and heart girth (57.83cm, 60.60cm, 60.00cm) respectively. The Sokoto Red can be distinguished from WAD goats in terms of body conformation. Linear body traits of these breeds of animals were highly, significantly (P<0.05/0.01) and positively correlated at various correlation coefficients