QUANTITATIVE TRAITS OF INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF GOAT IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW

Abstract

The current study was aimed at reviewing some variation among quantitative traits of indigenous breeds of goat in Nigeria. Goat maintained a dominant position in producing quality product such as meat, milk, skin and hair in Nigeria. Goats constitute the largest group of small ruminant livestock in Nigeria totaling about 53.8 million and also constituting 6.2 percent of the World‟s goat population. The wide range of production environment in Nigeria requires an equally diverse range of genetic
materials to enable substantial production. Developing breeding policies and strategies will aid in improving the genetic resources of the native breeds. Morphometric measurements are among the data needed in characterization and establishment of breed. There are about three (3) enlisted native breeds of goat indigenous to Nigeria namely: Red Sokoto, Sahel and West African Dwarf goat, which are widely distributed in the country, from desert to humid environment. A significant variations exist between the breeds in terms of body weight, body length, chest girth, wither height, horn length, tail
length and other Important traits among the breed.