Hierarchical cluster analysis of yearling body weight and linear body measurementsof sheep of Northern Nigeria and their crosses

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72
Author(s):  
A. O. Iyiola-Tunji

This study was conducted at the Sheep Project Unit of Small Ruminant Research Programme (SRRP) of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria. Balami, Uda and Yankasa breeds (sheep of Northern Nigeria) were crossed . A total of 65 Yankasa, 23 Uda and 16 Balami ewes were served by 4 Yankasa, 3 Uda and 3 Balami rams. The diallel breeding pattern produced 192 lambs. However, only the 65 yearling that survived up to 12 months of age (yearling) were used for this study. The yearling body weight and linear body measurement data were analysed using General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of SAS with model that incorporated lamb genotype as fixed effects. Pairwise difference was used to separate the mean (SAS, 2003). Distances were used to construct dendrogram using the Unweighted Pairs Group Method Analysis implemented in R 2.13.0 package. TREE procedure that prints the dendrogram based on the distances between the clusters was introduced in PROC CLUSTER procedure. Yearling genotype affected body weight and all the linear body measurements considered in this study (P<0.05). The pure Balami yearling (BL X BL) had the highest birth weight at 12 months of age (29.10±4.02kg). Clumping structure of yearling body weight among sheep of Northern Nigeria and their crosses were grouped into two clusters at distance 2.656. Pure Balami (BL X BL) formed the first cluster while the rest of the genotypes belong to the second cluster. The second cluster was further divided into two sub-groups at 0.796. The first sub-group had yearlings from pure Uda (UD X UD), Uda ram and Yankasa ewe (UD X YK), Uda ram and Balami ewe (UD X BL), Balami ram and Uda ewe (BL X UD) and Yankasa ram and Uda ewe (YK X UD) at 0.514. Similar clumping structures with two clusters share among the nine genotypes at varied distances were recorded for all the linear body measurements studied. Patterns of similarities were established for yearling body weight and linear body measurements among sheep of Northern Nigeria and their crosses. Improvement plans for yearling growth traits of sheep in Nigeria should consider the genotypes with divergent genetic distances as sires and dams. This will ensure the best exploration of positive heterosis.  

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
A. A. Adeoye

Data on body weight and linear body measurements collected from 101 America StandardChinchilla rabbits comprised of 62 females and 39 males at eight weeks were used todetermine the effect of sex and phenotypic correlations among the growth traits. Theestimates were statistically (p<0.05) higher in the female compared with male in virtually all the traits considered except in the fore arm length. The values for body weight, body length, ear length, tail length, fore arm length, heart girth and abdominal circumference for females were 1.19 kg, 31.97 cm, 10.67 cm, 9.89 cm, 15.61 cm, 21.61 cm and 23.75 cm, respectively while the corresponding values for males were 0.88 kg, 28.00 cm, 10.44 cm, 8.95 cm, 14.74 cm, 19.62 cm and 21.67 cm. The correlation between body weight and the linear body measurements was positively significant (p<0.05 and p<0.001) and ranged between 0.301 and 0.951 in males while in females positive and significant correlations were found between body weight and body length (0.831), tail length (0.184), heart girth (0.788) and abdominal circumference (0.719). The correlations among the linear body measurements in the males ranged between 0.108 and 0.951 while in females it ranged between -0.235 and 0.681. The positive relationships between body weight and linear body measurements can be used as basis for body weight selection in both male and female rabbits


Agro-Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-113
Author(s):  
N.E. Ikeh ◽  
O.R. Okwesili

Body weight (BW) and linear body measurements of 120 Nigerian Nsukka ecotype local hens in terms of body length (BL), chest girth (CG), thigh circumference (TC), thigh length (TL), and shank length (SL) were taken and subjected to Pearson correlation analysis to obtain the relationship between these growth traits. Multiple Linear Stepwise Regression procedure was used to find the best linear combination of the linear body measurements that can best predict BW. The findings showed that linear body measurement traits of Nigerian heavy ecotype local hens were strongly (p < 0.01) and positively correlated (0.5 < r) except thigh length which recorded a moderate value (0.3 < r > 0.5). The regression equations of linear body measurement traits with BW were positive with coefficient of determination ranging from 60.5-74.6%. The stepwise analyses showed shank length as best single measurement with R2 = 0.605, while inclusion of our five predictors in an equation resulted in R2 = 0.746. Thus, the following equation was generated: BW = – 1485.70 + 82.06 SL + 58.34 BL + 38.70 TC + 8.39 CG + 3.85 TL. This showed that they accounted for 74.6% of the variations in the BW of Nigerian heavy ecotype local hens. The prediction equations generated from linear body measurement traits are positive and strong, therefore can accurately be employed to predict the relative BW of Nigerian heavy ecotype local hens during selection programs as well as in the market with the use of measuring tape.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
D. P. HEANEY ◽  
P. S. FISER ◽  
G. A. LANGFORD

Heart girth (HG), body length (BL), leg length (LL), metacarpal circumference (MC), withers height (WH) and hook width (HW) of 233 growing rams of three synthetic strains, Suffolk and Finnsheep breeds were measured at 6, 8 and 10 mo of age. Thereafter, subsequent measurements were taken at 11–13 mo, 18–21 mo and 23–25 mo of age. Breed, birth period (hysterectomy derived birth date), age of ram and body weight (BW) had important effects (P < 0.05) on linear body measurements, whereas age of dam did not (P > 0.05). Significant effects of litter size on HG and BL were observed at 6 and 8 mo of age, respectively. All linear body measurements increased from 6 to 21 mo of age, whereas BL, WH and HW continued to increase to 25 mo. Rams of Strain 1, developed as a synthetic sire strain, with a large proportion of Suffolk background were generally similar to the Suffolk rams in all body measurements except for HG which was significantly larger than in Suffolk rams. The Finnsheep rams had smaller HG, BL, MC and HW than the synthetic strains and Suffolk rams, whereas LL and WH of the Finnsheep and Suffolk rams were similar. Rams of Strains 2 and 3, developed as synthetic dam strains with 50 percent Finnsheep background, were similar in body measurements. The synthetic dam strains did not differ from Strain 1 and/or Suffolk with respect to HG, BL, WH and HW. However, Suffolk rams had larger MC and shorter LL compared to those of the Strain 2 and 3 rams. Birth period had a significant effect on HG, BL, LL and MC, but no consistent trend with age of ram was apparent. Linear body measurements were positively correlated with each other and with body weight; however, the relationship varied as rams progressed in age. The importance of breed, birth date, age of ram and body weight on body measurements and the requirements for appropriate adjustments is emphasized. Key words: Sheep, body measurements, breed, birth date, age of ram


Author(s):  
M. Ibnelbachyr ◽  
I. Boujenane ◽  
A. Chikhi

SummaryThe Moroccan goat livestock is characterized by the existence of different phenotypes distributed among diverse geographic locations. The objective of this study was to analyse the morphometric traits that differentiate the Draa breed from the other local populations raised in areas close to its cradle zone. Eight morphometric measurements were taken on 287 goats in South-eastern and Southern Morocco. The variance analysis, fitting a model that included the random effect of animal and the fixed effects of population, gender and age of animal, was used. Mahalanobis distances were calculated between identified populations and an Unweighted Pairs Group Method Analysis tree was built. Draa goats had the highest height at withers (61.5 cm), heart girth (74.4 cm), body length (64.6 cm) and live body weight (27.2 kg). These morphometric traits varied significantly among populations as well as the age and the gender of animal. The most discriminating traits between the identified populations were the body length, the heart girth, the hair length, the horn length, the ear length and the live body weight. Draa animals had the largest genetic distances from the other populations and appeared more distinguished from them. This differentiation can contribute in defining the phenotypic standard of the breed and in orienting its genetic improvement programs in the future.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karu. Pasupathi ◽  
M. Sakthivel ◽  
D. Balasubramanyam ◽  
M. Babu ◽  
P. Kumarasamy

Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
S. P. Dahiya ◽  
Z. S. Dahiya ◽  
C. S. Patil

Measurements of body conformation in sheep are of value in judging the quantitative characteristics of meat and also helpful in developing suitable selection criterion. Data on 349 Harnali sheep for body length (BL), body height (BH), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), tail length (TL), head circumference (HC), ear length (EL), ear width (EW), face length (FL) and adult body weight (ABW) were analysed to study the relationship between linear body measurements and body weight. The mixed linear model with dam’s weight at lambing as covariate was used to study the effect of non-genetic factors on body measurements and body weight. High estimates of heritability were obtained for BL, BH, HG, TL, HC, EL, EW, FL and ABW while moderate estimate was obtained for PG. The phenotypic correlations of BL, BH, HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were positive and significant (0.32±0.04 to 0.59±0.08). The genetic correlations of HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were 0.51±0.13, 0.42±0.19, 0.44±0.13 and 0.43±0.15, respectively. Various combinations of linear type traits to predict ABW were found to have coefficient of determination as high as 0.92. It is concluded that heart girth is the most important trait for estimation of live weight in sheep and the prediction equation is Body weight = -63.72 + 1.23 HG with R2 = 0.87.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e04SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meysam Latifi ◽  
Mohammad Razmkabir

The objective of the present study was to estimate genetic trends for body weight at different ages in Markhoz goat, including birth weight (BW, n = 4758), weaning weight (WW, n= 3685), 6-month weight (6MW, n = 3420), 9-month weight (9MW, n = 3032) and 12-month weight (12MW, n = 2697). Data and pedigree information were collected from 1992 until 2014 at the Breeding Center of Markhoz goat, Sanandaj, Iran. The GLM procedure of SAS was used for selecting the variables and identifying significant fixed effects in the equation of model. Various animal models were applied for genetic analysis and the best model was determined based on Akaike information criteria (AIC). Breeding values of animals were predicted using Wombat program. Genetic trends were obtained by regressing the average predicted breeding values on birth year for each trait. Based on the best model, direct estimated genetic trends were positive and significance for WW, 6MW, 9MW and 12 MW were 15.51, 26.28, 58.36 and 76.70 g/year, respectively (p<0.001). Maternal genetic trend for BW and WW were 0.61 and 5.47 g/year, respectively (p<0.01). The low and moderate generic trends obtained in the present study, indicated the possibility of growth traits improvements through genetic selection at all ages in Markhoz goat.


Author(s):  
Tesfalem Aseged Ayele ◽  
Abraham Assefa ◽  
Abebe Hailu ◽  
Tesfaye Getachew ◽  
Manaye Misganaw ◽  
...  

This study was conducted on a total of 776 goats (part of Central highland goat breeds of Ethiopia), 306 from Boset district of Oromia region and 470 were from Minjar Shenkora district of Amhara region. A format developed by using food and agriculture organization discerption list was used for recording of morphological traits, bodyweight and linear body measurements. Both qualitative and quantitative traits were recorded from randomly sampled mature goats and the data were analyzed using SAS software. The goat type in the study area was characterized by a higher proportion of plain coat color patterns (62.5). Ingeneral, the majority (98.4%) of the studied goats were horned and characterized by backward orientation (67%) with a straight shape (49.3%). They presented a concave facial profile (73.8%), slop up toward the rump back profile (66.2%), no wattle (99.6%), no toggle (90.7%), no ruff (85.9%) and no beard (57.3%). The location had a significant effect on body weight and some other linear body measurements. Traits like body length, rump length, horn length, head length, head width and shin circumference were significantly higher in Boset district. In contrast, rump width and cannon bone length were significantly lower. The mean body weight of male goats in Boset and Minjar Shenkora district were 30.5±1.05 kg with a range of 16 to 47 and 27.5±0.56 with a range of 13 to 57, respectively. While for female counterpart mean body weights (kg) were 28.4±0.35 with a range of 17 to 45 for Boset and 27.5±0.33 with a range 15 to 57 for Minjar Shenkora district. Heart girth had the highest correlation with body weight in both sexes and shoulder width in Boset male goats. The wider variation in most quantitative measurement traits would open an opportunity for further improvement, conservation and utilization work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-177
Author(s):  
P. E. Nwaku ◽  
M. O. Otuma

The pre weaning growth performance of piglets from four different cross bred dams mated back to their native parents was studied in the Breeding and Research Farm of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. Parameters like body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency as well as linear body measurements of body length, heart girth and height  at withers were taken and observed for growth between birth and weaning age of eight weeks. Results Results indicated significant differences (P<0.05) between the main backcross N x (N x LR) and the three other genotypes of N x (N x LW), N x (LR x N) and N x (LW x N) in all parameters. The mean birth weight of the progenies ranged from 1.00±0.60 to 1.60±5kg while the weaning weights were 10.5±0.4 to 16.0±1.0kg respectively. Results further revealed that body weight at weaning correlated responsively with all parameters and these include body length (r=0.858), heart girth (r= 0.446) and height at the withers (r= 0.946). Similarly, body length has a positive correlation with heart girth (r= 0.477) and height at the withers (r= 0.827) whereas hear girth correlated positively with the height at the withers (r= 0.494). Similar trend were obtained in the regression of each of the body measurements on the other in which bodyweight changes depended more on that of body length (0.86) than on heart girth (0.45). Judging from the observed variations existing among the piglets resulting from differnt crossbreed dams in their pre-weaning growth performance, maternal rather than paternal influences appeared to be more important in the traits studied.   


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