Characterization of Young Donkeys in North West Nigeria using Morphometric Traits

Abstract

Morphometric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki),
Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) for
young donkeys. A total of 210 young donkeys were used for the study. Morphometric
measures taken were head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck
circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail
length. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis to determine the
distribution of phenotypic traits across classes based on morphometric traits. The
effect of strain, sex, location and interaction on certain linear body measurements
were estimated using the GLM procedure of the statistics analysis software SAS
statistical package. There were variations in the morphometric traits of the donkeys
due to strain, sex and location effects with white donkeys exhibited the heaviest body
weight (126.78kg) for young donkeys from Kaduna state while the least body weight
(98.89±6.68cm) was recorded in Fari strain of donkey from Katsina state. The
coefficient of variation was fairly uniform at the young stage except shoulder width
(13.0%) and tail length (14.8%) which were moderate. Sexual dimorphism exist in
the body size measures of donkeys with females having heavier body weight
(120.7kg) and larger heart girth (106.2cm). Zoometric phenotypic differentiations
exist among the observed strains of donkeys in the Northwestern Nigeria. Further
studies should be carried out on molecular studies for determination of diversity that
exists among young donkey strains.