Acomparative osteometric evaluation of some cranial indices of clinical significance in goats (Capra hircus) from the middlebelt regions of Nigeria

BACKGROUND:There is no comprehension data on anatomicalindices of Nigerian goats. OBJECTIVES: To show osteometricvalues of some cranial indices in Nigerian goats. METHODS:Sixty (60) goat skulls that were found around Makurdi, Kwande,Katsina-ala and the neighbouring Adamawa state of Nigeria,were studied by investigating the 30 craniometric values.RESULTS: The measured distance from the facial tuberosity tothe infraorbital foramen was 2.33±0.29 Cm and 1.80±0.14 Cmfor females and males, respectively. In addition, the distancefrom the medial canthus to the supraorbital foramen was 27±0.31Cm for females and 2.83±0.24 Cm for males; from the lateralalveolar root to the mental foramen was 2.05±0.07 Cm forfemales and 5.10±7.28 Cm for males; and from the mandibularforamen to the ventral border of mandible was 5.90±0.14 Cm forfemales and 5.48±0.43 Cm for males. CONCLUSIONS: Thisbreed of goat might be a different phenotype of the breeds that isavailable in Nigeria.