Ekeocha, A. H., Aganga, A. A., Adejoro, F. A. and Ezeike, P. D.

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This study was carried out in three (3) Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, Nigeria; Ikole (07°47′53.76′′N 05°30′52.17′′E), Oye (07°47'52.55′′N 05°19'42.78"E) and Ado (07°37'15.9996′′N 05°13'17.0004"E) Local Government Areas. The study aimed at evaluating the phenotypic characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep in the study location. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) adult WAD Sheep of the same age group, comprising ninety (90) males and ninety (90) females, were randomly selected for the study. Body weight, sex, colour and other seven body traits (ear length, heart girth, rump height, wither height, body length, head length, tail length) were collected from the 180 Sheep. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi-square and means were separated using Tukey's test. Results obtained showed that sex had a significant effect (p<0.05) on some of the body parameters considered. This trend confirms sexual dimorphism in WAD Sheep in the study location. White and black (37.2%) and White (26.1%) are the dominant color types while 36.7% comprises Brown (21.7%), White and brown (10.0%) and Black (5.0%) colour types with long thin tail in both ewe and ram. The results obtained showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the following traits for Ikole, Oye and Ado respectively; EL (11.33±0.14; 11.80±0.17; 11.6±0.15)cm, HG (75.30±0.95°; 80.38±0.69°; 77.67±0.89°)cm, MBW (38.14±1.2°; 44.61±1.00°; 41.36±1.16°)kg, RH (68.47±0.81a; 68.07±0.81; 66.10±0.65o)cm, WH (68.47±0.81a; 68.07±0.81a; 66.10±0.65) cm, BL (87.43±0.98; 83.37±0.97°; 87.3±0.94) cm while HL (20.80±