Morphometric Traits and Body Indices to Assess the Type and Function of Native Ganjam Goats Reared on Different Flooring Systems in Coastal Odisha

Abstract

A study was undertaken to assess the type and function of Ganjam goats native to coastal Odisha based on morphometric traits and their indices. Different flooring systems, viz. conventional earthen flooring (CEF), bamboo-slatted flooring (BSF) and plastic-slatted flooring (PSF) were applied for rearing the growing goats in multilocation trials involving 54 kids (~4 months age) of either sex in equal ratio. The goat kids were equally distributed i.e. eighteen in each group (6 animals × 3 locations) and reared on free range system followed by in-house sheltering at night after the browsing hours on these three floor types. The body weight (BW) and morphometric parameters like, body length (BL), withers height (WH), chest girth (CG), paunch girth (PG), rump height (RH) and their indices were assessed fortnightly. Kids reared on all the three floor-types exhibited age-dependent increase in BW and in all the morphometric parameters. There was improved performance (BW, BL, WH, CG) of kids on PSF compared to CEF, while the difference between BSF and PSF was non-significant. The functional indices characterized Ganjam goats as longiline with good proportionality, medium thoracic development, prolific and dual type. The correlation between BW and morphometric parameters exhibited highest for CG followed by WH, RH, BL and PG. The BW of Ganjam goats can suitably be predicted from CG, WH and RH with R2 value 0.914. The importance of morphometric parameters and their indices classify Ganjam goats as a promising dual-purpose breed and impetus to its performance is better achieved with improved shelter management involving plastic-slatted floor in coastal Odisha.