PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF GOAT TYPE AND THEIR HUSBANDRY PRACTICES IN NUER ZONE OF GAMBELLA PEOPLE REGIONAL STATE, SOUTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Breed characterization had been practice by various researchers in different time but some goat types like the Nuer goats did not get attention yet. This study was carried out to describe goat production system and to phenotypically characterize goat type under farmer's management practices in Lare and Jikawo districts of Nuer zone, Southern western Ethiopia. A total of 180 households were interviewed to capture relevant information. Moreover qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a total of 600 adult (>1PPI) goats. Data collected through questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis to generate descriptive statistics. Ranking was explained by calculating indexes, chi-square test was used to describe the significance of qualitative traits. General Linear Model of SAS was employed on quantitative data to test the effect of sex, age, xviii district, and the interaction of sex by age on body weight and other linear body measurements. Correlations were computed between body weight and linear body measurement for each sex. The REG procedure of SAS was employed to regress body weight on linear body measurements for male and female. The primary purpose of raising goats was for income in both districts (Lare and Jikawo). Body size/Appearance was the primary preference in both districts for male and female. Open grass land and Range land grazing was the major feed source in the study area in both dry and wet seasons. River and Dam /ponds were the common sources of water reported by farmers in the study districts during wet and dry season. The overall age at first mate for male and female were 7.06 and 10.93 months, respectively. The overall age at first kidding and kidding interval were 16.76 and 6.45months, respectively. Results of multiple correspondence analysis showed that goats in both districts are more explained by plain coat color pattern with, White coat color type in female (85.53%) and (14.47%) male were observed in Lare district, in Jikawo district white coat color type were observed with 42.53% for females and 43.59% for males. Absence of ruff was observed with 88.98 and 95.79% in Lare and Jikawo districts respectively. in addition smooth hair coat type, pendulous ear orientation, concave facial profile presence, straight horn shape and back ward horn orientation were frequent in male and female as well as in both district in a similar manner. Location had non-significant effect on linear body measurements in males and females. Males were significantly higher than females for the measurements of Chest Girth and Pelvic Width as well as Body Weight. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between age and body weight and all linear body measurements even ear length. Moreover, interaction effect of sex by age is significant except ear length. In males positive and highly strong association were found between body weight and Chest girth(r=0.86), wither height(r=0.763), body length(r=0.798), similarly, in females body weight had significant (P<0.05), strong and positive association between Chest Girth(r=0.91) and body length(r=0.82). Prediction equation to estimate body weight of Nuer goats for male and female was calculated. In all age groups Nuer goat type, males had higher body weight (p<0.05) than females.Regrassion Analysis was carried out to estimate body Weight from the Linear Body Measurements for both male and Female separately.