EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX ON MORPHOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF SAHELIAN GOATS IN FASKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KATSINA STATE

This research was conducted to determine the effect of age and sex on morphometric measurements and estimate correlation between body weights and morphological traits of Sahelian goat in Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina state. Experimental animals aged from 1-5 years were used for this study and were identified using physical appraisal. Physically healthy of both sexes and non-pregnant goats were sampled. The pairs of permanent incisors in the dentition of the goat were used to determine age, body weight by using bathroom weighing scale (kg), linear measurements using flexible tailor’s measuring tape and sex using physical observations. The results obtained, showed that age had significant (P<0.05) effects on RH, EL, HoL and TL, non-significant (P˃ 0.05) effect was found on BW, NL and BL. Sex had significant effect on BW, BL, HG and HoL and nonsignificant effect (P˃ 0.05) was found on RH, EL, TL and NL. Correlation coefficient between body weight and linear measurement shows that BW was highly correlated (P<0.01) with BL, HG and NL. BW was slightly correlated with RH and it was negatively correlated EL and HoL.


INTRODUCTION
Small ruminants are important genetic resources and play a predominant role in the sustenance of the livelihoods of impoverished families especially in the rural areas of tropical countries. Caprine species specifically goats play an important role in the social life of many Africans and supply human population with meat, milk, skin, manure and other products. The Red Sokoto goat (RSG) or Maradi is the most predominant breed and accounts for about 70% of Nigeria's total goat population (Ademosun, 1994). It is commonly found with the agro pastoralist mainly within the northern sub humid and semiarid zones of the country (Akpa et al., 2001). The Sahel goat is an extant meat and milk type goat in Nigeria (Otoikhian and Orheruata, 2010). It is large in size, predominantly white colour, pied with black or white and brown spots around the ear, nose and udder. Morphometric characteristics are important in breed identification and classification. (Gizaw et al., 2007) stated that morphostructural description of traits remained essential component of characterization that can be used to physically identify, describe and recognize a breed. It also helps in the classification of livestock breeds. The knowledge of morphometric traits aids in appropriate breeding design, feeding and health management (Thiruvenkadan, 2005).

MATERIALS AND METHODS Study location
This study was conducted in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, North-western part of Nigeria. The study area is located within latitudes 11 0 30''N and 11 0 50''N and longitudes 6 0 50''E and 7 0 20''E. The sampling villages includes: Mairua, Sheme, Dakamawa, Kanonhaki and Daudawa. The study area has an average annual rainfall of 198mm with an average annual temperature of 28°C. (Wikipedia, 2020).

Experimental animals and management
Goats were randomly sampled across the selected towns in Faskari LGA. They were sampled based on sex and age. Goats were grouped into age using their dentition (Wilson and Durkin, 1984). The experimental animals were managed under semiintensive system. The goat houses were made using corn stalk for fencing and thatched roofing for protection against heat and rainfall. There was no organized health care provision in terms of vaccination and deworming. They were allowed to roam in search of feed and water along with their kids.

Data Collection
Body weight was measured in kg using bathroom weighing scale (kg) as described by Akpa et al., (1998), age was measured using dental formula as described by (Wilson and Durkin, 1984), sex and linear body measurements were recorded; they include: Body weight (BW) kg, body length (BL), heart girth (HG), rump height (RH), tail length (TL), ear length (EL), horn length (HoL) and neck length (NL). All linear measurements were done using flexible tailor's measuring tape and sex using physical observations i.e. presence or absence of udder or scrotum as described by Akpa et al. (1998).

Data Analysis
Data collected were managed in Microsoft excel and analysed using SPSS statistical package (version 20.0). Results were presented as mean and standard error. Where there is significant   Akpa et al. (1998) who reported that Sahelian does and bucks between the age one through two years are lower than values of 20-40 kg. It's in disagreement with values reported by Katongole et al. (1996) mean live weight of less than one year are within the range of 12-18 kg for indigenous goats in Kenya. This is probably due to differences in location, breed and age. It's in disagreement of the report of Sam et al. (2016) result indicates average body weight of yearling west African dwarf goat (WAD) to be 18.042kg while linear body measurements were 23.993cm, 27.735cm, 24.466cm and 19.374cm for HG, BD, BL, RH and HW respectively. This is due to breed and age differences.   .374cm for HG, BD, BL, RH and HW respectively. This is due to breed and age differences. The results obtained were in conformity with report of Rotimi et al. (2016). Results showed that average body weight was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by sex. Body weight was higher in female WAD goats than males compared to their male counterparts in the three locations (18.93+5.50 and 18.49+2.60, 17.82+4.30 and 15.67+6.00 and 18.42+5.70 and 14.39+4.70 respectively).  Table 3 shows the correlation coefficients values between body weight and linear measurements. The correlation values were positive and highly significant (p˂0.01) in the body weight of Sahelian goats except between BW and TL, BW and TL (r=-0.201 and -0.742) where negative correlation. Highest value was obtained between RH and TL (r=0.909; P>0.01), lowest value was obtained between BW and HG (r= 0.257; p>0.01). Highest value was obtained between BL and TL (r= 0.947; p<0.05), lowest value was obtained between HG and TL (r= 0.055; p>0.05). This result is similar with the report of Adamu et al. (2020) who reported that coefficient values observed were in general high, positive and significant except between WH and TL in male and between BW and UC, BCS and BL, WH, UL and UC in female. He also reported that highest observed in this study when BW is predicted from HG conform the report of Tsegaye et al. (2013) that this trait (HG) is positively correlated with live weight (LW) and can indicate it with high precision (R 2 = 0.94).