DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i12.008

Pages: 669-673

Abstract: Information on variation of phenotypic characters plays an important role in characterization of goat population for selective breeding and genetic resource conservation. The study was conducted to identify and characterize the phenotypes using linear body measurements and physical body characteristics of indigenous goat population in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka. In this study indigenous goats were selected from preferred areas within the district using purposive and random sampling methods. About 100 indigenous goats were selected for the study. Data were statistically analyzed using General linear model procedure (PROC GLM) of SAS 9.2, 2008 and descriptive statistical analysis. Most of the male and female goats had straight head profile (64%) and pendulous ear type (75%). Predominant coat colour was black and white (29%) and the coat colour pattern was patchy (56%). Majority of the goats had back horn orientation (55%) in the study area. Some of the goats in the study population contained wattle and bear. Significant effect (p<0.05) of sex and age was observed on live body weight and linear body measurements. Positive correlations were observed between live body weight and other linear body measurements.