ASSESSMENT OF MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF CAMEL (Camelus dromedarius) POPULATIONS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the morphological characteristics of camel (Camelus dromedarius) populations in Kano state using phenotypic characteristics. In achieving the objectives, body weight and seventeen (17) morphometric traits were measured from two hundred and eighty-eight (288) adult camel of different ages (5yrs,10yrs and 15yrs) to determine the influence of strain (sand-brown, creamy, creamy white, gray white, black brown and dark brown) sex and age. Data obtained from the morphometric measurement were analyzed using SAS to determine the effect strain sex and age on morphological attributes. Linear regression was used to determine association between the variables. Result showed that sex and strain had a significant effect on body weight and other morphometric measurements (p<0.05) but there was no significant effect of age on the attributes (p˃0.01) measured on the animal. The populations were not genetically pure but heterogeneous with varying degree of genetic similarity and distance. None of the populations exhibited genetic uniqueness. It can be concluded that the population exhibited high genetic diversity on strain of camel (sand-brown, creamy, creamy white, gray white, black brown and dark brown) and should be exploited in future genetic breeding program.