Effects of breed, sex, and diet on thermo-physiology response of Nigerian goats, using variability chart and descriptive statistics

Understanding the complex interplay between breed, diet, and sex on thermo-physiology is crucial for developing effective strategies to manage heat stress in Nigerian goat production. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of breed, diet, and sex on the thermos-physiological response of Nigerian goats. A total of 36 weaner goats of two breeds (West African dwarf, n=18; 9 males + 9 females) and Red Sokoto goats, n=18; 9 males + 9 females) were used for the experiment. A 2×3×2 factorial experiment comprising two breeds, three diet groups, and two sexes in a completely randomized design. The data collected included rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and the heat stress index, which was also calculated. The effects of the collected data were analyzed using SAS JMP software. The effect of breed, as indicated by the variability chart and summary, on the thermo-physiological indices of goats revealed variability in pulse rate and respiratory rate. The diet showed differences in rectal temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate. According to the chart, male goats exhibited higher thermo-physiology indices compared to females. It can be concluded that the experimental goats experienced minor or moderate heat stress, which is crucial for maintaining productivity, growth, and overall well-being.