Evaluation of dressing percent and quantitative skin traits in Nigerian goat breeds
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Date
2014
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Faculty of Agriculture, Taraba State University
Abstract
Data collected on ninety-six male yearling West African Dwarf (WAD), Sokoto Red Goat (SRG) and their reciprocal crosses (i.e. WAD x SRG, SRG x WAD) were used to evaluate breed difference and heritability of dressing percent, pre- tanned skin weight, thickness and perimeter as well as the heritability of post- tanned skin weight, thickness and perimeter. WAD x SRG was significantly higher (P<0.05) in dressing percent and pre-tanned skin weight than purebred SRG and WAD goats. It was also significantly superior (P<0.05) to WAD in post-tanned skin weight, thickness and perimeter. Purebred SRG produced skins which were significantly superior (P<0.05) in pre- and post-tanned thickness than the remaining genotypes. Heritability estimates for quantitative skin traits ranged from low to high, depending on the trait under consideration, genotype and the method of computation. Dam component heritability were generally higher for pre-tanned skin thickness and perimeter while the sire component heritability was higher for dressing percent, pre-tanned skin weight and post-tanned skin perimeter. The present study suggests that a crossbreeding programme involving WAD as sire and SRG as dam lines could help to improve meat dress out and increase the production of high quality skins for the leather industry
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Keywords
Crossbreeding, Heritability, Sokoto Red goat, West African Dwarf goat