LAUSR

Goat production and breeding in West Africa is largely under traditional rearing system with little or no efforts geared towards improving their productivity. To understand underlining body conformation among spatially distributed West African dwarf (WAD) goats, a survey was conducted between May 2015 and June 2017 in two states of Nigeria. Data were recorded on two hundred and twenty-seven freely-scavenging West African dwarf goats, on Body weight (BWT), Heart girth (HGH), Diagonal trunk length (DTL), Height at the withers (HWT), Height at the rump (HRP), Body Breadth Index (BBI), Body Depth Index (BDI), Body length Index (BLI), Trunk length index (TLI), Weight-Height Index (WHI), Overbuilding Index (OBI) and Withers-Girth Index (WGI). These were subjected to randomized complete block design, GLM, multiple linear regression analysis procedures by Statistical Analytical Systems. Significant values (P < 0.05) were obtained between locations for BWT, DTL, TLI, OBI, BLI and WHI, between sexes for all traits and on the interaction of LOC by SEX for DTL, TLI, OBI, BDI, BBI, WGI and BLI. Bucks differ on trunk and girth between states. Body conformation for does and bucks – girth-breadth-depth and trunk-weight-height also differ greatly respectively. Results were significant for studying environmental adaptation and selection for development of meat type animals based on structural conformation.