Morphological Indices for Assessment of Ethnological and Functional Traits in Red Sokoto Does Population in Kano Metropolis

Student: Rukayya Usman Lawan (Project, 2025)
Department of Animal Science
Bayero University, Kano, Kano State

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the morphological indices for assessment of ethnological and functional traits in Red Sokoto does population in Kano metropolis. Data were collected from 47 Red Sokoto does, focusing on 12 body measurements which include; Heart girth (HG), Chest depth (CD), Chest Width (CW), Sternum height (SH), Head width (HW), Head length (HL), Neck length (NL), Neck width (NW), Wither height (WH), Body length (BL), Rump height (RH), and Rump width (RW). The study assessed the effects of age, parity, and prolificacy on these traits and functional and ethnological indices were estimated. Most of the ethnological and functional traits were significantly affected (p0.01) by parity and prolificacy of the goat. Results showed that heart girth was a good predictor of body weight. Traits like conformation and compactness improved with age and parity, showing better body structure in older and multiparous does. Does with triplets had better physical traits, highlighting their breeding potential. This research highlights the genetic stability and diversity of the Red Sokoto goat population, offering useful information for breeding programs and livestock management. Improving goat body structure can boost productivity, adaptability, and profitability, supporting sustainable livestock development in Nigeria.

Keywords
Goat body indices ethnology functional traits
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