Influence of Sex on Some Body Measurement Traits of South African Non-Descript Goat Kids at Birth
Influence of Sex on Some Body Measurement Traits of South African Non-Descript Goat Kids at Birth
Thobela Louis Tyasi1*, Lubabalo Bila2, Nkgaugelo Kgasago3, Siza Mthi4
ABSTRACT
Body measurement traits have been used as a management tool to predict live body weight, feedstuff consumptions and carcass parameters in farm animals at lesser costs with a high relative accuracy and consistency. This research was performed at the University of Limpopo experimental farm (Syferkuil) to examine the effect of sex on the interrelationship between body weight and linear body measurements in South African non-descript goat kids. A total of 46 new-born South African non-descript goat kids (30 females and 16 males) were used for the study. Analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation were used for data analysis. Results showed that the mean live body weight of females and males was 2.11±0.05 and 2.76±0.12 respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that body weight (BW) was positively correlated with heart girth (HG) and rump height (RH) in males, while in females, BW was positively correlated with RH, body length (BL), withers height (WH) and shoulder height (SH). The findings of the study suggest that rump height can be used as an accurate indicator/good management tool for goat selection and breeding programs in improvement of BW. The findings of the current study might also help goat farmers to have a better understanding of monitoring the growth development, and further assist in selecting replacement males and females using morphological traits.
Keywords | Body weight, Heart girth, Rump weight, Sternum height, Withers height
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