Online: ISSN 2784 – 0360 | Print: ISSN 2784 – 0379
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi, Grace Oyebola Rotimi and Andrew Ayomide Rotimi
Article preview: AI enables data-driven solutions to increase productivity while supporting sustainability and resilience in Africa. Recent studies highlight solutions for improving crop management and livestock production. It also discusses ways to overcome barriers that prevent the adoption of policies that benefit all stakeholders.
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi
Article preview: Analysis of body weight and linear body measurements in Marshall broilers reveals a strong positive association between body length and live weight, with path analysis confirming body length as the most influential trait. The findings support its use as a practical selection criterion in broiler breeding programmes.
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi, Abubakar Yusuf and Adelani Abayomi Adeoye
ABSTRACT. This study evaluated the phenotypic diversity of 51 dromedary camels (24 females and 27 males) from Northwestern Nigeria, sampled from Katsina and Zamfara States. Twelve morphometric traits were measured, and qualitative characteristics were recorded. Black and brown coat colours were the most prevalent (47.05% each), while white was rare (5.9%). Single coat colour patterns (74.5%) and smooth hair types (56.9%) predominated. Chi-square analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) in coat colour and pattern distributions, whereas hair type showed no significant variation. Age significantly (p < 0.01) influenced most morphometric traits except rump height and ear length, with older camels (≥11 years) exhibiting larger body dimensions. Sex did not have a significant effect on any of the measured traits. Camels with a black coat had a significantly higher body weight (245.96 ± 14.80 kg), heart girth (180.73 ± 3.62 cm), abdominal girth (158.52 ± 3.08 cm), and ear length (19.09 ± 0.94 cm) compared with camels with a brown or white coat. The 1–5-year age group was the largest (43.1%), aligning with breeders’ preference for younger breeding stock. These findings suggest that black coat colour may serve as an indicator of superior body traits in camels. This study provides valuable baseline data to inform genetic resource conservation and to guide selection strategies for sustainable camel breeding and productivity enhancement in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.
Keywords: Camelus dromedarius; coat colour; morphometric measurements; phenotypic traits; semi-arid Nigeria.
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi, Grace Oyebola Rotimi and Andrew Ayomide Rotimi
Article preview: AI enables data-driven solutions to increase productivity while supporting sustainability and resilience in Africa. Recent studies highlight solutions for improving crop management and livestock production. It also discusses ways to overcome barriers that prevent the adoption of policies that benefit all stakeholders.
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi
Article preview: Analysis of body weight and linear body measurements in Marshall broilers reveals a strong positive association between body length and live weight, with path analysis confirming body length as the most influential trait. The findings support its use as a practical selection criterion in broiler breeding programmes.
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi, Abubakar Yusuf and Adelani Abayomi Adeoye
ABSTRACT. This study evaluated the phenotypic diversity of 51 dromedary camels (24 females and 27 males) from Northwestern Nigeria, sampled from Katsina and Zamfara States. Twelve morphometric traits were measured, and qualitative characteristics were recorded. Black and brown coat colours were the most prevalent (47.05% each), while white was rare (5.9%). Single coat colour patterns (74.5%) and smooth hair types (56.9%) predominated. Chi-square analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) in coat colour and pattern distributions, whereas hair type showed no significant variation. Age significantly (p < 0.01) influenced most morphometric traits except rump height and ear length, with older camels (≥11 years) exhibiting larger body dimensions. Sex did not have a significant effect on any of the measured traits. Camels with a black coat had a significantly higher body weight (245.96 ± 14.80 kg), heart girth (180.73 ± 3.62 cm), abdominal girth (158.52 ± 3.08 cm), and ear length (19.09 ± 0.94 cm) compared with camels with a brown or white coat. The 1–5-year age group was the largest (43.1%), aligning with breeders’ preference for younger breeding stock. These findings suggest that black coat colour may serve as an indicator of superior body traits in camels. This study provides valuable baseline data to inform genetic resource conservation and to guide selection strategies for sustainable camel breeding and productivity enhancement in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.
Keywords: Camelus dromedarius; coat colour; morphometric measurements; phenotypic traits; semi-arid Nigeria.
