Morphometric characterization of yalaga sheep of Karnataka

The study describes the morphometric characterization and principal component analysis (PCA) of morphometric traits, and reports production and reproduction traits and husbandry practices of Yalaga sheep of Karnataka. The data on body weight and body biometry were recorded for 318 ewes and 58 rams in Bagalkot district (Karnataka), the breeding tract of the Yalaga sheep. Body weight (BW), body length (BL), height at withers (HW), chest girth (CG), paunch girth (PG), horn length (HL), face length (FL) ear length (EL) and tail length (TL) were measured. Least squares means were estimated and, to describe the body shape and size, principal component analysis was performed for the studied morphometric traits. For all traits except ear length, sex effect was significant (p<0.001); while for all traits except FL, EL and TL, age-effect was significant (p<0.001). The mean body weight was 33.90±0.29 and 54.70±0.66 kg for ewes and rams, respectively. High phenotypic correlations between BW and other characteristics (BL, HW and CG) were observed. PCA revealed two principal components which accounted for 70.5% of the overall variance. Separating from other traits, EL and TL loaded together on second principal component. Yalaga sheep were medium to large sized. The flocks were managed on extensive grazing system. Mortality was 2–10% in adult stock. Natural mating was practised in all sheep flocks. The study suggests the need to classify Yalaga as a separate genetic group/sheep breed.