The three breeds of goat in Nigeria -Sahel (Sh), Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) -are described. The performance of the latter two is illustrated in the tables. RESUMELes trois races caprines du Nigéria -Sahélienne (Sh) , Sokoto rouge (RS) et naine d'Afrique orientate (WAD) -sont décrites; des tableaux illustrent les performances des deux dernières races. RESUMENSe describen las tres razas de ganado caprino de Nigeria: Sahel (Sh), Red Sokoto (RS) y West kfrican Dwarf (WAD). En los cuadros se expone el rendimiento de las dos Gitimas.

A study was conducted to determine the growth performance and meat yield and quality of West African dwarf sheep. Twenty rams weighing an average of 15.3 ± 0.79 kg live weight and with an average age of 18 months were allotted at random to five dietary treatments of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% maize hay (MH) for a period of 105 days. Dry matter (DM) intake and growth rate of the rams were improved as the level of cassava hay (CH) increased in the diets. Live weight gain varied significantly (P< 0.05) across the treatments, ranging from 38.8 to 47.9 g/day. The carcass weight of the rams fed 100% MH was significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with the other treatments. Dressing percentage ranged from 56.5% to 61.0% with no significant (P > 0.05) difference observed across the treatments, while the distribution of the slaughtered parts was similar (P > 0.05) regardless of the dietary treatment. Proximate composition of the meat from the loin indicated that the DM, crude protein, fat and ash contents were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. Panellists rated the meat to be similar (P > 0.05) in flavour, juiciness, tenderness and overall acceptability while colour and texture varied significantly (P < 0.05) across the treatments. In conclusion, this study indicated that better growth performance and meat production in West African dwarf sheep can be improved in form of body weight and carcass production when fed 25%MH and 75% CH diet.

An analysis has been made of the reproductive performance of Red Sokoto goat of Nigeria. Data are based on records of 140 kiddings from 96 does. Age at first kidding was 435 ± 18-9 days. The mean litter size at first kidding was 1-45. Prolificacy increased with parity, the kidding percentages from first to third parities being 141, 186 and 200 respectively. Doe weight was significantly correlated with litter size (r = -0-27). Repeatabilities of litter size per doe kidding and of litter weight were negative. Heritability of litter size was 0-08 ± 0-02. Birth weights were low, the mean weight of kids during the 3 years ranging from 1-48 to 1-64 kg. Doe weight was related to litter weight in a manner such that litter weight as a proportion of doe weight tended to decline as doe weight increased. The ratio of litter weights of singles to twins at any given weight of the doe was 100:180. Kid mortality by 3 months of age was 30-8 %. Mortality among twins was only slightly higher than singles. However, mortality in kids born in multiple births (triplets and quadruplets) was much higher. Birth weights of surviving kids were significantly higher than of those that died.

No abstract

Haemoglobin variants were studied in a population of 104 Red Sokoto goats of over 1 year of age and in 49 kids. Three haemoglobin variants and 5 phenotypes were detected. The observed proportions of haemoglobin phenotypes in animals over 1 year of age differed from the expected numbers calculated on the basis of genetic equilibrium, while in kids there was good agreement between observed and expected values. There were significant differences in helminth egg counts among haemoglobin phenotypes. The heterozygotes had significantly lower egg counts than homozygotes. It is postulated that the discrepancy in the observed ratios of haemoglobin phenotypes of the older group was probably due to the differential susceptibility to helminth infection.