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Body measurement
characteristics of the West African Dwarf (WAD) Goat in
deciduous forest zone of Southwestern Nigeria
O. K. Samuel Fajemilehin1 and A. E. Salako2
1Faculty
of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Production
and Health Science, University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State,
Nigeria.
2Faculty
of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, University of
Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
dipofajemilehin@yahoo.com.
Accepted
24 June, 2008 |
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Two hundred and forty four (244) West African Dwarf (WAD)
Goats comprising one hundred and sixty (160) females and
eighty-four (84) males in five (5) age groups in years (0 -
1, 1 - 2, 2 - 3, 3 - 4 and 4 - 5) for female and two (2)
age groups also in years (0 - 1 and 1 - 2) for males were
investigated. The aim was to document the body
characteristics of the WAD goats in the deciduous forest of
Southwest Nigeria. Results showed that the body weights (BDW)
for female and male goats averaged 5.97, 10.59, 14.59,
19.23, 20.06 males; 4.33 and 7.55 kg females respectively.
The body linear measurements for male and female goats
varied between 33.70 and 39.58 cm, 28.98 and 31.50 cm, 25.68
and 30.49 cm, 28.94 and 34.73 cm and 6.47 and 7.72 cm for
male goats and 41.53 and 59.51 cm, 37.07 and 53.55 cm, 31.30
and 45.22 cm, 37.08 and 50.23 cm, 9.06 and 13.08 cm for
female goats for heart girth (HTG), body length (BDL),
height at wither (HTW), rump height (RPH) and sacral pelvic
width (SPW), respectively. Age significantly (P < 0.05)
influenced body weights and all the other linear body
measurements in all age groups considered. In both age
groups available for screening in male and female goats,
that is 0 - 1 and 1 - 2 years, sex significantly (P < 0.05)
influenced body weights and body linear measurements with
the female consistently showing superiority. Regression
analysis showed that body weights could be predicted
accurately from heart girth, sacral pelvic width, body
length, wither height and rump height.
Key
words:
WAD Goats, forest zone, body weight, linear measurements. |
