Application of Morphometric Traits and Body Indices in Assessing the Type and Function of Local Goats Reared in Two Districts of Gamo-Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the objectives of applying the morphometric traits and their indices in assessing the type and function of indigenous goats reared in Arbaminch-Zuria (AMZ) and Mirab-Abaya (MA) districts of Gamo-Gofa zone. For this study, 151 bucks and 464 does were scored for morphometric measurements from which fourteen body indices were calculated. The results indicated that the AMZ bucks had higher (p<0.05) wither height (WH), chest girth (CG), rump width (RW) and head width (HW) values than those of MA. Conversely, chest depth (CD), rump length (RL), head length (HL) and ear length (EL) of MA bucks were higher (p<0.05) than those of AMZ. The body weight (BW), body length (BL), CG, RW and HW values were higher (p<0.05) in does of AMZ than those of MA. However, does in MA had higher (p<0.05) wither height (WH), CD, RL and EL values than those of AMZ. Except at 0PPI, goats in MA had higher (p<0.05) CD, RL and EL values than those of AMZ at all age ranges. Goats in AMZ at 2PPI and above had higher (p<0.05) BL, CG, RW and HW values than those of MA. Goats in AMZ were heavier (p<0.05) than those of MA at 1PPI and 3PPI. Irrespective of 1PPI, goats in AMZ had higher (p<0.05) CG than those of MA and their RW was higher (p<0.05) than those of MA at all age ranges. The BW of bucks was strongly (p<0.001) and positively correlated with BL, WH, CG and HL. In does, a positive and moderate (p<0.01) correlation of BW was observed with BL, CG, RW and HL. Rump width was identified as suitable predictor of BW in does at 3PPI (R2 = 93.9). Wither height and CG were the best predictor of BW in bucks at 2PPI (R2 = 99.6). At 3PPI, CG was a single predictor of bucks’ BW (R2 = 94.8). Goats in AMZ had higher values than those of MA for cephalic index, thoracic development, pelvic index, transversal pelvic, length index, area index compact index, conformation index, foreleg index and weight. Conversely, goats in MA had higher values in relative depth of thorax, longitudinal pelvic and proportionality than those of AMZ. In conclusion, morphometric traits and their indices suggested that goats reared in AMZ can be classified as a medium-sized and long-shaped body frame, with a marked orientation for meat production, while goats in MA were characterized as medium-sized animal whose morphology corresponds to dairy type