Evaluation Of Body Weight And Some Linear Body Measurements Of Growning Red Sokoto And West African Dwarf Goats In A Humid Tropical Environment:- Ukiwe, Eme O.

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted with 18 goats consisting of 9 Red Sokoto (RS) and 9 West African dwarf (WAD) goats of both sexes and aged between 5-7months, to evaluate body weight and linear body measurements for 8 weeks. Results show that the RS males and female weighed significantly (P < 0.05) higher than their WAD counterparts for liveweight at the end of 8 weeks. Although actual weight gain was more in the WAD males than in the RS breeds mainly due to compensatory growth following concentrate supplementation. The linear body measurements (LBMS) were significantly higher in the RS males and females than in the WAD goats except in tail length (TLT) where the were no statistical difference. The breed difference in body dimension was quite obvious showing that the RS and WAD goats belong to two distinct breeds of indigenous goats. The-correlation values for body weight and most of the LBMs except tail length and ear length were high and positive in both the RS and WAD goats. This seem to show that these LBMs singly or in combination can be good indicators of liveweight in there indigenous breeds of goats.