A total of 163 Sahelian goats of both sexes (64 males and 99 females) were randomly sampled and used in this study to assess the relationship between bodyweight and morphological traits using multivariate path analysis method. Methods: Data were obtained on bodyweight (kg), height at withers (HW), body length (BL), paunch girth (PG) and heart girth (HG). Means (+SD and CV) and correlation coefficients between bodyweight and morphological parameters were also evaluated using the statistical procedures of SPSS 20.0 package. Results: Higher significant (P<0.05) values were obtained for female goats in all the variables than males. The phenotypic correlation values between bodyweights and linear measurements were positive and highly significant (r = 0.707 -0.803; P< 0.01 and r = 0.520 -0.752; P< 0.01) in male and female goats respectively. Results also revealed that the direct effect of paunch girth on bodyweight was strongest (path coefficient = 0.413; P<0.05) for males while body length was strongest (path coefficient = 0.373; P<0.01) for female goats. Conclusions:The forecast indices recorded in this work could be employed to predict bodyweight in Sahelian goats with accuracy. Significance and impact of study: The prediction model obtained in this study would be useful in weight estimation and in the process help in making management decision and breeding programs for genetic improvement in goats.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of season and feeding regime on reproductive parameters of Kano Brown bucks. A total of fourty eight (48) bucks were used for this study which comprised sixteen (16) bucks per season. At the end of this study twelve (12) bucks, three from each treatment were orchidectomised. Twenty-four right and left testes were harvested, testicular weight (g) and length (cm) were measured. Epididymis was carefully separated from the testes using scapel blade and then separated into three parts (carput, corpus and cauda epididymides) weight (g) and length (cm) were also measured. Testes and epididymis were used to determine gonadal and extra gonadal (x 106)/g/testis which was done in the laboratory. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Completely Randomized Design. The results of gonadal sperm reserves (x 106)/g/testis differed significantly among the seasons, dry season recorded the highest mean value (2896.83 x106)/g/testis whereas rainy season had the lowest mean value (2350.15 x106)/g/testis. Similarly, for extra gonadal sperm reserves, dry season also recorded the highest values (1736.00 x 106) followed by harmattan season (1037.50 x 106). Based on the results of this study, it could be concluded that season and feeding regime had a significant effect on gonadal and extra gonadal sperm/spermatid reserves of Kano Brown bucks. Breeding bucks should be raised during rainy and harmattan seasons.

This study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of male and female rabbits raised in the semi-arid condition. Methods and Results: Twenty-four (24) rabbits, comprising of 12 bucks and 12 does, were used for this study. At 12 weeks of age, the rabbits were weighed and slaughtered. Parameters measured include; pre-slaughter weight (kg), hot carcass weight (g), four primal cut weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump), internal organs weight (liver, lungs, kidneys, hearts, stomach and intestines). Sex had non-significant effects on the preslaughter, hot carcass and the four primal cuts weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump). Conclusion: Conclusively, sexual dimorphism existed in the weights of the internal organs such as; liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines where female rabbits had higher weights. However, the pre-slaughter, hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump weights were not significantly affected by sex, implying that any of the sex could be safely utilize for meat production. Pre-slaughter weight was positively correlated with the weights of hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump while negatively correlated with liver, stomach and intestine. Significance and Impact of Study: Pre-slaughter weight could be use as selection criterion for improvement of carcass quality in rabbits.

Sex assessment plays an important role in rabbit production, but it can be very difficult to determine, especially in the young ones. In this study, canonical discriminant analysis was used to determine which of the morphological traits are the most effective in sex determination in rabbits. Data were taken on 160 rabbits and used for this study on body weight (BWG), body length (BDL), ear length (EAL), heart girth (HTG), and abdominal circumference (ABC). The results from the univariate analysis show manifestation of sexual dimorphism with higher values observed in females for all the morphometric measurements. The canonical discriminant analysis revealed that ABC was the most significant morphological trait as a discriminating variable between the sexes in rabbits. The discriminant function, D = – 8.673 + 1.865 BWG + 0.013 BDL + 0.291 EAL – 0.318 HTG + 0.463 ABC, obtained correctly classified 72.5% of individuals of rabbits. In conclusion, the abdominal circumference of the rabbits in a population could be an important tool for the conservation and improvement of the rabbits’ population.

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