PHENOTYPIC CORRELATION OF BODYWEIGHT AND MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS FROM SELECTED NIGERIAN BREEDS OF SHEEP IN KANO STATE

Abstract

Morphometrics and sheep body weight have shown enormous changes in estimating productivity and breed assessment for some sheep breeds. Thus, this study was aimed to identify the morphometric parameters that have correlation among and between body weight (BW) of sheep breeds. Two hundred and sixteen (216) sheep from three breeds; 72 Balami, 72 Uda and 72 Yankasa, three locations; (Bayero University Kano (BUK) new campus, Kano main abattoir and Danbare quarters), two sexes (ram and ewe) and four age groups (≤2, ≤3, ≤4 and ≥5 years) were used for this study. Body weight was measured in kg using weighing belt and sixteen linear body measurements were measured in cm using measuring tape from adult sheep. The results of pearson correlation analysis for the variables measured showed that relationship between BW and all the morphometric measurements, except hip height (HH) and scrotal length (SL) were positive and significant; indicating that selection for BW might yield a correspondent positive result in other morphometric traits. The morphometric measurements with positive and non-significant correlations were BW/HH (0.06) and BW/SL (0.11), respectively.