CHARACTERIZATION OF DONKEYS (AQUUS ASINUS) IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA USING MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC MEASURES
By
Author
Presented To
Department of Agricultural Science
ABSTRACT
PLEASE NOTE:
Morphological and morphometric traits were used to determine the relationship among Red (Auraki), Black (Duni), White (Fari), Brown (Idabari) and Brown-white (Idabari-fari) donkeys at different ages. A total of 700 donkeys were used for the study. The morphological data were collected on hair type, Coat colour, Skin type, Coat colour pattern, Tail shape, Eye colour and Head profile.Morphometric measures taken were body weight, 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 different statistical analysis to determine the distribution of phenotypic traits across classes based on morphological traits. ANOVA was used to determine the effect of various classes and morphological factors on morphometric indices; correlated relationship among morphometric traits for different classes, sex and strains were carried out; principal component analysis of morphometric traits, prediction equation for body weight based on morphometric measurements, discriminant analysis for the identification of donkeys with high discriminant powers and cluster analysis to classify donkeys into different genetic groups were carried out. Significant variations was observed between morphological and morphometric (P<0.01) traits. The results of the study showed that the short-smooth hair type (75%), brown coat colour (86%), thick skin type (75%), solid coat colour pattern (97%), pendent tail shape (58%), black eye colour (95%) and straight head profile (86%) were preponderant in the studied populations. The correlated relationships among morphometric measurements varied significantly (p<0.05, 0.01) with age in pooled data and within strains. Coefficients were very high across sexes within strains. Body weight was positively and negatively correlated with other measurements due to the effect of age. Principal component indices had higher loadings for head length (0.82), ear length (0.65), neck length (0.68), neck circumference (0.72), shoulderwidth (0.83), height at withers (0.80), heart girth (0.79) and body length (0.84) in PC1 across the strains. Sexual loadings indicated male having better prediction result when body volume and length components are considered while females are better evaluated using length and shape related measures. The BL (R2=97%), HW (R2=99%) and HG (R2=100%) predominated as the major single most important predictors of body weight in a stepwise regression across the sex and age categories. Brown-fari (Idabari-fari) donkey strain was highly discriminated against with high discriminating power and this could be classified as a distinct strain of donkey. Cluster analysis of qualitative traits of donkeys using UPMGA revealed high level of dilution of the genetic pool. It is therefore concluded that donkeys in Northwestern Nigeria can be characterized using their morphological and morphometric traits. However, for their distinct classification, into the four (4) existing strains, body weight, neck circumference and tail length cannot be used; rather a more appropriate yardstick is the use of skin type (36%) and tail shape (24%) which had high genetic distance estimate.
PLEASE NOTE:
That this Material is a Complete Project, Well Written and Contains 1 to 5 Chapters.
Click the download Button Below to Download the complete work. OR Call/WhatsApp Admin on: 09019904113 for Inquiry. Thank You
- FOR ENQUIRY
- support@e-projecttopics.com
- 09019904113
Learn and Obtain Diploma in Web development, Software development, Business, Technology and Creative Skills taught by industry experts. Explore a wide range of skills with our professional tutorials.
About E-Project Material Centre
E-Project Material Centre is a web service aimed at successfully assisting final year students with quality, well researched, reliable and ready made project work. Our materials are recent, complete (chapter 1 to Minimum of Chapter 5, with references) and well written.INSTANT ACCESS! INSTANT DOWNLOAD. Simply select your department, choose from our list of topics available and explore your data
Why Students Love to Use E-Project Material ?
Guaranteed Delivery Getting your project delivered on time is essential. You cannot afford to turn in your project past the deadline. That is why you must get your project online from a company that guarantees to meet your deadline. e-Project Topics Material Centre is happy to offer instant delivery of projects listed on our website. We can handle just about any deadline you send our way. Satisfaction Guaranteed We always do whatever is necessary to ensure every customer's satisfaction
Disclaimer
E-Project Topics Material Centre will only provide projects as a reference for your research. The projects ordered and produced should be used as a guide or framework for your own project. The contents of the projects should be able to help you in generating new ideas and thoughts for your own project. It is the aim of e-Project Topics Centre to only provide guidance by which the projects should be pursued. We are neither encouraging any form of plagiarism nor are we advocating the use of the projects produced herein for cheating.
Terms and Condition
Using our service is LEGAL and IS NOT prohibited by any university/college policies You are allowed to use the original model papers you will receive in the following ways:
- As a source for additional understanding of the subject
- As a source for ideas for you own research (if properly referenced)
- For PROPER paraphrasing ( see your university definition of plagiarism and acceptable paraphrase) Direct citing ( if referenced properly)