Measures of size and shape in West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto goats
2026
U. C. Isaac | C. M. Ojukwu
Abstract Body size and shape are key indicators of structural integrity, health status, and economic value in livestock. This study aimed to estimate size and shape in two indigenous Nigerian goat breeds, West African Dwarf (WAD; male = 42, female = 107) and Red Sokoto (RS; male = 62, female = 19), using morphometric data (n = 230). Data were collected on linear body parameters (LBPs) and estimated body weight (BW) for individual goats across breeds and sexes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and stepwise multiple regression were employed to identify key predictors of body structure. RS goats exhibited higher mean BW and LBPs than WAD goats. All LBPs were positively correlated across breeds and sexes. PCA extracted two components (PC1 and PC2) in male WAD goats, explaining 68.66% and 12.02% of the total variance, respectively. In female WAD, male RS, and female RS goats, only PC1 was retained, accounting for 63.11%, 74.48%, and 86.04% of the total variance, respectively. Highest proportion of variance was explained by different traits across breeds and sexes. Regression analysis revealed that BW was best predicted by body length (BL) and heart girth (HG), in combination with other LBPs. In conclusion, body size and shape in WAD and RS goats are influenced by both breed and sex. BL and HG emerged as the most reliable morphometric traits for estimating body weight and structural conformation, offering practical value for selection and field-based assessment in smallholder systems.
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