GENETIC PROFILE OF MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE RED SOKOTO GOAT IN KATSINA STATE OF NIGERIA BY
GENETIC PROFILE OF MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE RED SOKOTO GOAT IN KATSINA STATE OF NIGERIA BY
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Date
2012-08
Authors
IJOMANTA, OFORODO ESTHER
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Abstract
This research was conducted to determine the morphological traits, production capacity and
existing association between them in Red Sokoto goats in Kastina state. A total of 888 Red
Sokoto goats (RSG) were used for the study out of which 152 lactating does were used to
assess the milk production capacity of Red Sokoto goats. The morphological and
morphometric traits were identified and measured and their associations with production
capacity were assessed. The distributon and frequencies of the morphological traits were
investigated and scored for the presence or absence of wattle (Waw or Wa+), beard (Brb or
Br+), horn (Ho+ or Hop), supernumerary teat (Stt or St+) and head profile; straight or subconvex
(Hpsv or Hpst) . Wattle had a significant relationship (p<0.05) with beard (-0.12) but
was not significant with head profile. Frequencies of the dominant alleles for RSG were
0.04 (Waw), 0.11 (Brb), 0.00 (Hop), 0.02 (Hpsv), and 0.13 (Stt). The average body weight
(BWT), body length (BLT), heart girth (HG), thoracic depth (TD), height at withers
(HAW), average ear length (AEL) and average horn length (AHL) were 25.3kg, 53.5, 69.4,
36.0, 58.1, 9.5 and 8.3cm respectively and the CV of the morphometric traits ranged from
11.26-25.19 with body weight (25.19) being the most variable and HAW (11.26) being the
least variable trait. Wattle had no significant (P>0.05) influence on all body conformation
traits. Beard significantly (P<0.05) influenced BLT and HAW. Head profile significantly
influenced all body conformation traits except heart girth (HG). Zone had a significant
(P<0.05) influence on all the body conformation traits except AHL while sex had a
significant (p<0.05) influence on morphometric traits except AEL, and AHL. The average
litter size (LS), parity, first test day yield (FTDY), average daily morning milk yield
(ADMY), peak day (PD), last test day yield (LTDY) and total yield were 1.8, 3.8,
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216.1mls,253.1mls, 375mls, 34.8 days, 105.2mls and 25103.4mls respectively. LS, parity
and PD were more variable (21.44-43.5), while FTDY, ADMY, PY, LTDY and TY were
less variable (4.70-18.96). The relationship between body morphological traits and lactating
characteristics were also assessed. Parity significantly affected all body conformation traits.
LS significantly affected body conformation traits except HG and HAW while litter
composition (LC) significantly affected BWT, BLT and HG but not TD and HAW. Wattle
had a significant effect on FTDY, ADMY, PY and LTDY but had no significant influence
on PD and TY. Supernumerary teat had no effect on the lactation traits except for ADMY
and TY which were low when present. Parity on the other hand significantly (P<0.05)
affected FTDY, ADMY, PY and TY but had no significant (p>0.05) effect on PD and
LTDY. LS and LC had a significant effect on all measured lactation traits of goats except
FTDY, PD and LTDY. Zone had a significant (P<005) influence on lactation traits except
FTDY. All the body conformation traits and lactation traits of RSG were significantly and
positively (P<0.05; P<0.01) correlated. Qualitative traits had a low gene frequency of
occurrence. Presence or absence of wattles had no effect on body conformation traits but
had an effect on milk lactation characteristics. Goats with beards had longer bodies and
grew taller, while those with normal two teats produced more milk than those with extra
teats. Zone, sex and litter size influenced body conformation and milk yield characteristics
in RSG. High incidence of multiple births indicates that RSG are highly prolific. The
significant effect of parity on lactation traits, body weight and morphometric traits in this
study therefore, indicates that parity of dam is an important factor to consider in making
appropriate selectsion and /or culling decision in RSG.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER
OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
NIGERIA
AUGUST, 2012
Keywords
GENETIC, PROFILE, MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS, ASSOCIATION, PRODUCTION CAPACITY, RED, SOKOTO GOAT, KATSINA