Morphometric measurements and body weight affected by breed, age and sex in Sindh goat breeds population of Pakistan

Abstract Text: Sindh province is harbor of maximum goat breeds in Pakistan. However, there is scarcity of information regarding the indigenous goat breeds of Sindh province on morphometric measurements and weight. Therefore, current study was designed to study the effects of age, sex and breed on body weight and body measurements of ten goat breeds in their respective breeding tracts. A survey was carried out in breeding tracts of ten goat breeds of Sindh viz. Kamori, Tapri, Bugi-Turi, Pateri, Kachan, Jattan, Lohri, Chappar, Barri, and Thari. During the current study HyderAbad, Matiyari, Hala, Methi, Umer kot, Tharparkar, Thatha, Badin, Dadu, and Mirpur Khas districts of Sindh province were visited. Data was collected and arranged according to age claas (class 1: 1-6 months, class 2: 7-12months, class 3: 13-18 months, class 4: 19-24 months, class 5: 25-36 months, class 6; 37-48 months, class 7: 49-60 months, class 8: >60 months), sex and breed. Data were analyzed using Mixed Procedure by REML methodology in SAS (Version 9.2) to investigate the effect of breed, age, and sex on body weight and body measurements. Overall breeds did differ for live body weight, heart girth, length, height and chest length (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference among breeds in term of pubic bone length (P < 0.05). Kamori had mean body weight of 67.58±1.41 kg, followed by Pateri (50.01±1.50kg), Bugi-Turi (44.13±1.33kg), Barri (43.50±1.60kg), Kachan (42.50±1.60kg), Tapri (39.33±1.55kg), Jattan (38.63±1.51kg), Chappar (38.03±1.49kg), Lohri (35.41±1.60kg) and Thari (33.94±1.45kg). There was significant difference among age class for all the body measurement and body weight (P < 0.05) except for pubic bone length. Over all male goats showed higher body weight and height. The present study revealed variations in body measurements and body weight across age, sex and breed in Sindh for the first time. As goats are mainly raised for meat production in the area, Kamori goat showed highest body weight followed by Pateri, Bugi-Turi, Barri, Kachan, Tapri, Jattan, Chappar, Lohri and Thari. Moreover, if breeds are to selected for mutton based on body weight then are Kamori followed by Pateri, Bugi-Turi, Barri, Kachan, Tapri, Jattan, Chappar, Lohri and Thari. This could be useful information if any selection program is to be launched in future to improve meat production in the province.

Keywords: AJK, Goat breeds, Body measurements, Body weight

Morphometric measurements and body weight affected by breed, age and sex in Sindh goat breeds population of Pakistan