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Morphological characterization of indigenous goats in Western Ethiopia: implication for community-based breeding programmes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2016

Ahmed Seid ,
Kefelegn Kebede  and
Kefena Effa
Ahmed Seid*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science (Animal Genetics and Breeding), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Kefelegn Kebede
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia
Kefena Effa
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding (Molecular and Populations Genetics/Genomics), Holeta Agricultural Research Center, Holeta, Ethiopia
*
Correspondence to: S. Ahmed, Department of Animal Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. email: seidahmad5@gmail.com
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Summary

An exploratory field survey was conducted in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia, to phenotypically characterize indigenous goats. Eight qualitative and fifteen quantitative traits from 612 goats were considered. All data were analysed using SAS 9.2, version 2008. The dominant coat colour types in Guduru district were black (35.29 percent), whereas in Amuru district, the dominant coat colour types were white and brown with brown dominant (18.63 percent) and brown (17.65 percent). In Horro district, the dominant coat colour types were grey (21.57 percent) and black and white with black dominant (15.69 percent). Morphometric measurements (body weight (BW), heart girth and body length) indicated that the Amuru and Horro goats were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the Guduru goats. Male goats were consistently higher than female goats in all variables except pelvic width (PW). BW could be predicted from the regression equation y = −45.22 + 1.04x for does and y = −59.71 + 1.25x for bucks, where y and x are the BW and the heart girth, respectively. This phenotypic information serves as a basis for designing appropriate conservation and breeding strategies for goats in the study area. However, it should be substantiated with genetic characterization to guide the overall goat breeding and conservation programmes.

Résumé

En la zona Horro Guduru Wollega de Etiopía se llevó a cabo un estudio exploratorio de campo para la caracterización fenotípica de las cabras autóctonas. Se consideraron ocho caracteres cualitativos y quince cuantitativos en 612 cabras. Todos los datos fueron analizados con el programa SAS 9.2 (versión 2008). El color de capa dominante en el distrito de Guduru fue el negro (35,29 por ciento), mientas que en el distrito de Amuru los colores de capa dominantes fueron el blanco y el marrón, con el marrón predominando sobre el blanco (18,63 por ciento) o simplemente color marrón (17,65 por ciento). En el distrito de Horro, los colores de capa dominantes fueron el gris (21,57 por ciento) y el negro y blanco, con el negro predominando (15,69 por ciento). Las medidas morfométricas (peso corporal, circunferencia torácica y longitud corporal) fueron significativamente (P < 0,05) mayores para las cabras de Amuru y Horro que para las cabras de Guduru. Para todas las variables, excepto para la anchura de la pelvis, los machos presentaron recurrentemente valores superiores a los de las hembras. Se pudo predecir el peso corporal a partir de la ecuación de regresión y = −45,22 + 1,04x para las hembras e y = −59,71 + 1,25x para los machos, siendo “y” el peso corporal y “x” la circunferencia torácica. Esta información fenotípica sirve de base para el diseño de estrategias adecuadas para la conservación y selección de las cabras de la zona de estudio. No obstante, esta información debería ser corroborada por la caracterización genética para guiar los programas de selección y conservación de cabras en su conjunto.

Resumen

Dans la zone Horro Guduru Wollega de l’Éthiopie, une étude d'exploration a été menée sur le terrain pour caractériser phénotypiquement les chèvres autochtones. Huit caractères qualitatifs et quinze caractères quantitatifs ont été considérés sur 612 chèvres. Toutes les données ont été analysées avec le logiciel SAS 9.2 (version 2008). La couleur de robe dominante dans le district de Guduru a été le noir (35,29 pour cent), alors que dans le district d'Amuru les couleurs de robe dominantes ont été le blanc et le marron, avec le marron étant prédominant (18,63 pour cent), voire la seule couleur (17,65 pour cent). Dans le district de Horro, les couleurs de robe dominantes ont été le gris (21,57 pour cent) et le noir et blanc, avec le noir étant prédominant (15,69 pour cent). Pour ce qui est des mesures morphométriques (poids corporel, périmètre thoracique et longueur du corps), les chèvres des districts d'Amuru et Horro ont présenté des valeurs significativement (P < 0,05) plus élevées que celles de Guduru. Pour toutes les variables, sauf pour la largeur du bassin, les mâles ont systématiquement présenté des valeurs plus élevées que les femelles. Il a été possible de prédire le poids corporel en utilisant l’équation de régression y = −45,22 + 1,04x pour les femelles et y = −59,71 + 1,25x pour les mâles, avec y et x étant le poids corporel et le périmètre thoracique, respectivement. Cette information phénotypique sert de base pour la conception de stratégies appropriées de conservation et de sélection pour les chèvres de la zone d’étude. Toutefois, cette information devrait être étayée par la caractérisation génétique afin de guider les programmes de conservation et de sélection de chèvres dans son ensemble.

Keywords

Body weightcharacterizationindigenous goatslinear body measurementpoids corporelcaractérisationchèvres autochtonesmesure corporelle linéairepeso corporalcaracterizacióncabras autóctonasmedida corporal lineal
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 58 , June 2016 , pp. 53 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2016 

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