The ADGA Linear Appraisal committee is pleased to announce that a linear
scale has been developed for Nigerian Dwarf goats for use in the 2009 appraisal
season. Up to this point, measurements have been taken on stature and rump
width in order to collect data on these traits to find the biological range.
Appraisal scores have been recorded in inches, to the ¼ inch, rather than the
1-50 scale. With just over 1000 adult scores in the database, the information
was available to correlate a scale.
The 1-50 scale describes the range in stature as extremely short to extremely
tall and describes the range in rump width as extremely narrow to extremely
wide.
The linear scale for Nigerian Dwarf stature will be:
| Inches | Linear Score |
| 17" | 5 |
| 18" | 10 |
| 19" | 15 |
| 20" | 20 |
| 21" | 25 |
| 22" | 30 |
| 23" | 35 |
| 24" | 40 |
| 25" | 45 |
As with standard sized does, for each 1” difference in height, plus or minus,
the point assignment will change by five. 21 inches is intermediate for the
trait and assigned a score of 25. Young Stock will continue to be recorded in
actual inches, rather than assign a point value.
The linear scale for Nigerian Dwarf rump width will be:
| Inches | Linear Score |
| 4.5” | 5 |
| 4.75” | 10 |
| 5" | 15 |
| 5.25” | 20 |
| 5.5” | 25 |
| 5.75” | 30 |
| 6” | 35 |
| 6.25” | 40 |
| 6.5” | 45 |
Each ¼ inch difference in rump width, plus or minus, will result in a
difference of five in the score. 5 ½ inches is intermediate for the trait and
assigned a score of 25. Young Stock will continue to be recorded in actual
inches, rather than assign a point value.
As part of this change, data on these traits, previously stored in the database
as measurement in inches will be converted to the linear scale. This will assist
as we move toward genetic evaluations for type.