Effect of Some Qualitative Traits and Non-Genetic Factors on Heat Tolerance Attributes of Extensively Reared West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats

Heat tolerance attributes of extensively reared West African Dwarf goats as influenced by some qualitative traits and non-genetic factors was studied on-farm. The qualitative traits of interest were the coat colour and wattle types while the sex and season were the non-genetic factors. The coat colours and wattle types were first identified in the population of WAD goats. The heat tolerance traits include, rectal temperature (RT), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR) and heat stress index (HSI). The study identified ten coat colours and three wattle types in the goat population studied. Coat colour and season significantly affected (P < 0.05, 0.001) all the heat tolerance traits under study while PR and RT were significantly influenced (P < 0.05) by wattle type. Only RR was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by sex. The lowest values of RR, RT, PR and HSI were obtained in the White (Awt) goats during the late wet season. Bilateral wattled goats (WW) had the lowest RT and beats/minute while the highest RR was recorded in the male goats. This therefore suggest that coat colour and wattle types of WAD goats could be used as an indirect and affordable selection criteria in the tropical environment.