Abstract

Aim: The principal objective of this study was to undertake morphometric characterization of indigenous goat populations reared in three districts of Jimma zone, western Ethiopia.

Method and Materials: Morphometrical data were collected from 660 adult goats raised in Nono Benja (NB), Omo Nada (ON) and Limu Sika (LS) districts of Jimma zone. The regression analysis was used to predict body weight from the measured data for both sexes separately. Based on linear body measurements, 15 structural indices were calculated.

Results: Except head length, all morphometrical traits were affected (p<0.05) by district. Accordingly, goats reared in NB district had higher (p<0.05) morphometrical values than those kept in ON and LS districts. Similarly, goats raised in NB district had higher values (p<0.05) for all quantitative traits than those of ON district. All quantitative traits increased (p<0.01) with the age of the goats. In both female and male goat populations, chest girth (CG), body length, and height at wither showed strong and positive correlations (p<0.001) with live body weight. The result of stepwise regression analysis revealed that CG was more consistent in predicting body weight in both sexes than the other quantitative traits. According to the values of the dactyl thorax index, longitudinal pelvic index and compact index, the general body conformation of these goat types matched up with the intermediary meat type.

Conclusion: Chest girth was found to be more consistent in predicting body weight of goats in both sexes. The calculated structural and functional indices suggest that goats in the study area could be classified as medium (intermediary) meat type animals.

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