Multivariate Analysis of Morphometric Differentiation in the Red Sokoto and Boer Goats

The study was conducted to evaluate morphological variability of Red Sokoto and exotic Boer goat breeds at the Centre for Dryland Agriculture farm, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria using multivariate discriminant analysis. Nineteen morphometric traits (wither height, body length, cannon length, lateral length, heart girth, chest depth, hip width, hip length, hip height, neck length, head circumference, face length, face width, shoulder width, right ear length, left ear length, right horn length, left horn length and tail length) and live body weight of each animal were measured. In the prediction of body weight, the multiple regressions found nine parameters to be significant (P<0.05) for Red Sokoto (FL, CL, LL, HW, SW, HC, HH, RHL and HL) and Boer goats (HG, BL, WH, REL, FL, SW, NL, FW and HH) with R2 values of 29 and 80%, respectively. The stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that right ear length followed by left ear length, left horn length, tail length, head circumference, neck circumference, neck length and body weight had significant discriminating power on the two goat breeds studied. The between–breeds Mahalanobis distance matrix was significant (P<0.0001) and this shows the existence of measurable group differences between the two goat breeds studied. The genetic potential due to the larger body weight and morphometric traits of the Boer compared to the Red Sokoto breed gives it an advantage for selection as meat purpose breed. The phenotypic differences obtained in this study could be complemented with further molecular analysis that could assist in the conservation and improvement of the indigenous breeds through appropriate selection and breeding programmes.