Principal Component Analysis of Body Measurements of Yankassa Sheep in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Yankasa sheep play a vital role in food security and the livelihood of smallholder farmers. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship amongst body measurements. A total of 126 extensively reared Yankasa rams, between 15.5 – 28.3 months of age, were randomly selected for the study. Data on body measurements were collected and subjected to correlation, principal component (PC), and step-wise multiple regression analyses. We found that mean body measures ranged from 11.2cm for scrotal circumference (SC) to 71.9cm for chest girth (CG), and the coefficient of variation ranged from 10.7%for height at withers (HW) to 30.3%forBW. All body measures, except ear length, were significantly (P<0.01) associated with BW. All body measures, except ear length, were significantly (P<0.01) associated with BW. Of all body measures, CG, rump width (RW), and neck circumference (NC) were the most associated with BW, with correlation coefficients of 0.83, 0.8, and 0.79, respectively, while neck length, ear width, and tail length were the least associated with correlation coefficients of 0.21, 0.33, and 0.46. Three principal components from the factor analysis of body measurements explained about 64% of the total variance. Regression models using original morphometric traits as predictors explained up to 80% of the variation in body weight, while PC explained up to 75%. This study shows that body measurements, such as CG, RW, and NC, could serve as markers for BW in Yankasa sheep.