Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T10:21:36.364Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Body dimensions of Nigerian cattle, sheep and goats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

S. J. G. Hall
S. J. G. Hall
Affiliation:
Research Group in Mammalian Ecology and Reproduction, Physiological Laboratory, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG
Get access

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-six multiparous cows, 63 goats and 71 sheep were measured in breeding flocks and herds in Nigeria. The humped cattle breeds, and the large-bodied, humpless Kuri, are narrow-bodied and tall in relation to their length when compared with British breeds. Pelvic dimensions are small. The sheep and goats native to the coastal and middle belts (the West African Dwarf breeds) are miniature versions of those found in the north. Neither appears to be achondroplasic but dwarfing seems to have proceeded differently in the two species in that the adult West African Dwarf goat is similar in its relative body proportions to the adult northern goat, implying a proportional miniaturization. The West African Dwarf sheep appears to be a neotenous form with body proportions similar to those of an immature sheep.

Keywords

body measurementsconformationdwarfismdystociaNigeria
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 61 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adeniji, K. O. 1983. Review of endangered cattle breeds in Africa. In Animal genetic resources in Africa: high potential and endangered livestock. Second OAU expert committee meeting on animal genetic resources in Africa, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, pp. 24–31. OAU, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Adu, I. F. and Ngere, L. O. 1979. The indigenous sheep of Nigeria. World Review of Animal Production 15: (3), 51–62.Google Scholar
Alaku, O. and Igene, J. O. 1983. Seasonal variation in volume of trade cattle moved from the sahelian to the equatorial zone of west Africa — with particular reference to Nigeria. World Review of Animal Production 19: (2), 69–74.Google Scholar
Atkins, K. D. and Thompson, R. 1986. Predicted and realized responses to selection for an index of bone length and body weight in Scottish Blackface sheep. 2. Correlated responses in lifetime productivity. Animal Production 43: 437–445.Google Scholar
Boostrom, D. R., Slanger, W. D. and Moore, B. L. 1986. Heritability and repeatability of Hereford show-ring placing and associated correlations with individual performance measurements and expected progeny differences. Journal of Animal Science 63:1101–1107.Google Scholar
Chang, T. K. and Landauer, W. 1950. Observations on the skeleton of African dwarf goats. Journal of Morphology 86: 367–369.Google Scholar
Clutton-Brock, J. 1989. Cattle in ancient north Africa. In The walking larder. Patterns of domestication, pastoralism and predation (ed. Clutton-Brock, J.), pp. 200–206. Unwin Hyman, London.Google Scholar
Davis, H. P., Morgan, R. F., Brody, S. and Ragsdale, A. C. 1937. Relation of height at withers and chest girth to liveweight of dairy cattle of different breeds and ages. University of Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station research bulletin no. 91.Google Scholar
Ehiobu, N. G. and Ngere, L. O. 1986. Effect of inbreeding on birth weight of White Fulani cattle. Tropical Veterinarian 4:133–138.Google Scholar
Epstein, H. 1971. The origin of the domesticated animals of Africa. Vol. II. Africana Publishing Corporation, New York.Google Scholar
Geist, V. 1971. Mountain sheep. A study in behaviour and evolution. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
Gregory, K. E. and Spahr, S. L. 1979. Miniature calves. Journal of Heredity 70:217–219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hall, S. J. G. and Clutton-Brock, J. 1989. Two hundred years of British farm livestock. British Museum (Natural History), London.Google Scholar
Harbers, L. H., Schalles, R. R., Okoyoe, B. I. C. and Zemmelink, G. 1972. Comparative study of White Fulani, Friesian and White Fulani-Friesian bulls for meat production. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 49:1–8.Google Scholar
Helwig, J. T. and Council, K. A. 1979. SAS user's guide. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Johnson, L. E., Harshfield, G. S. and McCone, W. 1950. Dwarfism. An hereditary defect in beef cattle. Journal of Heredity 41:177–181.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1951. The classification of West African livestock. Technical Communication 7. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, Bucks.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1984. In Evolution of domesticated animals (ed. Mason, I. L.), pp. 85–99. Longman, London.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1989. A world dictionary of livestock breeds, types and varieties. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International, Wallingford, Oxon.Google Scholar
Maule, J. P. 1990. The cattle of the tropics. Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Roslin, Midlothian.Google Scholar
Montsma, G. 1986. Meat production in West African Dwarf goats. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Research 34: 413–420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngere, L. O. 1983. The Gudali of Nigeria — review. In Animal genetic resources in Africa: high potential and endangered livestock. Second OAU expert committee meeting on animal genetic resources in Africa, Bulawyayo, Zimbabwe, pp. 77–81. OAU, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Ngere, L. O., Adu, I. F. and Okubanjo, I. O. 1984. The indigenous goats of Nigeia. Animal Genetic Resources Information 3:1–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Payne, W. J. A. 1970. Cattle production in the tropics. Longman, London.Google Scholar
Saint-Martin, G., Messine, O., Mbah, D. A. and Planchenault, D. 1988 [Crossing the Gudali zebu of the Adamawa of Cameroon with improved taurine breeds: growth before weaning]. In 3rd World congress on sheep and beef cattle breeding, Paris. Vol. 2, pp. 204–206.Google Scholar
Schwabe, A. E. and Hall, S. J. G. 1989. Dystocia in nine British breeds of cattle and its relationship to the dimensions of the dam and calf. Veterinary Record 125: 636–639.Google Scholar
Searle, T. W., Graham, N. McC. and Donnelly, J. B. 1989. Change of skeletal dimensions during growth in sheep: the effect of nutrition. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 112: 321–327.Google Scholar
Starkey, P. H. 1984. N'dama cattle — a productive trypanotolerant breed. World Animal Review 50: 2–15.Google Scholar
Tizikara, C., Akinokun, C. and Chiboka, O. 1985. A review of factors limiting productivity and evolutionary adaptation of tropical livestock. World Review of Animal Production 21: (4), 41–46.Google Scholar
Wheat, J. D. 1972. An analysis of data on Azaouak and Rahaji cattle at Gumel, Kano State, Nigeria. Samaru miscellaneous paper 40. Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Wheat, J. D., Leeuw, P. N. de and Koch, B. A. 1972. Bunaji cattle at the Shika Research Station, North Central State, Nigeria. Samuru miscellaneous paper 41. Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.Google Scholar