The morphological characteristics of the placenta of Yankasa and Balami ewes were evaluated. Uteri of 20 pregnant Yankasa and Balami ewes were collected as abattoir waste from Maiduguri Municipal abattoir and were placed in containers containing 10% neutral buffered formalin. Using the crown-rump length (CRL) method of estimating the ages of the foetuses, they were grouped into three gestational stages. In both breeds, 50% of pregnancy occurred in the left uterine horn; in the Yankasa, 20% and 30% occur in the right uterine horn, and both (twining), respectively. While in the Balami, 40% and 10% occurred in the right and both (twinning) uterine horns, respectively. The results showed that the placenta-maternal contact in both breeds was fragile in the first stage, firm in the second stage, and loose in the third stage. The results showed that there were significant changes (P<0.001) in the mean weight, length, and width of the placentomes in all three stages. Three types of placenta appearances were identified in the Yankasa ewe: concave, convex, and flat, while two types of appearances in the Balami ewe were concave and convex. In the light microscopy evaluation, the trophoblastic epithelia of both ewes were composed of mononucleated, binucleated cells and syncytia. Endometrial glands were also observed in the inter-placental space. In conclusion, this study has shown that in both breeds, the cotyledonary surfaces of the placentae were mostly concave, followed by convex, and a mixture of the two (concave/convex). The trophoblast epithelia are positioned to control the movement of substances across foetal and maternal tissues. Even though little is still known about the regulation of these cells in the trophoblast epithelia, they are believed to be responsible for the synthesis of hormones such as lactogen for the maintenance of the pregnancy before parturition.

Developmental instability theory suggests that variation in some body parts in part can reflect the ability to buffer development from key environmental and genetic perturbations. Support for this approach comes mainly from assessment of fluctuating asymmetry, or deviations from symmetry of body features that are symmetric at the population level. In order to study dental asymmetry in domestic goats, we sampled 22 adult goat skulls. Bucco-palatine and mesio-distal distances (width and length) of the second molar on each side for each skull, on their occlusal aspect, were measured and compared using standard lineal methods. There was evidence of directional asymmetry, that is, unilateral mastication habits, being the left teeth of the arch slightly but systematically longer than the right. This directional change supported a right chewing side preference in the sample. It is important to highlight that the sample comes from non-pathological specimens. Therefore, it does depict the sample population of animals used in general. The observed asymmetries was not associated with any other cranio-facial abnormalities.