Do Body Measurements Taken at Different Ages Change the Discrimination in Angora, Hair, Kilis, and Honamlı Goats?

Background Discrimination of animal breeds according to morphometric measurements is an essential tool for animal scientists and breeders. The hypothesis of this manuscript was conducted on the idea that the discrimination can be changed over growth period. For this aim Angora, Hair, Kilis, and Honamlı goat breeds in three different ages that at birth, weaning (90 days of age), and one years old (mature) animals from were evaluated. Methods For dimension reduction Principal Component Analysis was used and Multivariate Discriminant Stepwise Analysis Method (MDASM) was used to determine the differences and grouping levels in terms of biometric measurements and discrimination of goat genotypes. Results Our results showed that there were differences among ages that at birth, weaning (90 days of age), and one years old (mature) in spite of discrimination. The highest correct classification rate obtained for mature age (91.18%) which was 25.66% higher than age of birth. Conclusions These findings supported that the measurements taken at mature age should be used for robust discrimination. The chest girth, chest circumference, and chest width were found the most significant variables for classification.