ON-FARM PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS GOAT ECOTYPES IN WEST GONDAR ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in Metema and West Armachio districts of West Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia to phenotypically characterize indigenous goats under farmers’ management. Using purposive and random sampling, five kebeles with huge and desired goat population were selected, and a total of 121 goat owners participated in a survey. A total of 500 adult goats (450 does and 50 bucks) were characterized for qualitative and quantitative traits, while 156 kids of 108 does were monitored from October 2024 to February 2025 to assess pre-weaning growth performance and survival. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, GLM, and survival analyses with SPSS V.22 and SAS V.9.4. the study found that cash income (i=0.29) and meat consumption (i=0.28) as the major purposes of rearing goats which dominantly was fed on natural pasture (96.7%) and a combination of natural pasture, crop residue and crop aftermath (41.3%) during wet and dry seasons respectively. Goat herding using a herder was prevalent and sources of water were from river and borehole with one time and two times watering for wet and dry seasons. Kraal/Gavila (69.4%) type and separate fenced enclosure (65.3%) were goat houses during wet and dry seasons. Source of buck, mainly from neighbors and born from own flock and emphasis on body size and conformation and libido to select buck. Goat production was characterized by traditional way with little practices of culling, castration and predominantly uncontrolled mating practice (79.4%). From the phenotypic confirmation, Habesha goats were confirmed that they dominantly exhibit white and red (23%), pure white (19.3%) and black and white (17%). Other distinct characteristics of Habesha goats were semi-pendulous ear orientation (74.7%), straight head profile (97.7%) and short hair (83.7%) whereas, Rutana goats typically had black and white (29%), pure white (19.5%), fawn (12.5%) and mixtures of white, black and red (12%) colors. These breeds were also distinct in their pendulous ear (90%), convex head profile (99%) and long hair (71%). In their quantitative traits, Rutana goats out performed (at least significantly p<0.05) than Habesha goats in live body weight (33.45±0.41kg), horn length (16.01±0.37cm), ear length (19.62±0.18cm), head length (26.31±0.18cm), cannon bone length xv (14.24±0.12cm), cannon bone circumference (9.65±0.08cm), height at wither (72.12±0.45cm), body length (71.41±0.50), rump height (76.93±0.42cm), rump width (13.55±0.15cm) and scrotal circumference (26.67±0.56cm). Other fixed factors such as sex and age class had also at least significant (p<0.05) effect on linear body measurements. The LSM (±SE) birth weight (2.45±0.02), three month weight (10.82±0.02kg) and average pre-weaning daily weight gain (94.47±0.95g) of Rutana goat kids were highly and significantly (p<0.000) higher than the respective Habesha kids. The fixed factors sex of kid, breed type, birth type and parity had highly significantly affected the pre-weaning growth performances of kids. To conclude in the study area Rutana goats had performed better than Habesha goats with specific qualitative and quantitative traits. Key words Amhara, Characterization, Ethiopia, Indigenous Goat, Phenotype, West Gondar Zone