Relationship between bodyweight and morphological traits in Sahelian goats of Nigeria using path analysis

Abstract

Aims: A total of 163 Sahelian goats of both sexes (64 males and 99 females) were randomly sampled and used in this study to assess the relationship between bodyweight and morphological traits using multivariate path analysis method.

Methods: Data were obtained on bodyweight (kg), height at withers (HW), body length (BL), paunch girth (PG) and heart girth (HG). Means (+SD and CV) and correlation coefficients between bodyweight and morphological parameters were also evaluated using the statistical procedures of SPSS 20.0 package.

Results: Higher significant (P<0.05) values were obtained for female goats in all the variables than males. The phenotypic correlation values between bodyweights and linear measurements were positive and highly significant (r = 0.707 – 0.803; P< 0.01 and r = 0.520 – 0.752; P< 0.01) in male and female goats respectively. Results also revealed that the direct effect of paunch girth on bodyweight was strongest (path coefficient = 0.413; P<0.05) for males while body length was strongest (path coefficient = 0.373; P<0.01) for female goats.

Conclusions: The forecast indices recorded in this work could be employed to predict bodyweight in Sahelian goats with accuracy.

Significance and impact of study: The prediction model obtained in this study would be useful in weight estimation and in the process help in making management decision and breeding programs for genetic improvement in goats.

Keywords

• Bodyweight
• Goats
• Morphological traits
• Path analysis sahel

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