**4. Embryological development and baseline morphometrics of the alimentary system**

During embryogenesis, the gut portion of the animal is derived from the endodermal germ layer, which lies ventrally to the embryo and forms the top surface of the yolk sac. With the passage of time, a greater part of this germ layer is integrated inward into the embryo to develop a gut tube, which is comprised of the foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The midgut is shared with the yolk sac through a narrow and longer vitelline duct. The foregut at the cranial end is enclosed by the oropharyngeal membrane, which later developed a passageway between the oral cavity and the primitive gut [39, 40]. The lateral plate mesoderm of the embryo is participating in the body cavity formation. The hindgut terminates at the cloacal region and forms an anal opening [41]. The whole developmental cycle of the goat is mentioned in **Figure 2**.

Goat lifecycle is completed according to the following stages:

