ABSTRACT

The WAD Sheep represent one of the predominant small ruminant breeds raised by resources limited households in Southern Nigeria as well as in the humid west and central Africa. This breed of Sheep is renowned for its adaptation to hot and humid environments, high fertility and prolificacy under backyard systems where they are raised almost with zero investment. On account of its contributions to household income and food security in southern Nigeria, there is the need for a detailed phenotypic and genetic characterization as well as the design of breeding strategies for its conservation through sustainable utilization. A critical challenge, however, is that there are no national breeding policies in most of the countries where WAD Sheep are raised.

This study was carried out in three (3) Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, Nigeria; Ikole (07°47'53.76"N 05°30'52.l?"E), Oye (07°47'52.55''N 05°19'42.78"E) and Ado (07°37'15.9996"N 05°13'17.0004"E) Local Government Areas. The study aimed at evaluating the phenotypic characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep in study location. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) adult WAD Sheep, comprising of ninety (90) males and ninety (90) females, were randomly selected for the study. Animals were randomly selected across locations within the Local Government Areas. Sick and pregnant animals were not included in the study. Animals were selected based on the phenotypic appraisal only.

Phenotypic characterization is important in breed identification and classification in ways that both research scientists and farming communities can relate with. The aim was to explain the pattern of relationship of the body dimensions and body functions of adult Sheep in the West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep. Body weight, sex, colour and other seven body traits (ear length, heart girth, rump height, wither height, body length, head length, tail length) were collected from the 180 Sheep comprising of 90 males and 90 females WAD Sheep. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Tukey's test. Results obtained showed that sex had a significant effect (p< 0.05) on some of the body parameters considered. This trend confirms sexual dimorphism in WAD Sheep in the study location.

White and black (37.2%) and White (26.1%) are the dominant color types while 36.7% comprises of Brown (21.7%), White and brown (10.0%) and Black (5.0%) colour types with long thin tail in both ewe and ram sheep. The majority of the sheep had a straight tail form at the tip, straight head profiles and also horizontal ear forms. Location and sex had a significant effect (P<0.05) on body weight and some of the linear body measurements. The results collected showed significant differences (Prespectively; EL (11.33±0.14"; 11.8±0.17•; ll.6±0.15••)cm, HG (75.3±0.95'; 80.38±0.69•; 77.67±0.89.)cm, MBW (38.14±1.2'; 44.61±1.0•; 41.36±1.16•)kg, RH (68.47±0.81•; 68.07±0.81'•; 66.1±0.65b)cm, WH (68.47±0.81'; 68.07±0.81.b; 66.l±0.65•)cm, BL (87.43±0.98•; 83.37±0.97•; 87.3±0.94.)cm while HL (20.8±0.28; 21.38±0.24; 21.48±0.27)cm, and TL (32.15±0.44; 34.78±0.7; 32.98±0.S)cmdid not show significant differences between the locations. The highest correlation was obtained between BW/HG and RH/WH for all the location.

Keywords: WAD sheep, body dimensions, phenotypic characters, body weight.