Morphometrical study of the mandiblar bone of female Yankasa sheep (Ovis aries Linne)

Abstract

The research was aimed at studying the morphometric analysis of the twenty (20) lower jawbones (mandible) of female Yankasa breed of sheep in relation to their ages postnatally using standard biometrical tools. The study was conducted in Sokoto metropolis, through daily marked visitation. The samples ware obtained and classified according to age; group 1 (0-6months), group 2 (6months-1year), group 3 (1-2years), group 4 (2-3years), group 5 (3years-above). The ages were estimated on the basis of the eruption and wearing of the teeth All morphometric data examined were expressed as Mean ± SD. The mean and standard deviation of the morphometric data of the horizontal and vertical ramus of the mandible of the Ewe at different postnatal ages were determined and recorded. The results have shown that there is an increase in both horizontal and vertical ramus of the mandible of the Female Yankasa Sheep, though a drastic increase in size, shape and weight was observed from two(2) years to four (4) years of age. Furthermore, the morphometric data of the Female Yankasa Sheep is comparable to other various sheep and goat breeds of ruminant with little variations that could be due to breed, geographical location, nutritional values, and weather of an area, genetic makeup and body scoring index of the breed. The present result provides a baseline data on the morphometric of the mandible Female Yankasa Sheep in the West African region of the world. It is therefore recommended that further work should be carried out on other breeds of sheep in Nigeria with other parameters using sophisticated biometrical equipment. The study has described the morphology and biometric characteristics of the female Yankasa Sheep and shows contribution for comparative model for other African local Ovine breeds in Nigerian and Africa at large.