The aim of this study was to characterize goat types of Bale zone using quantitative and qualitative trait and estimate body weight through measuring different body measurements of goats. Purposive and multistage sampling were used for selection of district and kebeles. about 567 female and 63 male goats were sampled for body measurement and morphometric character. Out of the total sampled goat population in the study area (630 goats) 64.44% have plain coat color pattern and the main dominant color was white (45.7%). The goats were also characterized by having straight head profile (90.32%), no beard (78.25%), have no toggle (92.38), have ruff (70.63%) and straight horn orientation (59.52%). The correlation coefficient between body weight and other linear body measurements were positive and significant both for male and female goats, except for ear length. There was significant difference (p<0.05) among sex, age and district for body weight and some linear body measurements. In study area overall mean of body weight, body length, chest girth, height at withers, pelvic width, rump height, rump length, head length, ear length, scrotum circumference and teat length were 29.52±0.16kg, 56.02±0.14cm, 71.95±0.17cm, 66.66±0.16 cm, 9.52±0.04cm, 68.5±0.16cm, 14.98±0.04cm, 9.0±0.03cm, 14.03±0.04cm , 25.08±0.29cm and 3.56±0.02cm , respectively. Chest girth was more reliable in predicting body weight than other linear body measurements for both male and female goats.

Keywords: Bale zone; Indigenous goat type; Phenotype characters; Qualitative trait Quantitative trait