Effect of coat and skin color variation on longevity, ethnological and functional indices in local goats

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of variation in number and diversity of colors, coat pattern, and skin color and its effect on longevity and etnological indices in local goats from Northern Mexico. Two hundred fifty-one adult goats were chosen. The aforementioned variables were recorded in addition to age, live weight (LW), body condition (BC), and fifteen zoometric traits. Seventeen indices were calculated. The group with two colors was different (P<0.05) in age and BC. Skin color was different in LW and BC (P<0.05). BC was higher in white coat mottled animals (P<0.05). The one-color group presented the highest Facial Index. Flat-coated Animals had higher Index of horns. Cephalic, pelvic, facial, compactness, relative chest depth, substernal slenderness, and relative shortness indices were different in coat color. It is concluded that this population was phaneroptically heterogeneous and the number, diversity of colors, coat pattern, and skin color influence the longevity and ethnological and functional indices.