Abstract
<jats:p>This study evaluated the pelvic indices and diameters, pelvic area and circumference of the Santa Elena Creole goat in Ecuador. A total of 340 Creole goats between one and three years of age, with one to three parturitions, the last of which was eutocic. The indices and dimensions of the pelvis were determined and compared by means of a simple analysis of variance. Reference values for the screening range were calculated as ± 1.65 SD. The pelvic indices classify the investigated goats as concavilinear. Pelvic diameters, area, and pelvic circumference in first and second kidding oats were smaller (P&lt;0.05) than in third kidding goats. The lower limit of the reference values for each parameter is its appropriate value before kidding. Prior to first kidding, this is 8.97, 5.77, 6.07 and 7.37 cm, for the true conjugate and the upper, middle, and lower transverse diameters, respectively. For the pelvic area and circumference, the appropriate values are 47.3 cm2 and 15.44 cm, respectively. Prior to the second and third kidding, the ideal values of each parameter were higher than for the first kidding. It is concluded that, according to their pelvic indices, the goats investigated are concavilinear and their pelvic dimensions in the first and second parturition were smaller (P&lt;0.05) than in those of the third parturition.</jats:p>