TESTICULAR BIOMETRY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY WEIGHT OF INDIGENOUS GOATS IN A SEMI ARID REGION

Records of body weight and testicular measurements (scrotal circumference, scrotal length and average testes weight) were obtained from 296 (197 Red Sokoto and 99 Borno White) indigenous goats of various ages (between one and three years of age) in Nigeria. Red sokoto goats had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight than the Borno White. The Borno white had significantly (P<0.05) longer scrotal length (15.12cm) than the Red Sokoto goats (12.91cm) while scrotal circumference and testes weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the Red Sokoto. Within breeds, there was a linear relationship between age, body weight and the entire testicular dimension. As age increased, body weight and testicular dimensions increased. Scrotal length had the highest correlation coefficient (0.74 and 0.82) with body weight which was significant (P<0.01) in both Red Sokoto and Borno White goats, respectively. Consequently, scrotal length in both breeds of goats was the best single predictor of body weight (R2 = 0.602 and 0.794) for Red Sokoto and Borno White goats, respectively