Discriminant Analysis Approach in Morphometric Differentiation and Characterization of Serbian Autochthonous Goats

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of using morphometric measurements to differentiate the autochthonous Serbian White goat breed from Saanen and Balkan goats, which were used as sire and dam breeds in its creation. For this purpose, a multivariate discriminant analysis was used. A total of 11 morphometric traits were measured in 98 does of 3 breeds: Saanen (n = 28), Balkan (n = 28), and Serbian White (n = 42), aged 2 to 7 years, in 4 different locations. Univariate analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in body measurements of all three breeds, with Saanen goat being the largest in format and Balkan the smallest. Discriminant analysis extracted six out of eleven tested morphometric traits with the strongest discriminatory power: heart girth, head length, chest depth, head width, pelvic width, and body length. Mahalanobis distances were significant between all three genetic groups. The discriminant function correctly classified 95.24% of the Domestic White goats investigated to their source group. The classification accuracy of the function was cross-validated and indicated an overall success rate of 91.84%. The results of this research showed that there was a clear separation between Serbian White, Saanen, and Balkan goats. The present findings could help a more rapid field assessment of Serbian White goats.

Phaneroptic characterization and zoometric indices of Creole goats in the Ayacucho Region, Peru: First step for breeding programs, selection, and conservation

“…However, the height of the WH ranges from 64.98 to 74.00 cm, which, according to Devendra and Burns [ 27 ], classifies them as medium to large goats. These results are similar to the reports by Maksimović et al [ 7 ] in Serbia but are lower than the goats evaluated in Lima [ 21 ], and higher than the native goats of Tanzania [ 20 ], Ethiopia [ 4 ], and Burkina Faso [ 13 ]. Regarding other zoometric measurements, the findings were similar except for CW, which was similar between the cited studies.…”

“…The existence of a genetic correlation means that qualitative traits influence quantitative traits [ 6 ]. Estimating morphometric parameters in goats is very important for establishing genetic improvement programs [ 13 ], setting breed standards [ 7 ], understanding interspecific variations between populations [ 26 ], and also proposing strategies for the conservation of genetic resources, such as a gene bank, for their sustainable utilization [ 1 ]. The BW of the evaluated goats ranges from 36 to 56 kg, which is lower than that reported by Oyolo [ 21 ] in Lima, who found values between 62 and 80 kg.…”

“…The Peruvian Creole goat livestock has a wide genetic diversity that entered the country in colonial times and has evolved over many generations according to the geographical environment where it was settled [ 6 ]. Therefore, regional ecotypes are irreplaceable animal zoogenetic resources in their genetic composition, considered a traditional and cultural legacy [ 7 ]. In the 1990s, exotic dairy, meat, and dual-purpose breeds, such as Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg, Oberhasli, and Anglonubian, were introduced into Peru, the latter being the one with the greatest influence on Creole meat goats [ 8 ].…”

Біологічні Особливості Кіз Різних Порід

“…Виявлені біологічні показники, які визначають молочну чи м'ясну продуктивність за порідною належністю, підтверджують результати дослідження у зааненських кіз автори Maksimović, et all., 2023 [22]; альпійських: Maksimović, et all., 2015 [23]; англонубійських: Ferreira, et all., 2013 [24].…”