Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding groundnut haulms, and cowpea husk supplemented with brewers’ dried grain on variability in body Morphometric measurements and the reproductive organ characteristics of West African Dwarf goats. Body parameters measured were body length (BL), heights at withers (HW), girth circumference (GC), Height at rump (HR), abdominal circumference (AC) neck length (NL), neck circumference (NC) with live weights of animals. Reproductive organ parameters determined were scrotal length (SL), scrotal circumference (SC), Scrotal and testicular weight (STW), Testicular circumference (TC), Testicular volume (TV), penile length (PL) and (PW) penile weight. The ranges for the parameters were length of animal (LA) 30.33 to 38.92cm, height at rump (HR) 28.25 to39.71cm, abdominal circumference (AC) 18.79 to 22.29cm and neck length of 13.46 to 17.79 cm. All the results were significantly (P<0.05) different across treatments. The reproductive organ parameters, scrotal circumference and testicular parameters were measured with caliper and tape. Results revealed that ranges were scrotal lengths (SL) varying from 27.38 to 38.92 cm, Scrotal circumference (SC) 12.67 to 17.63cm, Scrotal and testicular weights (STW) from 36.92 to 45.67g, Testicular volumes 17.88 to 21.08 mls while for penile morphometry, the results ranged from 3.06 to 4.13cm for penile length (PL) and 3.21 to 3.79g for penile weights respectively. All parameters differed (P<0.05) significantly across treatments. It was concluded that the reproductive organ parameters especially scrotal circumference are useful indicators and important selection criteria to determine the reproductive organs development and breeding soundness in young animals. That, there is variability in body measurements and that these measurements can be exploited in predicting live body weight and hence the economic value of goats.

Keywords

live body weight, linear traits, reproductive organs, goats, body length, penile weight, neck length, testicular circumference, scrotal, testicular volume, trading system, livestock species, chest girth, reproduction, artificial insemination