Abstract

Two hundred and forty four (244) West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats comprising one hundred and sixty (160) females and eighty-four (84) males in five (5) age groups in years (0 - 1, 1 - 2,  2 - 3,  3 - 4  and 4 - 5) for female and two (2) age groups also in years (0 - 1 and 1 - 2) for males were investigated. The aim was to document the body characteristics of the WAD goats in the deciduous forest of Southwest Nigeria. Results showed that the body weights (BDW) for female and male goats averaged 5.97, 10.59, 14.59, 19.23, 20.06 males; 4.33 and 7.55 kg females respectively. The body linear measurements for male and female goats varied between 33.70 and 39.58 cm, 28.98 and 31.50 cm, 25.68 and 30.49 cm, 28.94 and 34.73 cm and 6.47 and 7.72 cm for male goats and 41.53 and 59.51 cm, 37.07 and 53.55 cm, 31.30 and 45.22 cm, 37.08 and 50.23 cm, 9.06 and 13.08 cm for female goats for heart girth (HTG), body length (BDL), height at wither (HTW), rump height (RPH) and sacral pelvic width (SPW), respectively. Age significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weights and all the other linear body measurements in all age groups considered. In both age groups available for screening in male and female goats, that is 0 - 1 and 1 - 2 years, sex significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weights and body linear measurements with the female consistently showing superiority. Regression analysis showed that body weights could be predicted accurately from heart girth, sacral pelvic width, body length, wither height and rump height.

Key words: WAD Goats, forest zone, body weight, linear measurements.