Research Article Open Access

Evaluation of Relationships Between Some Growth Traits Measured at Birth and Weaning in South African Non-Descript Goat Kids using Canonical Correlation Analysis

Kwena Mokoena1 and Thobela Louis Tyasi1
  • 1 University of Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the association among 6 different growth traits viz; X set- Birth Weight (BW), Heart Girth (HG), Rump Height (RH), Sternum Height (SH), Body Length (BL), Withers Height (WH), assessed at birth and viz; Y Set- Heart Girth (HG_3), Body Length (BL_3), Rump Height (RH_3), Weaning Weight (WW), Withers Height (WH_3), Sternum Height (SH_3) at weaning Measured in fifty (n = 50) non-descript goat kids. Pearson’s correlation and canonical correlation analysis were employed, outcome of Pearson’s highlighted that BW had a positive highly statistical correlation with WW (r = 0.85**), WH_3 (r = 0.61**) and SH_3 (r = 0.83**) at P < 0.01. Results of canonical correlation showed an estimated canonical correlation coefficient (r = 0.881) that was significant among the first pair of canonical variables (P < 0.01). The results indicated that WH and HG had a greater contribution to the explanatory capacity of canonical correlation estimation at birth while BL_3 and RH_3 contributed mostly at weaning of non-descript goats. The findings of the study suggest that the heart girth and withers height might be used at birth as criteria for genetic improvement in non-descript goat kid’s selection.

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Volume 16 No. 3, 2021, 139-143

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2021.139.143

Submitted On: 27 April 2021 Published On: 12 August 2021

How to Cite: Mokoena, K. & Tyasi, T. L. (2021). Evaluation of Relationships Between Some Growth Traits Measured at Birth and Weaning in South African Non-Descript Goat Kids using Canonical Correlation Analysis. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 16(3), 139-143. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2021.139.143

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Keywords

  • Birth Weight
  • Canonical Weights
  • Canonical Variable
  • Canonical Correlation Coefficient