Characterization of male Sahel goat population at an abattoir in northeastern Nigeria: coat color, age and live body weight

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Male goat population presented for slaughter in an abattoir in northeastern Nigeria was demographically characterized based on coat color, age and live body weight. The study was to provide features of the slaughter population, and to assess the impact of coat color on body weight at various ages. Sahel goats (n = 6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007) were identified by coat color, aged by dentition and weighed. Coat color proportions were 30.1%, 29.1%, 13.2%, 10.7%, 6.5%, 5.9% and 5.5% for white-and-black (WH-BL), white (WH), white-and-brown (WH-BR), brown (BR), black (BL), black-and-brown (BL-BR) and multiple-colored (MC), respectively. The WH-BL and WH were most common, but WH was the most consistently slaughtered. All goats had mean age and body weight of 1.8 ± 0.7 year and 17.6 ± 5.2 kg, respectively; and coat colors did not influence body weight at various ages. Age correlated positively (r = 0.96, p = 0.007) with body weight and negatively (r = -0.97, p = 0045) with number slaughtered. Most of them (91.0%) were 1.0-2.5 year old. In conclusion, male Sahel goats presented for slaughter at the abattoir were predominantly WH and WH-BL phenotypes and mostly young adults, and the groups with various coat colors at matched ages had comparable body weights with one another, showing that coat color may not be significant trait relevant as probable criterion for breeding selection to improve body weight. Animal Science Sahel goat coat color body weight breed phenotype abattoir slaughter population Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1.0 Introduction The Nigerian Sahel goats are long-legged with a variety of coat colors considered as ecotypes [ 1 ], such as Borno White (BW), Sokoto Red (SR), Kano or Savannah Brown (KB) that have acquired geographical names associated with coat colors, without distinct morphological traits for differentiation [ 2 ]. Genetic relationship is close among the Sahel goat ecotypes [ 3 , 4 ], especially between Sokoto Red and Borno Sahel goats [ 5 ]. There was no classic difference in the body morphometric characteristics of Sokoto Red and other sahelian goats [ 6 ]. When body weights and other body measurements are not different between goat populations, they are likely to be genetically close in their relationship [ 7 ]. Ecotypes of goats in northern Nigeria have homogenous populations, and they do not differ in birth weights and pre-weaning to post-weaning weights [ 8 – 11 ], but are considered sub-breeds of long-legged (Sahel) goats along with sahelian goats of various specific coat colors [ 12 ]. Therefore, the coat color does not define a consistent breed phenotype, but may be linked to genetic loci which could align with heritable production traits relevant for breeding selection. The coat color is inherited as dominant or recessive gene which may influence thermoregulation, heat tolerance or stress [ 13 ], thirst-related feed intake, and metabolic states affecting the capacity to gain body weight with age [ 14 – 17 ]. Sahel goats are adapted to adverse climatic conditions and are produced mainly for meat and skin, but could be selected for improved milk production [ 18 ]. In northeastern Nigeria, Sahel goats of various coat colors are presented for slaughter at the abattoir [ 2 ]. The population of male Sahel goats presented for slaughter at the abattoir may be characterized on the basis of their various coat colors [ 19 , 20 ] and their live body weights at various ages could be influenced by the coat colors, with implication that the coat color phenotype probably becomes a breeding selection criterion for weight gain and meat off-take. In the event where there is no variation of mean body weights among goats of various coat colors, it could be additional evidence of similar body weight at various ages across coat colors. The objective of the study was to demographically characterize the population of male Sahel goats (bucks) presented for slaughter based on coat color, age and live body weights during a period of time, with the aim of deriving relevant information on effect of coat color on body weight at matched ages from the population statistics. 2.0 Materials and methods 2.1 Study design An observational study was carried out as an exploratory cross-sectional investigation of the population characteristics (demography) of the male Sahel goats (bucks) presented for slaughter at the abattoir in Maiduguri (11.83 o N, 13.15 o E), Nigeria, based on coat colors, ages and live body weights, and selected by convenience sampling during a period of six months in 2007. Data were sorted to assess proportions (as percentage) of bucks with various coat colors, and to determine the body weights of bucks having each coat color at various ages with monthly variations in the period. The data exploration was to identify the predominant coat color, the influence of coat color on body weight, the modal, mean and median age and body weight at slaughter. 2.2 Coat color of Nigerian Sahel buck and sampling method The long-legged Sahel bucks were selected, by convenience sampling, at the metropolitan abattoir based on the classic feature of elevated height at withers of 50-70 cm [1]. The coat color was either plain or basic (single color) or pied (two or more colors) (Figure 1). They were identified with the single color of white (WH), black (BL) or brown (BR), or with double patched color of white-and-black (WH-BL), white-and-brown (WH-BR) and black-and-brown (BL-BR) or with three or more major multiple colours (MC). These coat colors were previously reported [1, 20]. In this study, neutral grey and tan were merged with white and brown, respectively. The double colors usually were separated anteriorly and posteriorly at the trunk or scattered over the coat in a variegated pattern. 2.3 Data collection in the abattoir The data collection was done in March-August (2007) as the climate transited from hot dry season (March to early July) to the rainy season (late in July to August). The goats were brought in for slaughter from smallholder flocks located in the urban or peri-urban areas of Maiduguri metropolis, from private lairages after transportation from villages and from the livestock market. The abattoir is contiguous to the lairages and the livestock market. The goats were brought into the abattoir from morning to the afternoon. As they arrived for slaughter, they were physically examined and identified by coat color, aged and weighed (convenience sampling). Their ages were estimated by observing the dentition for deciduous teeth, permanent teeth eruption and wear of permanent teeth [21]. Their weights were taken using a weighing machine (HANA, Model BR 9011, China) calibrated in kilograms. The data from the Sahel bucks were entered daily in a tabulated format on monthly basis. 2.4 Data analysis The data were grouped by coat color to determine the numbers and proportions (as percentage) of the various groups on monthly basis and the total within the period of study (6 mo). The variations in proportions were tested for significance using online software (www.medcalc.org/calc/). The variables were summarized as means and standard deviations. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated as ratio of standard deviation to the mean. The variation in means was assessed for statistical significance (two tailed, p < 0.05) by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons of means in posthoc. The relationship between the ages and body weights across the months was quantified by correlation coefficient, r, with test for significance. These calculations were done with statistical software (GraphPad InStat, GraphPad Software Inc., CA., USA, www.graphpad.com). The skewness of age and body weight distributions were calculated online (https://byjus/skewness-calculator/), and the mean, median and mode were also calculated online (https://vrcacademy.com/calculator/mean-median-mode-grouped-data-calculator/ ). 3.0 Results Coat-color-based population characteristics of Sahel bucks (n = 6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007) are summarized in Table 1. The proportions of bucks slaughtered among the various coat color phenotypes within the period, in decreasing order, were WH-BL (30.1%), WH (29.1%), WH-BR (13.2%), BR (10.7%), BL (6.5%), BL-BR (5.9%) and MC (5.5%). The monthly number of the phenotypes was 61-334 with monthly proportions of the total population as 5.7-29.4%. The WH-BL (29.4%) and WH (28.9%) phenotypes were most commonly presented monthly for slaughter with coefficients of variations as 35.0% and 2.3%, respectively. The WH bucks were the most consistently slaughtered on monthly basis with the least fluctuation in numbers, and other phenotypes had higher variability in numbers (CV = 26.2 - 41.5). The proportions of single, double and multiple-colored bucks in the population are presented in Table 2. The proportions of the coat-color phenotypes varied significantly (p < 0.05) in the population. There was higher (p < 0.05) proportion of double than single-colored bucks. Within the single and double-colored groups, WH and WH-BL bucks were the most preponderant, respectively. WH bucks (62.0%) dominated the population of single-colored bucks with higher (p < 0.002) proportion than BR (23.6%) and BL (14.5%) bucks. Among the double-colored bucks, WH-BR number (29.9%) was about half the number of WH-BL (61.1%) and BL-BR (12.0%) number was the least. The MC bucks (5.5%) had the lowest proportion among all the color phenotypes. The bucks of various coat colors did not differ (p < 0.05) in their mean ages and body weights (Table 3 and 4). Mean ages of coat color types were from 1.7 ± 0.6 yr to 1.9 ± 0.7 yr, and overall mean age for all bucks was 1.8 ± 0.7 yr (Table 3). Mean body weights of the coat color types were from 17.2 ± 4.3 kg to 18.2 ± 3.9 kg, with overall body weight of 17.6±5.2 kg (Table 4). Monthly mean age decreased (p < 0.0001) across the period from 2.0 ± 0.8 yr in March to 1.6 ± 0.7 yr in August; whereas, the corresponding monthly mean body weight decreased (p < 0.0001) from 19.2 ± 4.9 kg in March to 16.6 ± 5.4 kg in August (Table 3 and 4). Monthly mean ages and body weights of the bucks positively correlated (r = 0.93; p = 0.006) across the months. Frequency distribution of ages (Table 5) of the bucks at slaughter showed normal distribution (skewness = -0.069). Most of the bucks (4633 out of 6653, 69.6%) were presented for slaughter at 1-2 yr of age. The mean, median and modal ages from the distribution were 1.8, 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. Buck ages negatively correlated (r = - 0.97, p = 0.0045) with the numbers slaughtered at various ages. As the buck age increased, fewer numbers of bucks were presented for slaughter. Live body weights of the bucks (Figure 2) were also normally distributed (skewness = 0.28) with an outlier class (30-32 kg) consisting of 2/6653 (0.03%). The mean, median and mode from the distribution were calculated to be 17.2, 17.0 and 17.9 kg, respectively. The age and body weights of the bucks positively correlated (r = 0.96; p = 0.007). Body weights of the bucks increased across the months with increase in ages (Table 6). The increase in mean body weight within 1-2 yr was 37% (4.8/13 kg), but the next increase at 2.0 - 2.5 yr was 9% (1.6/17.8 kg). There was no significant increase in body weight within 2.5 – 3.5 yr of age. 4.0 Discussion This study demographically characterized a large population of male Sahel goats presented for slaughter in terms of coat color, age and body weight to reveal the predominant coat colors, the age and body weight, the influence of coat color trait on the slaughter body weight, and the dynamic relationship of age to body weight which may affect off-take. This may be vital in understanding whether the demographic indicators in the population could connect to the production system and show the driving factors of interest to breeders and stakeholders. The dominant coat colors were either one basic color or pied in two color patches, but multiple-colored (> 2 colors) goats were least frequent, pointing to the selection pressure and dominance of gene pool in the area. The coat colors did not influence body weight, indicating that the coat pigmentation might not have any link to physiological traits that could affect growth and direct the selection pressure based on weight gain as a production trait of interest. However, most goats were slaughtered at the age when the maximum weight gain was yet to be attained (1-2.5 year). We showed that most goats were presented for slaughter before they reached their stable mature weight (> 23 kg), suggesting the farmers could have the propensity to cull the goats earlier than the best mature age and body weight for the best off-take. It is not clear whether the culling and slaughter dynamics indicated by this study is underpinned by production costs, economic pressure, and market demand or profitability profile of the production system. The preponderant coat colors were WH and WH-BL among the single and double colored goats, respectively. Previous reports indicated that the most frequently slaughtered goat color phenotypes in Maiduguri were WH-BL and WH goats [ 1 , 20 ]. The WH bucks (28.1%) had the most consistent monthly slaughter data with the lowest coefficient of variation and represent the archetype of long-legged goats referred to as “Borno white” goats [ 22 ]. There were low populations of BR (10.7%) and BL (6.5%) bucks among those with single coat color. Sahelian goats with basic shades of brown in coat color predominate in goat populations (51.7–90.4%) in north-central and north-western parts of the country where they are often referred to as Kano brown, Savannah brown or Sokoto red goats and there are low numbers (≤ 15%) of WH and/or BL goats in these areas [ 16 , 23 – 25 ]. The black coat color is preponderant (> 60%) among the dwarf goats in southern Nigeria [ 26 – 28 ]. Dark red coat color was reported to be 7.5% of the population of SR goats [ 25 ], which implied that red goats did not predominate among Sokoto “red” goats having ecotypes with variant basic coat colors of dark red, brown, light brown, and black in Sokoto [ 16 ], dark red, brown, light brown and white in Zaria [ 25 ], black, dark brown, light brown and white in Niger State localities [ 24 ] or dark brown, brown and black in Abuja [ 23 ]. The “red” coat color was described as “reddish brown” or “dark red” which may be considered to be within the shades of brown color [ 25 ]. Therefore, the dominance of brown shades in coat colors in the north-central and northwestern ecological zones of Nigeria has not significantly impacted on the dominance of the white coat color in the northeastern ecological zone. The brown coat color dominance in parts of the northern Nigeria has not infiltrated the northeast zone as the gene pool diversification failed to show increased number of BR or WH-BR goats above others. However, the least basic color population of black, which could be genetically recessive but locally selected, interacts with the white color dominance to produce a dominant population of WH-BL goats. We propose that the selection pressure may be favoring the WH ecotype around Borno State ecosystem guided by undefined traits that are probably preferred than others. It is not clear why the multiple colors are rarer than others, but genetic evolution of this phenotype seems not to be supported by breeding selection. The ecotypes of sahelian goats with coat color phenotypes could represent an important area of study to expatiate the physiological or environmental adaptations associated with their unique gene pool and selection preference of breeders. Coat colors did not influence the mean age or live body weight of the goats at slaughter, but age correlated with body weight along the expected normal growth to adulthood. Acceptable modeling of the growth curve of any Nigerian goat breed has not been reported [ 29 ]. Estimation of body weight at specific age characterizes quantitative phenotypes of goats influenced by local genetic resources [ 30 ]. Coat color and body weight are heritable traits with genomic selection signatures [ 31 ]. The maturity rate is genetically correlated with mature body weight [ 32 ] and coat color gene may have pleiotropic effect and/or quantitative trait loci linked to body weight phenotype [ 33 – 35 ]. In goat breeding, siring bucks could be easily selected based on coat color with positive quantitative traits like growth rate and body size which have been used by South African goat farmers [ 36 ]. The insight from our data indicate that there is no association between coat color and body weight, and as such, the selection of WH goat for breeding that achieved their population dominance might not be guided by favorable production trait linked to growth rate or body weight. However, earlier data-based evidence showed that white dwarf goats in Nigeria had larger body size and heavier body weight than other coat colors [ 14 ]. Later, vague association of coat color of dwarf goats with body weight was reported [ 15 , 17 ]. Dark red coat-colored goats had higher body weights than goats with other coat colors in Sokoto [ 16 ]. There was significant effect of coat color in Sokoto goat bucks aged 1–2 years on body weight, but no effect of coat color was observed in Sahel goats of both sexes and all ages [ 15 ]. There are inconsistent reports of significant influence of coat color on production traits in meat-producing goats [ 37 ] and it could be valuable to verify these reports in our local goats in order to explore the use of coat color in breeding selection to improve the productivity of our goat population. The live weights of the goats at slaughter were influenced by their estimated ages. Kwari et al [ 1 ] reported body weights of 24 Sahel goats as 11.5–24.5 kg at 1.0-2.5 year, and those of 20 goats as 11.6 ± 1.1 kg at 1.0 year. The young goats at 1.0-1.5 year were the highest proportion of the population weighing 13.0 ± 1.8 kg; whereas, the mature population weighed 23.3–23.4 kg as mean at > 2.5–3.5 year of age (Table 6 ) in this report (maximum at 30–32 kg) and 28.0–30.0 kg at > 3.0–4.0 year in our earlier report [ 20 ]. SR goats were reported to have the highest live body weight at slaughter around 2–3 year of age [ 38 ]. The goats slaughtered at < 2.0 year were still in their growing phase based on body weight. The variation in mature body weights was mostly likely influenced by forage and other feed availability as the dry season progressed and feed stuff was in short supply with reduced quality. The tendency for body weight to decrease over the months from March to August was associated with decreasing age of the goats at slaughter, implying that the population was influenced by the culling of younger goats for slaughter towards the early rainy or wet season. It was possible that the older goats culled for slaughter were not presented for slaughter locally, but selected to be sold and transported to southern Nigeria where market prices might be higher than in the local market and sales would provide improved profit margin. The goats imported from northern Nigeria dominate the southern goat market [ 39 , 40 ]; the market prices and the demand for goats in the south might be the driving incentive, but data are not available on the regional market dynamics that influence goat population reaching the abattoir in Maiduguri [ 41 ]. In conclusion, male Sahel goats brought in for slaughter in northeastern Nigeria had single, double or multiple coat colors (WH, BL BR, WH-BL, WH-BR, BL-BR or MC), but WH and WH-BL predominated, and coat color had no influence on the live body weight at various ages. Furthermore, majority of the bucks had not reached the optimum or mature age and body weight, suggesting an apparent tendency to supply the abattoir with bucks at younger slaughter age and lower body weight. These observations might have relevance to breeding selection of coat colors, culling dynamics and goat marketing structure at farm level which would need to be investigated. Declarations Acknowledgement The authors appreciate the co-operation and support of the State Livestock Department, Abattoir managers, animal owners and butchers during the research. Author contributions statement I.O.I, N.A.I and F.M.M conceived and designed the study; F.M.M collected and summarized the data and wrote the first draft; I.O.I analyzed the data, produced the tables 1-6, and Figures 1-2 and wrote the final version of the manuscript; N.A.I updated and edited the literature and references; I.O.I, N.A.I and F.M.M contributed to the discussion and approved the final version. Funding statements All authors have no relevant financial and non-financial interests to disclose. Ethics approval and consent to participate The research was reviewed and evaluated by the postgraduate research committee for compliance with Basel Declaration on animal research ethics (https://animalresearchtomorrow.org/en) and approved by the University of Maiduguri School of Postgraduate Studies, after satisfying required local and international ethical standards for postgraduate research by F.M.M (Master of Veterinary Science). Approval was also granted by the State Livestock Department for abattoir research to be conducted. Informed consent was obtained from the Maiduguri abattoir management, animal owners and butchers for pre-slaughter handling of the goats to measure body weights and estimate age by close dental examination. Conflict of interest/competing interest There are no conflicts of interest or competing interest to declare by the authors. Consent to publish manuscript Not applicable. The research is part of an examined postgraduate research by FMM under the supervision of IOI and collaboration with NAI in the Strategic Animal Research Group of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the research group does not require official permission to publish its research Animal Ethics and Consent to Participate declarations Not applicable Data availability statement All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. References Kwari HD, Sivachelvan MN, Chibuzo GA. Characterization of Sahel goat in Borno state, Nigeria, for certain qualitative traits. Nig. J. Exptl. Appl. Biol., 2004; 5: 151- 4. Abba Y, Igbokwe IO. Testicular and related size evaluations in Nigerian Sahel goats with optimal cauda epididymal sperm reserve. Veterinary Medicine International 2015; 2015 Article ID 357519, 5 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/357519 Murital I, Afolayan O, Bemji MN, Dadi O, Landi V, Martínez A, Delgado JV, Adebambo OA, Aina ABJ, Adebambo AO. 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Tables Table 1 Coat-color-based population characteristics of Sahel bucks (n = 6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007) Total population Monthly means Coat color Number Percentage Number (CV) Percentage White 1868 28.1 311 ± 7 (2.3) 28.9 ± 4.4 a Brown 710 10.7 118 ± 48 (40.7) 10.5 ± 1.9 bc Black 437 6.5 73 ± 20 (27.4) 6.6 ± 0.9 c White-and-black 2001 30.1 334 ± 117 (35.0) 29.4 ± 2.7 a White-and-brown 880 13.2 147 ± 61 (41.5) 13.0 ± 3.4 b Black-and-brown 392 5.9 65 ± 25 (38.8) 5.7 ± 0.9 c Multiple colors 365 5.5 61 ± 16 (26.2) 5.7 ± 1.1 c a,b,c Means with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05) CV, coefficient of variation as percentage Table 2 Proportions (%) of single, double and multiple-colored Sahel bucks from the total population (n = 6,653) Coat color Number Proportions (%)* Between group # Within group Single color 3015 45.5 b White 1868 62.0 e Brown 710 23.6 f Black 437 14.5 g Double color 3273 49.2 a White-and-black 2001 61.1 r White-and-brown 880 29.9 s Black-and-brown 392 12.0 t Multiple colors 365 5.5 c # Groups: single, double or multiple coat color * Differences between proportions (%): a & b (p = 0.003): 3.7 (1.2 - 6.2); b & c (p < 0.0001): 40.0 (36.7 - 42.5); a & c (p < 0.0001): 43.7 (40.4-46.2); e & f (p <0.0001): 38.4(34.4-42.1%); e & g (p < 0.0001): 47.5 (43.2-51.2); f &g (p < 0.0002): 9.1 (4.4-13.5); r & s (p < 0.001): 31.2 (27.4-34.8); r & t (p < 0.0001): 49.1 (44.9-52.6); s & t (p < 0.0001): 17.9 (13.2-22.1) Table 3 Ages of Sahel bucks of various coat colours at slaughter in Maiduguri Coat color Age (year) of bucks in a month Overall mean March April May June July August White 2.0±0.7 1.9±0.8 1.7±0.6 1.8±0.7 1.8±0.6 1.7±0.5 1.8±0.6 a Brown 2.0±0.6 1.8±0.7 2.0±0.6 1.7±0.7 1.8±0.6 1.8±0.6 1.9±0.7 a Black 2.1±0.5 2.0±0.8 1.8±0.4 1.7±0.5 1.6±0.4 1.7±0.6 1.8±0.7 a White-and-black 1.6±0.7 2.0±0.6 1.8±0.5 1.6±0.6 1.6±0.6 1.7±0.5 1.7±0.6 a White-and-brown 2.1±0.7 1.8±0.6 1.6±0.6 1.7±0.5 1.6±.8 1.6±0.7 1.7±0.8 a Black-and-brown 2.0±0.6 1.9±0.7 1.8±0.8 1.6±0.5 1.6±0.6 1.6±0.5 1.7±0.6 a Multiple 2.0±0.6 1.8±0.8 1.8±0.6 1.6±0.6 1.6±0.7 1.8±0.4 1.8±0.6 a Overall mean 2.0±0.8 a 2.0±0.6 a 1.8±0.7 b 1.7±0.6 c 1.7±0.8 c 1.6±0.7 d 1.8±0.7 a, b, c, d, Means (±SD) with different superscript are not significantly different (P>0.05) Table 4 Live body weights of Sahel bucks of various coat colours at slaughter in Maiduguri Coat color Live body weight (kg) Overall mean March April May June July August White 19.0±5.6 18.6±4.4 17.0±5.6 16.6±6.0 16.4±4.1 16.2±4.6 17.3±4.9 a Brown 20.1±4.7 17.4±3.6 19.4±4.2 16.2±3.3 17.4±5.2 17.0±6.0 17.9±4.2 a Black 20.0±5.1 19.0±3.4 18.6±5.5 17.0±3.4 16.6±4.3 16.8±3.8 18.2±3.9 a White-and-black 17.3±4.7 19.3±5.2 18.7±4.8 17.1±5.2 17.3±3.7 16.5±5.1 17.6±4.8 a White-and-brown 18.6±4.6 17.2±5.1 16.5±5.2 17.3±3.8 16.3±4.4 16.6±4.0 17.2±4.3 a Black-and-brown 19.0±3.8 18.7±4.3 17.6±4.3 16.4±4.6 17.5±4.2 16.5±5.2 17.6±4.1 a Multiple color 18.4±4.0 17.3±4.4 17.6±4.6 17.0±3.6 16.1±6.4 18.2±5.0 17.3±4.6 a Overall mean 19.2±4.9 a 18.6±4.8 ab 18.4±6.6 b 16.8±4.7 c 16.9±6.3 c 16.6±5.4 c 17.6±5.2 a, b, c Means (±SD) with different superscript are significantly different (P<0.05) Table 5 Frequency distribution of ages of Sahel bucks at slaughter in Maiduguri Age (year) Number of bucks in a month Total March April May June July August 1.0-1.5 218 486 a 498 a 473 a 341 a 403 a 2419 a >1.5-2.0 263 a 471 488 398 267 327 2214 >2.0-2.5 91 397 363 276 103 193 1423 >2.5-3.0 20 31 123 94 54 87 409 >3.0-3.5 0 13 63 27 33 52 188 Total 592 1398 1535 1268 798 1062 6653 a Modal frequencies in an apparent skewed distribution Table 6 Effect of age on live body weight of Sahel bucks at slaughter in Maiduguri Age (year) Live body weight (kg) Overall mean March April May June July August 1.0-1.5 14.0±1.9 13.5±1.6 13.1±1.0 12.0±2.1 13.0±2.0 12.6±2.4 13.0±1.8 a >1.5-2.0 17.6±1.8 18.4±1.8 17.3±1.3 18.7±1.2 17.5±2.4 17.0±2.0 17.8±1.8 b >2.0-2.5 19.4±1.5 19.8±1.7 19.6±1.7 18.6±1.6 19.2±2.1 19.3±1.8 19.4±1.6 c >2.5-3.0 24.2±2.4 24.0±1.6 23.2±1.4 22.5±1.4 22.8±1.8 22.0±1.2 23.3±1.4 d >3.0-3.5 - 24.0±1.8 24.0±1.9 23.0±1.9 22.9±1.7 22.8±1.9 23.6±1.8 d a, b, c, d Means (±SD) with different superscript are significantly different (P<0.05) Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. 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2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":27063,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDistribution of the male Sahel goat population by live body weight\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7729785/v1/2152dc20029ef3658927020a.png"},{"id":92480337,"identity":"844b4911-f821-4540-b32d-bafb3ba790a1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-30 07:40:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":11117859,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7729785/v1/455c485c-6c44-49fb-b0b5-e5a24f78c0b9.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eCharacterization of male Sahel goat population at an abattoir in northeastern Nigeria: coat color, age and live body weight\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1.0 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Nigerian Sahel goats are long-legged with a variety of coat colors considered as ecotypes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e], such as Borno White (BW), Sokoto Red (SR), Kano or Savannah Brown (KB) that have acquired geographical names associated with coat colors, without distinct morphological traits for differentiation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Genetic relationship is close among the Sahel goat ecotypes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], especially between Sokoto Red and Borno Sahel goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. There was no classic difference in the body morphometric characteristics of Sokoto Red and other sahelian goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. When body weights and other body measurements are not different between goat populations, they are likely to be genetically close in their relationship [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Ecotypes of goats in northern Nigeria have homogenous populations, and they do not differ in birth weights and pre-weaning to post-weaning weights [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR9 CR10\" citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], but are considered sub-breeds of long-legged (Sahel) goats along with sahelian goats of various specific coat colors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, the coat color does not define a consistent breed phenotype, but may be linked to genetic loci which could align with heritable production traits relevant for breeding selection. The coat color is inherited as dominant or recessive gene which may influence thermoregulation, heat tolerance or stress [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], thirst-related feed intake, and metabolic states affecting the capacity to gain body weight with age [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR15 CR16\" citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSahel goats are adapted to adverse climatic conditions and are produced mainly for meat and skin, but could be selected for improved milk production [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. In northeastern Nigeria, Sahel goats of various coat colors are presented for slaughter at the abattoir [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. The population of male Sahel goats presented for slaughter at the abattoir may be characterized on the basis of their various coat colors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e] and their live body weights at various ages could be influenced by the coat colors, with implication that the coat color phenotype probably becomes a breeding selection criterion for weight gain and meat off-take. In the event where there is no variation of mean body weights among goats of various coat colors, it could be additional evidence of similar body weight at various ages across coat colors. The objective of the study was to demographically characterize the population of male Sahel goats (bucks) presented for slaughter based on coat color, age and live body weights during a period of time, with the aim of deriving relevant information on effect of coat color on body weight at matched ages from the population statistics.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2.0 Materials and methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.1 Study design\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn observational study was carried out as an exploratory cross-sectional investigation of the population characteristics (demography) of the male Sahel goats (bucks) presented for slaughter at the abattoir in Maiduguri (11.83\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e N, 13.15\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003eE), Nigeria, \u0026nbsp;based on coat colors, ages and live body weights, and selected by convenience sampling during a period of six months in 2007. Data were sorted to assess proportions (as percentage) of bucks with various coat colors, and to determine the body weights of bucks having each coat color at various ages with monthly variations in the period. The data exploration was to identify the predominant coat color, the influence of coat color on body weight, the modal, mean and median age and body weight at slaughter.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.2 Coat color of Nigerian Sahel buck and sampling method\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe long-legged Sahel bucks were selected, by convenience sampling, at the metropolitan abattoir based on the classic feature of elevated height at withers of 50-70 cm [1]. The coat color was either plain or basic (single color) or pied (two or more colors) (Figure 1). They were identified with the single color of white (WH), black (BL) or brown (BR), or with double patched color of white-and-black (WH-BL), white-and-brown (WH-BR) and black-and-brown (BL-BR) or with three or more major multiple colours (MC). These coat colors were previously reported [1, 20]. In this study, neutral grey and tan were merged with white and brown, respectively. The double colors usually were separated anteriorly and posteriorly at the trunk or scattered over the coat in a variegated pattern. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3 Data collection in the abattoir\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data collection was done in March-August (2007) as the climate transited from hot dry season (March to early July) to the rainy season (late in July to August). The goats were brought in for slaughter from smallholder flocks located in the urban or peri-urban areas of Maiduguri metropolis, from private lairages after transportation from villages and from the livestock market. The abattoir is contiguous to the lairages and the livestock market. The goats were brought into the abattoir from morning to the afternoon. As they arrived for slaughter, they were physically examined and identified by coat color, aged and weighed (convenience sampling). Their ages were estimated by observing the dentition for deciduous teeth, permanent teeth eruption and wear of permanent teeth [21]. Their weights were taken using a weighing machine (HANA, Model BR 9011, China) calibrated in kilograms. The data from the Sahel bucks were entered daily in a tabulated format on monthly basis. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.4 Data analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data were grouped by coat color to determine the numbers and proportions (as percentage) of the various groups on monthly basis and the total within the period of study (6 mo). The variations in proportions were tested for significance using online software (www.medcalc.org/calc/). The variables were summarized as means and standard deviations. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated as ratio of standard deviation to the mean. The variation in means was assessed for statistical significance (two tailed, p \u0026lt; 0.05) by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons of means in posthoc. The relationship between the ages and body weights across the months was quantified by correlation coefficient, r, with test for significance. These calculations were done with statistical software (GraphPad InStat, GraphPad Software Inc., CA., USA, www.graphpad.com). The skewness of age and body weight distributions were calculated online (https://byjus/skewness-calculator/), and the mean, median and mode were also calculated online (https://vrcacademy.com/calculator/mean-median-mode-grouped-data-calculator/\u003cu\u003e).\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3.0 Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eCoat-color-based population characteristics of Sahel bucks (n = 6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007) are summarized in Table 1. The proportions of bucks slaughtered among the various coat color phenotypes within the period, in decreasing order, were WH-BL (30.1%), WH (29.1%), WH-BR (13.2%), BR (10.7%), BL (6.5%), BL-BR (5.9%) and MC (5.5%). The monthly number of the phenotypes was 61-334 with monthly proportions of the total population as 5.7-29.4%. The WH-BL (29.4%) and WH (28.9%) phenotypes were most commonly presented monthly for slaughter with coefficients of variations as 35.0% and 2.3%, respectively. The WH bucks were the most consistently slaughtered on monthly basis with the least fluctuation in numbers, and other phenotypes had higher variability in numbers (CV = 26.2 - 41.5).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe proportions of single, double and multiple-colored bucks in the population are presented in Table 2. The proportions of the coat-color phenotypes varied significantly (p \u0026lt; 0.05) in the population. There was higher (p \u0026lt; 0.05) proportion of double than single-colored bucks. Within the single and double-colored groups, WH and WH-BL bucks were the most preponderant, respectively. WH bucks (62.0%) dominated the population of single-colored bucks with higher (p \u0026lt; 0.002) proportion than BR (23.6%) and BL (14.5%) bucks. Among the double-colored bucks, WH-BR number (29.9%) was about half the number of WH-BL (61.1%) and BL-BR (12.0%) number was the least. The MC bucks (5.5%) had the lowest proportion among all the color phenotypes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bucks of various coat colors did not differ (p \u0026lt; 0.05) in their mean ages and body weights (Table 3 and 4). Mean ages of coat color types were from 1.7 \u0026plusmn; 0.6 yr to 1.9 \u0026plusmn; 0.7 yr, and overall mean age for all bucks was 1.8 \u0026plusmn; 0.7 yr (Table 3). Mean body weights of the coat color types were from 17.2 \u0026plusmn; 4.3 kg to 18.2 \u0026plusmn; 3.9 kg, with overall body weight of 17.6\u0026plusmn;5.2 kg (Table 4). \u0026nbsp;Monthly mean age decreased (p \u0026lt; 0.0001) across the period from 2.0 \u0026plusmn; 0.8 yr in March to 1.6 \u0026plusmn; 0.7 yr in August; whereas, the corresponding monthly mean body weight decreased (p \u0026lt; 0.0001) from 19.2 \u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn; 4.9 kg in March to 16.6 \u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn; 5.4 kg in August (Table 3 and 4). Monthly mean ages and body weights of the bucks positively correlated (r = 0.93; p = 0.006) across the months.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrequency distribution of ages (Table 5) of the bucks at slaughter showed normal distribution (skewness = -0.069). Most of the bucks (4633 out of 6653, 69.6%) were presented for slaughter at 1-2 yr of age. The mean, median and modal ages from the distribution were 1.8, 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. Buck ages negatively correlated (r = - 0.97, p = 0.0045) with the numbers slaughtered at various ages. As the buck age increased, fewer numbers of bucks were presented for slaughter. Live body weights of the bucks (Figure 2) were also normally distributed (skewness = 0.28) with an outlier class (30-32 kg) consisting of 2/6653 (0.03%). The mean, median and mode from the distribution were calculated to be 17.2, 17.0 and 17.9 kg, respectively. The age and body weights of the bucks positively correlated (r = 0.96; p = 0.007). Body weights of the bucks increased across the months with increase in ages (Table 6). The increase in mean body weight within 1-2 yr was 37% (4.8/13 kg), but the next increase at 2.0 - 2.5 yr was 9% (1.6/17.8 kg). There was no significant increase in body weight within 2.5 \u0026ndash; 3.5 yr of age.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4.0 Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study demographically characterized a large population of male Sahel goats presented for slaughter in terms of coat color, age and body weight to reveal the predominant coat colors, the age and body weight, the influence of coat color trait on the slaughter body weight, and the dynamic relationship of age to body weight which may affect off-take. This may be vital in understanding whether the demographic indicators in the population could connect to the production system and show the driving factors of interest to breeders and stakeholders. The dominant coat colors were either one basic color or pied in two color patches, but multiple-colored (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;2 colors) goats were least frequent, pointing to the selection pressure and dominance of gene pool in the area. The coat colors did not influence body weight, indicating that the coat pigmentation might not have any link to physiological traits that could affect growth and direct the selection pressure based on weight gain as a production trait of interest. However, most goats were slaughtered at the age when the maximum weight gain was yet to be attained (1-2.5\u0026nbsp;year). We showed that most goats were presented for slaughter before they reached their stable mature weight (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;23 kg), suggesting the farmers could have the propensity to cull the goats earlier than the best mature age and body weight for the best off-take. It is not clear whether the culling and slaughter dynamics indicated by this study is underpinned by production costs, economic pressure, and market demand or profitability profile of the production system.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe preponderant coat colors were WH and WH-BL among the single and double colored goats, respectively. Previous reports indicated that the most frequently slaughtered goat color phenotypes in Maiduguri were WH-BL and WH goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. The WH bucks (28.1%) had the most consistent monthly slaughter data with the lowest coefficient of variation and represent the archetype of long-legged goats referred to as \u0026ldquo;Borno white\u0026rdquo; goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]. There were low populations of BR (10.7%) and BL (6.5%) bucks among those with single coat color. Sahelian goats with basic shades of brown in coat color predominate in goat populations (51.7\u0026ndash;90.4%) in north-central and north-western parts of the country where they are often referred to as Kano brown, Savannah brown or Sokoto red goats and there are low numbers (\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;15%) of WH and/or BL goats in these areas [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR24\" citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. The black coat color is preponderant (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;60%) among the dwarf goats in southern Nigeria [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR27\" citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. Dark red coat color was reported to be 7.5% of the population of SR goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e], which implied that red goats did not predominate among Sokoto \u0026ldquo;red\u0026rdquo; goats having ecotypes with variant basic coat colors of dark red, brown, light brown, and black in Sokoto [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e], dark red, brown, light brown and white in Zaria [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e], black, dark brown, light brown and white in Niger State localities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e] or dark brown, brown and black in Abuja [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. The \u0026ldquo;red\u0026rdquo; coat color was described as \u0026ldquo;reddish brown\u0026rdquo; or \u0026ldquo;dark red\u0026rdquo; which may be considered to be within the shades of brown color [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, the dominance of brown shades in coat colors in the north-central and northwestern ecological zones of Nigeria has not significantly impacted on the dominance of the white coat color in the northeastern ecological zone. The brown coat color dominance in parts of the northern Nigeria has not infiltrated the northeast zone as the gene pool diversification failed to show increased number of BR or WH-BR goats above others. However, the least basic color population of black, which could be genetically recessive but locally selected, interacts with the white color dominance to produce a dominant population of WH-BL goats. We propose that the selection pressure may be favoring the WH ecotype around Borno State ecosystem guided by undefined traits that are probably preferred than others. It is not clear why the multiple colors are rarer than others, but genetic evolution of this phenotype seems not to be supported by breeding selection. The ecotypes of sahelian goats with coat color phenotypes could represent an important area of study to expatiate the physiological or environmental adaptations associated with their unique gene pool and selection preference of breeders.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCoat colors did not influence the mean age or live body weight of the goats at slaughter, but age correlated with body weight along the expected normal growth to adulthood. Acceptable modeling of the growth curve of any Nigerian goat breed has not been reported [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Estimation of body weight at specific age characterizes quantitative phenotypes of goats influenced by local genetic resources [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. Coat color and body weight are heritable traits with genomic selection signatures [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. The maturity rate is genetically correlated with mature body weight [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e] and coat color gene may have pleiotropic effect and/or quantitative trait loci linked to body weight phenotype [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR34\" citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. In goat breeding, siring bucks could be easily selected based on coat color with positive quantitative traits like growth rate and body size which have been used by South African goat farmers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. The insight from our data indicate that there is no association between coat color and body weight, and as such, the selection of WH goat for breeding that achieved their population dominance might not be guided by favorable production trait linked to growth rate or body weight. However, earlier data-based evidence showed that white dwarf goats in Nigeria had larger body size and heavier body weight than other coat colors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Later, vague association of coat color of dwarf goats with body weight was reported [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Dark red coat-colored goats had higher body weights than goats with other coat colors in Sokoto [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. There was significant effect of coat color in Sokoto goat bucks aged 1\u0026ndash;2 years on body weight, but no effect of coat color was observed in Sahel goats of both sexes and all ages [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. There are inconsistent reports of significant influence of coat color on production traits in meat-producing goats [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e] and it could be valuable to verify these reports in our local goats in order to explore the use of coat color in breeding selection to improve the productivity of our goat population.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe live weights of the goats at slaughter were influenced by their estimated ages. Kwari et al [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e] reported body weights of 24 Sahel goats as 11.5\u0026ndash;24.5 kg at 1.0-2.5\u0026nbsp;year, and those of 20 goats as 11.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1 kg at 1.0\u0026nbsp;year. The young goats at 1.0-1.5\u0026nbsp;year were the highest proportion of the population weighing 13.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.8 kg; whereas, the mature population weighed 23.3\u0026ndash;23.4 kg as mean at \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;2.5\u0026ndash;3.5\u0026nbsp;year of age (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e) in this report (maximum at 30\u0026ndash;32 kg) and 28.0\u0026ndash;30.0 kg at \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;3.0\u0026ndash;4.0\u0026nbsp;year in our earlier report [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. SR goats were reported to have the highest live body weight at slaughter around 2\u0026ndash;3\u0026nbsp;year of age [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e]. The goats slaughtered at \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;2.0\u0026nbsp;year were still in their growing phase based on body weight. The variation in mature body weights was mostly likely influenced by forage and other feed availability as the dry season progressed and feed stuff was in short supply with reduced quality. The tendency for body weight to decrease over the months from March to August was associated with decreasing age of the goats at slaughter, implying that the population was influenced by the culling of younger goats for slaughter towards the early rainy or wet season. It was possible that the older goats culled for slaughter were not presented for slaughter locally, but selected to be sold and transported to southern Nigeria where market prices might be higher than in the local market and sales would provide improved profit margin. The goats imported from northern Nigeria dominate the southern goat market [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e]; the market prices and the demand for goats in the south might be the driving incentive, but data are not available on the regional market dynamics that influence goat population reaching the abattoir in Maiduguri [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, male Sahel goats brought in for slaughter in northeastern Nigeria had single, double or multiple coat colors (WH, BL BR, WH-BL, WH-BR, BL-BR or MC), but WH and WH-BL predominated, and coat color had no influence on the live body weight at various ages. Furthermore, majority of the bucks had not reached the optimum or mature age and body weight, suggesting an apparent tendency to supply the abattoir with bucks at younger slaughter age and lower body weight. These observations might have relevance to breeding selection of coat colors, culling dynamics and goat marketing structure at farm level which would need to be investigated.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors appreciate the co-operation and support of the State Livestock Department, Abattoir managers, animal owners and butchers during the research.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI.O.I, N.A.I and F.M.M conceived and designed the study; F.M.M collected and summarized the data and wrote the first draft; I.O.I analyzed the data, produced the tables 1-6, and Figures 1-2 and wrote the final version of the manuscript; N.A.I updated and edited the literature and references; \u0026nbsp; I.O.I, N.A.I and F.M.M contributed to the discussion and approved the final version.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding statements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors have no relevant financial and non-financial interests to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research was reviewed and evaluated by the postgraduate research committee for compliance with Basel Declaration on animal research ethics (https://animalresearchtomorrow.org/en) and approved by the University of Maiduguri School of Postgraduate Studies, after satisfying required local and international ethical standards for postgraduate research by F.M.M (Master of Veterinary Science). Approval was also granted by the State Livestock Department for abattoir research to be conducted. Informed consent was obtained from the Maiduguri abattoir management, animal owners and butchers for pre-slaughter handling of the goats to measure body weights and estimate age by close dental examination.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest/competing interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no conflicts of interest or competing interest to declare by the authors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to publish manuscript\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable. The research is part of an examined postgraduate research by FMM under the supervision of IOI and collaboration with NAI in the Strategic Animal Research Group of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the research group does not require official permission to publish its research\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnimal Ethics and Consent to Participate declarations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability statement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKwari HD, Sivachelvan MN, Chibuzo GA. Characterization of Sahel goat in Borno state, Nigeria, for certain qualitative traits. Nig. J. Exptl. Appl. Biol., 2004; 5: 151- 4.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbba Y, Igbokwe IO. Testicular and related size evaluations in Nigerian Sahel goats with optimal cauda epididymal sperm reserve. Veterinary Medicine International 2015; 2015 Article ID 357519, 5 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/357519\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMurital I, Afolayan O, Bemji MN, Dadi O, Landi V, Mart\u0026iacute;nez A, Delgado JV, Adebambo OA, Aina ABJ, Adebambo AO. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Nigerian Indigenous Goat Using DNA Microsatellite Markers. Archivos de Zootecnia, 2015; 64, 93-8. https://doi.org/10.21071/az.v64i246.382\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOjo OA, Akpa GN, Orunmuyi M, Adeyinka IA, Kabir M, Alphonsus C. Genetic analysis of Nigerian indigenous goat populations using microsatellite markers. Iranian J Appl Anim Sci 2018; 8 (2): 287-94.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShoyombo AJ, Animashahum RA, Izebere J, Olawoye SO, Yakubu H, Musa AA. Genetic distance and relationship among indigenous goats using biochemical polymorphism. Asian J Sci Technol 2015; 6 (9): 1746-1749\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdamu H, Ma\u0026rsquo;aruf BS, Shuaibu A, Umar HA, Maigado AI. Morphometric characteristics of Red Sokoto and Sahel goats in Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 2020; 47 (4): 15-23.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkounda B, Ou\u0026eacute;draogo D, Soudr\u0026eacute; A, Burger PA, Rosen BD, Van Tassell CP, S\u0026ouml;lkner J. Morphometric Characterization of Local Goat Breeds in Two Agroecological Zones of Burkina Faso, West Africa. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13(12): 1931. doi: 10.3390/ani13121931. PMID: 37370441; PMCID: PMC10294932.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMakun HJ, Mohammad IR, Olorunju SAS, Otaru SM, Osunhor CU. Growth performance of Sahelian and red Sokoto kids fed Digitaria simutsii hay supplemented with concentrate. Niger Vet J 2005; 27 (1): 11-21.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlade NK, Abdulkareem A, Adamu SB. Breed differences in body weight, body and testicular measurements in Red Sokoto and Sahel goats at weaning. Sahel Journal of Vet Sci 2007; 6 (1): 13-17.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlade NK, Mbap ST, Aliyu J. Genetic and environmental factors affecting growth traits of goats in semi-arid arid area of Nigeria. Global J Agric Sci 2008; 7 (1): 85- 91.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdedibu II, Sola-Ojo FE, Lawal M. Sokoto Red and Sahelian goats: Untapped potential for improving meat production in developing economy of Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 2017; 44 (4): 325-332.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTraor\u0026eacute;, D. West African Goat Breeds. In: Sim\u0026otilde;es, J., Guti\u0026eacute;rrez, C. (eds). Sustainable Goat Production in Adverse Environments: Volume II. Springer, Cham. 2017; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71294-9_7\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePatbandha TK, Sarma MP, Ravikala K, Savaliya D, Kadam SJ. Effect of microclimate on body temperature of black and white coloured breeds of goat. Indian J Anim Prod Mgmt 2018; 34 (2): 80-85.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOzoje MO, Mgbere OO. Coat pigmentation effects in West African Dwarf goats: Live weights and body dimensions. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 2002; 29 (1): 5-11.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShoyombo AJ, Alabi OO, Musa AA, Wheto M, Popoola, MA, Bunjah UDS. Effect of coat colour on morphological characteristics of Red Sokoto, Sahel and West African Dwarf goats. Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine 2018; 3 (2): 47-57.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUmar AA, Atabo SM, Danmaigoro A, Hena SA. Comparative study of live weight and linear body measurement in Red Sokoto goat ecotypes. J Human Anat 2018; 2 (1): 000121\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOkon LS, Sam IM, Usoro OO, Udo AF. The relationship between the coat colours with morphometric traits of West African dwarf goats raised in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Animal Research International 2023 ; 20 (3): 5119-5126.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEgwu GO, Onyeyili PA, Chibuzo GA, Ameh JA. Improved productivity of goats and utilisation of goat milk in Nigeria. Small Ruminant Research 1995; 16 (3): 195\u0026ndash;201.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgbokwe I O, Grema HA, Ikpo AO, Mshelbwala FM., Igbokwe NA. Unilateral cryptorchidism in Nigerian Sahel bucks. International Journal of Morphology 2009; 27 (3): 805-810.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgbokwe I O, Ikpo A E, Grema H A, Mshelbwala F M, Igbokwe N A. Bilateral testicular hypoplasia among mature Sahel bucks. Turkish Journal Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2011; 35 (2):111-115 doi:10.3906/vet-0909-108\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChibuzo GA, Sivachelvan MN. Ruminant Dissection Guide: A Regional Approach in the Goat, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Occasional Publication No. 1, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria 1994 ; pp, 49-50.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgbokwe I O, Ribadu A Y, Bukar M M. Erythrocyte glutathione concentrations in Nigerian Sahel goat. Small Ruminant Research 1998; 30(1): 1-6\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkpa GN, Alphonsus C, Usman N. Association of haemoglobin types with age and coat colour and head profile in Red Sokoto goats of Abuja Nigeria. J Anim Sci Adv 2013; 3 (4): 171-175.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKolo PS, Egena SSA, Tsado DN, Adisa_Shehu M. Phenotypic and genetic categorization of qualitative traits in extensively managed local goat (Capra aegagrus) population of Niger State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Genetics 2014; 28(2): 38-43.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIbrahim OA, Jokthan GE, Mallam I, Alao RO, Jinadu LA, Umego C. Distribution of qualitative traits and haemoglobin type among Red Sokoto goats in semi-arid zone of Nigeria. J Anim Prod Res 2019; 31 (1): 1-8.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdedeji TA, Ozoje MO, Peters SO, Ojedapo LO, Sanusi AO. Phenotypic variation of coat pigmentation and wattle of West African dwarf goats in the Sub-humid zone of Nigeria. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants 2012; 18 (2), 180-183.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdowu PA, Adelabu OA. An investigation od coat colour distribution of West African Dwarf goats. Journal of Agricultural Science 2023; 10 (3): 228-236.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOkoro VMO, Chikereuba U, Iheanacho G, et al. West African Dwarf goat populations of tropical rainforest zone: application of multivariate analysis tools on their characterization using morpho-biometric traits. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55 (3): 222. doi:10.1007/s11250-023-03641-0\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMakgopa LF, Mathapo MC, Tyasi TL. A systematic review of estimation of growth curve in goats. Tropical Animal and Production, 2024 ; 56, 14, 8 pages. doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03857-0. PMID: 38105343; PMCID: PMC10725853.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAO. Phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources. FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines 2012; No. 11. Rome.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuo J, Tao H, Li P, Li L, Zhong T, Wang L, Ma J, Chen X, Song T, Zhang H. Whole-genome sequencing reveals selection signatures associated with important traits in six goat breeds. Sci Rep 2018; 8(1):10405. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28719-w.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaul AK, Paul RK, Singh MD, Wahi SD, Singh NO. Genetic variability of growth curve parameters in goats: application of bootstrap techniques. J Indian Soc Agric Statistics 2016 ; 70 (3), 211-218.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilson BD, Ollmann MM, Barsh GS. The role of agouti-related protein in regulating body weight. Molecular Medicine Today 1999; \u003cem\u003e55\u003c/em\u003e, 250\u0026ndash;256.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHedrick PW. Coat colour in mouse populations selected for weight gain: support for hitchhiking, not pleiotropy. Genetics Research 2013; 95(1):4-13. doi:10.1017/S0016672312000778\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWang J, Fan T, Du Z, Xu L, Chen Y, Zhang L, Gao H, Li J, Ma Y, Gao X. Genome-wide association analysis identifies the \u003cem\u003ePMEL\u003c/em\u003e gene affecting coat color and birth weight in Simmental \u0026times; Holstein. Animals (Basel) 2023; 11;13(24):3821. doi: 10.3390/ani13243821. PMID: 38136858; PMCID: PMC10740715.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTyasi TL, Ng\u0026rsquo;ambi J, Mogashoa S. Breeding practices and trait preferences of goat keepers at Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa: implication for the design of breeding programmes. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2022; \u003cem\u003e54\u003c/em\u003e(1), 68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03078-x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArenas-B\u0026aacute;ez P, Torres-Hern\u0026aacute;ndez G, Castillo-Hern\u0026aacute;ndez G, Hern\u0026aacute;ndez-Rodr\u0026iacute;guez M, S\u0026aacute;nchez-Guti\u0026eacute;rrez R A, Vargas-L\u0026oacute;pez S, Gonz\u0026aacute;lez-Maldonado J, Dom\u0026iacute;nguez-Mart\u0026iacute;nez P A, Granados-Rivera, L. D., \u0026amp; Maldonado-J\u0026aacute;quez, J. A. Coat Color in Local Goats: Influence on Environmental Adaptation and Productivity, and Use as a Selection Criterion. Biology 2023 ; 12(7), 929. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12070929\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmosu SD, Oderinwale OA, Jolaosho OO, Sanusi GO, Oluwatosin BO. Influence of slaughtering ages on carcass characteristics, meat composition and hematology of extensively managed Red Sokoto bucks slaughtered in Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria. Int J Agric Sci Food Technol 2017; 3 (3): 49-54.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrancis PA. Small-ruminant marketing in Southwest Nigeria. Agricultural Economics 1990; 4 (2): 193-208.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJabbar MA. Buyer preferences for sheep and goats in southern Nigeria: A hedonic price analysis. Agricultural Economics 1998; 18 (1): 21-30.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIheanacho AC, Ali EA. Marketing of sahelian goats in north-eastern Nigeria: experience from Borno State. Sahel J. Vet . Sci. 2010; 9(1): 25-31.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cp\u003eTable 1 \u0026nbsp;Coat-color-based population characteristics of Sahel bucks (n = 6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"700\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 239px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal population\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 292px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMonthly means\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCoat color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNumber\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Number (CV)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1868\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e311 \u0026plusmn; 7 (2.3)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28.9 \u0026plusmn; 4.4\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e710\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e118 \u0026plusmn; 48 (40.7)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.5 \u0026plusmn; 1.9\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e437\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73 \u0026plusmn; 20 (27.4)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.6 \u0026plusmn; 0.9\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-black\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e334 \u0026plusmn; 117 (35.0)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29.4 \u0026plusmn; \u0026nbsp;2.7\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e880\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e147 \u0026plusmn; 61 (41.5)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.0 \u0026plusmn; 3.4\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e392\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65 \u0026plusmn; 25 (38.8)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.7 \u0026plusmn; 0.9\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 169px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultiple colors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e365\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 152px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61 \u0026plusmn; 16 (26.2)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 140px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.7 \u0026plusmn; 1.1\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea,b,c\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eMeans with different superscripts are significantly different (P\u0026lt;0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCV, coefficient of variation as percentage\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 2 \u0026nbsp;Proportions (%) of single, double and multiple-colored \u0026nbsp; Sahel bucks from the total population (n = 6,653)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCoat color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNumber\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 405px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eProportions (%)*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBetween group\u003csup\u003e#\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWithin group\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSingle color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3015\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45.5\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; White\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1868\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62.0\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 710\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.6\u003csup\u003ef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Black\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 437\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.5\u003csup\u003eg\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDouble color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3273\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; White-and-black\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e61.1\u003csup\u003er\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; White-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 880\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29.9\u003csup\u003es\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Black-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 392\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.0\u003csup\u003et\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 275px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultiple colors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 365\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 200px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;5.5\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 205px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 99.8753%;\" colspan=\"4\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e#\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eGroups: single, double or multiple coat color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;*\u003c/sup\u003eDifferences between proportions (%):\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ea \u0026amp; b (p = 0.003): 3.7 (1.2 - 6.2);\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eb \u0026amp; c (p \u0026lt; 0.0001): \u0026nbsp;40.0 (36.7 - 42.5);\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ea \u0026amp; c (p \u0026lt; 0.0001): 43.7 (40.4-46.2);\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ee \u0026amp; f (p \u0026lt;0.0001): 38.4(34.4-42.1%);\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ee \u0026amp; g (p \u0026lt; 0.0001): \u0026nbsp;47.5 (43.2-51.2);\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ef \u0026amp;g (p \u0026lt; 0.0002): \u0026nbsp;9.1 (4.4-13.5);\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003er \u0026amp; s (p \u0026lt; 0.001): 31.2 (27.4-34.8);\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003er \u0026amp; t (p \u0026lt; \u0026nbsp;0.0001): 49.1 (44.9-52.6);\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003es \u0026amp; t (p \u0026lt; 0.0001): 17.9 (13.2-22.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 3 \u0026nbsp;Ages of Sahel bucks of various coat colours at slaughter in Maiduguri\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCoat color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"6\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 552px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge (year) of bucks in a month\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall mean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eApril\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMay\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJune\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJuly\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAugust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.9\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.9\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.1\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-black\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.1\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.9\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultiple\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall mean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.0\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 96px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026plusmn;0.8\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.6\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.8\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea, b, c, d, \u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eMeans (\u0026plusmn;SD) with different superscript are not significantly different (P\u0026gt;0.05)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 4 Live body weights of Sahel bucks of various coat colours at slaughter in Maiduguri\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"877\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCoat color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"6\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 594px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLive body weight (kg)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall mean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eApril\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMay\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJune\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJuly\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAugust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.0\u0026plusmn;5.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.6\u0026plusmn;4.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.0\u0026plusmn;5.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.6\u0026plusmn;6.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.4\u0026plusmn;4.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.2\u0026plusmn;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;4.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBrown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20.1\u0026plusmn;4.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.4\u0026plusmn;3.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.4\u0026plusmn;4.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.2\u0026plusmn;3.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.4\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.0\u0026plusmn;6.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.9\u0026plusmn;4.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20.0\u0026plusmn;5.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.0\u0026plusmn;3.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.6\u0026plusmn;5.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.0\u0026plusmn;3.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.6\u0026plusmn;4.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.8\u0026plusmn;3.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.2\u0026plusmn;3.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-black\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;4.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.3\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.7\u0026plusmn;4.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.1\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;3.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.5\u0026plusmn;5.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;4.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhite-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.6\u0026plusmn;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.2\u0026plusmn;5.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.5\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;3.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.3\u0026plusmn;4.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.6\u0026plusmn;4.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.2\u0026plusmn;4.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlack-and-brown\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.0\u0026plusmn;3.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.7\u0026plusmn;4.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;4.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.4\u0026plusmn;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.5\u0026plusmn;4.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.5\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;4.1\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultiple color\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.4\u0026plusmn;4.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;4.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.0\u0026plusmn;3.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.1\u0026plusmn;6.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.2\u0026plusmn;5.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;4.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 167px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall mean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.2\u0026plusmn;4.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.6\u0026plusmn;4.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.4\u0026plusmn;6.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.8\u0026plusmn;4.7\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.9\u0026plusmn;6.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.6\u0026plusmn;5.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 116px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;5.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea, b, c \u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eMeans (\u0026plusmn;SD) with different superscript are significantly different (P\u0026lt;0.05)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 5 \u0026nbsp;Frequency distribution of ages of Sahel bucks at slaughter in Maiduguri\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"635\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge (year)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"6\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 498px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNumber of bucks in a month\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eApril\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMay\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJune\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJuly\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAugust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; 1.0-1.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e218\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e486\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e498\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e473\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e341\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e403\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2419\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;1.5-2.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e263\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e471\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e488\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e398\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e267\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e327\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2214\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;2.0-2.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e397\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e363\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e276\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e103\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e193\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1423\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;2.5-3.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e123\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e409\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;3.0-3.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e188\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 73px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e592\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1398\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1535\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 82px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1268\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e798\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 99px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1062\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 57px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6653\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eModal frequencies in an apparent skewed distribution\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 6 Effect of age on live body weight of Sahel bucks at slaughter in Maiduguri \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"673\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge (year)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"6\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 516px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLive body weight (kg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall mean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMarch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eApril\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMay\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJune\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJuly\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAugust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.0-1.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.0\u0026plusmn;1.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.5\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.1\u0026plusmn;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.0\u0026plusmn;2.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.0\u0026plusmn;2.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.6\u0026plusmn;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.0\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;1.5-2.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.6\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.4\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.3\u0026plusmn;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.7\u0026plusmn;1.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.5\u0026plusmn;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.0\u0026plusmn;2.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.8\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;2.0-2.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.4\u0026plusmn;1.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.8\u0026plusmn;1.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.6\u0026plusmn;1.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.6\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.2\u0026plusmn;2.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.3\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.4\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;2.5-3.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.2\u0026plusmn;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.0\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.2\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.5\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.8\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.0\u0026plusmn;1.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.3\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;3.0-3.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 80px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.0\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 84px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.0\u0026plusmn;1.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.0\u0026plusmn;1.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.9\u0026plusmn;1.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 88px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.8\u0026plusmn;1.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 87px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.6\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea, b, c, d\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eMeans (\u0026plusmn;SD) with different superscript are significantly different (P\u0026lt;0.05)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"University of Maiduguri","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Sahel goat, coat color, body weight, breed phenotype, abattoir, slaughter population","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7729785/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7729785/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSahel goats are long-legged with a variety of coat colors which may be linked to body weight gain. Male goat population presented for slaughter in an abattoir in northeastern Nigeria was demographically characterized based on coat color, age and live body weight. The study was to provide features of the slaughter population, and to assess the impact of coat color on body weight at various ages. Sahel goats (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6653) at slaughter in Maiduguri (March-August, 2007) were identified by coat color, aged by dentition and weighed. Coat color proportions were 30.1%, 29.1%, 13.2%, 10.7%, 6.5%, 5.9% and 5.5% for white-and-black (WH-BL), white (WH), white-and-brown (WH-BR), brown (BR), black (BL), black-and-brown (BL-BR) and multiple-colored (MC), respectively. The WH-BL and WH were most common, but WH was the most consistently slaughtered. All goats had mean age and body weight of 1.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.7\u0026nbsp;year and 17.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.2 kg, respectively; and coat colors did not influence body weight at various ages. Age correlated positively (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.96, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.007) with body weight and negatively (r = -0.97, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0045) with number slaughtered. Most of them (91.0%) were 1.0-2.5\u0026nbsp;year old. In conclusion, male Sahel goats presented for slaughter at the abattoir were predominantly WH and WH-BL phenotypes and mostly young adults, and the groups with various coat colors at matched ages had comparable body weights with one another, showing that coat color may not be significant trait relevant as probable criterion for breeding selection to improve body weight.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Characterization of male Sahel goat population at an abattoir in northeastern Nigeria: coat color, age and live body weight","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-30 07:24:44","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7729785/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4d439f97-5be8-46c6-a933-e5f221864a58","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 30th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":55554877,"name":"Animal Science"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-09-30T07:24:44+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-30 07:24:44","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7729785","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7729785","identity":"rs-7729785","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}