VALIDATION OF ACCURACY OF BODY SIZE PREDICTION FROM TESTICULAR TRAITS IN RED SOKOTO GOATS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7441Keywords:
body size, body conformation, testicular measurements, goats, regression modelAbstract
Male fertility is an important factor in caprine reproduction since numerous does are generally bred to a single buck. Hence, evaluation of male fertility prior to breeding is of paramount importance to achieve breeding success. Body size and testicular measurements have been found to be important parameters utilized in breeding soundness evaluation. The present study therefore, aimed at determining the relationship between body weight (BW), scrotal circumference (SC), scrotal length (SL) and testicular length (TL) in 85 extensively reared Red Sokoto (RS) goats. The results obiained from SPSS software were validated using R statistical package. Among the testicular traits, SC was more highly related with BW (r = 0.863) in RS goats. It was also the best single trait for the prediction of BW (R’, adjusted R’ and RMSE values of 0.744, 0.741 and 1.771, respectively). The present findings could be exploited in husbandry and selection of breeding stock for sustainable goat production especially within the resource-poor farming system under tropical and subtropical conditions.
