Udder Shapes and their Relationship with Udder Size in Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

One hundred and thirty Red Sokoto (RS) and one hundred and eight-five West African Dwarf (WAD)
goats were evaluated for the eflects of udder shape on udder size. Efects of udder shape were highly
significant (Pc0.01) on udder size in both breeds of goats. Udder characteristics measured included
udder length (UL), udder width (UW), udder circurnferetzce (UC) and distance between teats (DT).
Bowl shaped udder was significantly (PC0.01) superior in size to cylindrical, round and funnel
shaped udders in the two breeds. In RS goats values of UL and UC for bowl udder were 14.52 f 0.31
and 28.87 + 0.52 cm respectively, while corresponding lower values obtained for cylindrical shape
were; 12.94 + 0.33 and 24.39 f 0.55 cm; and round udder 12.01 +_ 2.54 and 24.64 +_ 2.54 crn andfinnel
udder 12.06 + 0.66 and 22.83 f 1.08cm respectively. For WAD goats UL and UC values recorded for
bowl udder were 13.30 + 0.89 and 28.80 f 1.31cm respectively. Results obtained for cylindrical
udder, were 10.78 + 0.90 and 22.18 + 1.35cm and forfunnel udder 11.30 f 1.87 and 16.26 f 3.65cm
respectively. These results showed that bowl shaped udder was larger thatn other types of udder in
the indigenous goats and hence suggest larger capacity for milk production.