Strain characterization of West African Dwarf goats of Ogun State II

Abstract

The West African Dwarf (WAD) goat presents variable coat colours, ranging from black, brown, gray, red and white and sometimes combinations of these variety of patterns. In this study, strains of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat were characterized using linear body measurement. The WAD goat included the chocolate, white, Swiss marking and Dalmatian of ages, 1, 2, 3 and 4 years. Most of the animals attained the highest live weight at age 4 years. The white WAD goat was found to be superior in live weight (21.25 ± 2.36kg) than the chocholate (18.67 ± 7.75kg). The Dalmatian was superior in live weight (17.08 ± 8.22kg) to the Swiss markings (14.6 ± 11.03kg). At age 3years, Face Length (Fal), Hip Width (HW), Fore Length (FL), Hind Limb Length (H) and Body Length (BL) is 5.72 ± 1.50in, 16.28 ± 4.32in, 9.82 ± 2.57in, 10.85 ± 2.86in, 16.38 ± 4.36in respectively in Dalmatian WAD goat. At age 4years, Height at Wither (HW), Heart Girth (HG), Fore Limb Length (FL), Hind Limb Length (HL) and Body Length (BL) is 17.05 ± 0.1in, 23.18 ± 1.02in, 10.38 ± 0.4in, 11.45 ± 0.53in, 18.3 ± 1.99in respectively in the white WAD goat. Live weight was positive and highly significantly correlated (p<0.05) with all body parameters in the male and female goats measured. Highest correlation (p<0.05) between live weight and body parameters corresponded to El (r=0.97), and HG (r = 0.95) in the male white WAD, BL (r = 0.85) and HG (r = 0.82) in the female white WAD, HL (r = 0.86) and HG (r = 0.82) in the male Dalmatian, Fal (r = 0.89) and EW (r = 0.88) in the female Dalmatian. The white WAD and Dalmatian WAD could be selected for an improvement programme because they exhibited superiority in most traits.

Keywords: West African Dwarf, Strain, Body Parameters, Male, Female