This study was designed to determine the biometry of ovaries of Balami, Yankassa sheep and goats in Maiduguri, Nigeria. This cross sectional study involved 100 ovaries of sheep and goats slaughtered at the Maiduguri metropolitan abattoir, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Two breeds of sheep (Yankassa and Balami) were utilized for this study as well as the Sahel breed of goat. The mean weights of ovaries were 0.88 ± 0.37g, 0.76 ± 0.45g and 1.06 ± 0.46g in Balami, Yankassa breed of sheep and Sahel goats respectively. The diameters of the ovaries were 1.57 ± 0.28cm, 1.49 ± 0.35cm and 1.67 ± 0.26cm in Balami, Yankassa Sheep and Sahel Goats. Similarly, the numbers of follicles on the ovaries studied were 14.3 ± 4.89. 14.67 ± 6.82 and 18.72 ± 8.63 in Balami, Yankassa Sheep and Sahel Goats respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in these parameters between the left and right ovaries of all the species and between Yankassa and Balami sheep breeds. There was also no difference (P > 0.05) in these values when the age of animals was considered. Gross observations on the ovary of sheep shows that 12% were having cystic ovaries, 20% were having inactive ovaries and 68% were in different stages of the oestrus cycle. Similarly, gross examination of the ovary of goats sampled showed 18% were having cystic ovaries, 34% inactive ovaries and 48% were cycling. Although the biometrics of the right ovaries appear to have higher values than the left ovary in this study, statistical analysis did not detect a significant difference between the left and right ovary in both sheep and goats in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Key words: Biometry, Goat, Sheep, Reproduction, Ovary, Follicles
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