____________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: bemjimn@unaab.edu.ng; American Journal of Experimental Agriculture 2(4): 587-596, 2012 SCIENCEDOMAIN international www.sciencedomain.org Prevalence of Coat Colour Phenotypes in West African Dwarf Sheep Reared by Small Holder Farmers in South Western Nigeria M. N. Bemji 1* , A. A. Ogunjimi 1 , A. J. Ode 1 , S. R. Okediji 1 , A. T. Akinwunmi 1 , T. O. Sanyaolu 1 , B. S. Salawudeen 1 , B. A. Kelani 1 , A. O. Ogunsola 1 , M. O. Agunbiade 1 , A. S. Adenaike 1 and A. I. Ogundiyi 1 1 Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. The MNB designed the study, performed part of the statistical analysis and wrote the protocol and the first draft of the manuscript. ASA also managed part of the analysis; other authors listed equally participated in the survey and data collection. All authors participated in literature searches, read and approved the final manuscript. Received 7 th May 2012 Accepted 19 th August 2012 Published 28 th August 2012 ABSTRACT The West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep reared extensively by small holder farmers in South Western Nigeria has not been selected based on preference for coat colour, which varies considerably but without adequate information on the current distribution. The prevalence of different coat colour phenotypes was therefore investigated based on a total randomly sampled size of 9, 195 sheep (5,978 females and 3,217 males) from February to October, 2011. A total of 17 different colour patterns including 3 solid colours (white, black and brown) were identified in the breed. Phenotypes mainly influenced by phaeomelanin pigment, considered to be governed by a dominant allele (A wt ) include: predominantly white with black marking, solid white, white and black in approximately equal proportions, spotted white, white and brown in approximately equal proportions, buckskin, tan, badgerface and grey. The remaining phenotypes (black with white marking, brown, black, spotted black, spotted brown, black and brown, brown with white marking and Swiss marking) reflected the presence of eumelanin pigment governed by A a recessive allele. Based on the two Research Article