Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

Skull morphometry is essential for understanding postnatal skeletal development and breed variation in domestic ruminants. This study investigated age-related morphometric changes in the caudal and ventral skull regions of Kuri cattle and established baseline cranial reference values for this indigenous African taurine breed. Thirty clinically healthy cattle comprising 15 males and 15 females were purposively sampled from four Nigerian abattoirs and classified into young (<3 years), middle-aged (3–5 years), and aged (>5 years) groups, respectively. Following hot-water maceration, thirty-three cranial measurements were recorded using standardised osteometric methods. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, regression analysis, principal component analysis, boxplots, correlation heatmaps, and allometric scaling relative to condylobasal length (CBL). One-way ANOVA revealed significant age-related variation in numerous cranial parameters. Among caudal measurements, MICW, IJPW, PCPL, IPCW, WSH1, WSH2, and SH differed significantly among age groups (p<0.05), with values increasing from 24.50 ± 1.62 cm in young to 29.40 ± 2.02 cm in aged cattle. In contrast, the IPFM, FMH, FMW, FMC, FMI, IPEOP, and neurocranial volume showed no significant age-related differences. Ventral skull measurements revealed significant increases in IPSL, IISL, ChW, MZW, IOL, and CBL with age (p<0.001). Hard palate length increased significantly from 24.59 ± 1.59 cm in young cattle to 27.80 ± 1.25 cm in middle-aged and 29.72 ± 1.66 cm in aged cattle. Allometric analysis revealed variable scaling relationships relative to CBL. Positive allometry predominated in facial and palatal structures, particularly IPSL1 (b=1.910), ChL (b=1.763), RIFW (b=1.631), PWM3 (b=1.589), and IPSL2 (b=1.549), whereas FMH (b=0.625) and FMC (b=0.636) exhibited negative allometry. Neurocranial structures and NCV showed largely isometric growth. These findings indicate that age-related changes were more pronounced in measurements associated with the facial skeleton and cranial base, whereas several neurocranial measurements remained relatively stable. The morphometric reference values generated provide valuable baseline data for comparative anatomy, breed characterisation, diagnostic imaging, surgical planning, veterinary education, and future developmental studies.