Types and frequency of udder shapes and abnormalities in West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto goats

Abstract

A total of 423 goats comprising 246 West African Dwarf and 177 Red Sokoto (RS) goats were involved in a study to determine and classify udder shapes and abnormalities in the two breeds of goats. Udder shapes found in WAD goats were funnel (0.4%), cylindrical (45.9) and bowl (53.7%). Teat shapes were funnel, bottle and cylindrical, averaging 49.6, 0.4 and 5.0% respectively. Udder abnormalities included presence of supernumerary teats (24.0%), asymmetrical udder (0.4%) and pendulous udder(0.49%). In RS goats, udder shapes were funnel (9.0%), round (1.7%), cylindrical (44.1%) and bowl (45.2%) while teat shapes were funnel, balloon, bottle and cylindrical: averaging 50.9, 2.3, 17.5 and 29.4% respectively. Udder abnormalities were: presence of supernumerary teats (10.0%), asymmetrical udder (5.7%) and pendulous udder (10.2%). The study showed that udder and teat shapes were similar in both breeds except that round udder and balloon teats were ahsent in WAD goats. Bowl shaped udders and cylindrical teats predominated in both abnormality. Presence of supernumerary teats constituted the major udder abnormality in WAD goat while incidence or asymmetrical and pendulous udders was higher in RS goats.