Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Goats in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Hailu Tilahun*, Aynalem Haile, Ahmed Seid
Citation :Hailu Tilahun, Aynalem Haile, Ahmed Seid , Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Goats in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2019, 5(7) : 44-55.
The study was conducted with the objectives of phenotypically characterize the goat population. Data for qualitative and quantitative characters were collected from a total of 630 goats (210 goats from each district). Observations on qualitative traits were analyzed for male and female goats separately using frequency procedure of SPSS. Whereas, quantitative traits were analyzed using the Generalized Linear Model procedures of the statistical analysis system (SAS, 2014). Majority of goat coat color was red color in Berehet and Basona-worena district while in Minjar-shenkora white is dominant and white with other coat colors were observed. Sex and district of goats had significant effect on all body measurements. Age classes of goats had significant (p < 0.05) effect on body weight and most of the linear body measurements. For all the measurements compared, Minjar-shenkora district had higher values than other districts. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that chest girth explained more variation than any other linear body measurements in both does (91%) and bucks (92%). The prediction of body weight could be based on regression equation y = -53.23 + 1.18x for female sample goat population and y = -45.16 + 1.06x for male sample goat population where y and x are body weight and chest girth, respectively.