Identification and phenotypic characterization of goat ecotypes in the Bench Maji zone, southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify and characterize the phenotype of goat genetic resources in the Bench Maji zone, south western Ethiopia. Focus group discussions, observation of physical attributes and morphology, and morphometrical measurements were employed for data collection. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, general linear model (GLM) and two-step cluster analysis were employed to analyse the data. The results of the analyses revealed that 90.7 percent of the female and 88.4 percent of the male goats have straight facial profile. Horns in the majority of females (85.7 percent) and males (73.4 percent) are straight with backward direction in 72.6 percent of females and 84.2 percent of males. In most cases the female goats lack ruffs (88.2 percent), wattles (73.8 percent) and beards (68.3 percent). Averaged quantitative traits of the female population were 56.97 ± 0.21 cm; 70.15 ± 0.27 cm, 60.08 ± 0.17 cm and 26.36 ± 0.21 kg for body length, chest girth, height at withers and body weight, respectively. The corresponding values of the male population were 60.81 ± 0.35 cm, 75.04 ± 0.50 cm, 64.47 ± 0.32 cm and 31.02 ± 0.50 kg, respectively. Goats from the different districts have shown significant (P < 0.01) differences in body length, height at withers and body weight of female and chest girth and body weight of males. 48 and 52 percent of the goat populations were distributed under two clusters indicating that the goat populations can be classified into two ecotypes (Meanit and Sheko). correspondientes, para la población de machos, fueron de 60,81 ± 0,35 cm, 75,04 ± 0,50 cm, 64,47 ± 0,32 cm y 31,02 ± 0,50 kg, respectivamente. Se han dado diferencias significativas (P < 0,01), entre cabras de distintos distritos, para la longitud corporal, la alzada a la cruz y el peso corporal de las hembras, y para la circunferencia torácica y el peso corporal de los machos. Las poblaciones caprinas quedaron agrupadas, en un 48 y 52 por ciento, en dos conglomerados, lo cual indica que las poblaciones caprinas pueden ser clasificadas de acuerdo con dos ecotipos (Meanit y Sheko).

Study on phenotypic evaluation of exportable goat at Organic and Akseker abattoirs in Modjo town of central Ethiopia.

“…The nding of this study was consistent with those reported by ( 14) (Musa et al, 2014), (12,25,31): ( 28), (30), (32) that live body was highly correlated with linear body measurements. In this study, the color and other cultural-related parameters effect are also not studied which may or may have a direct effect on the selection of goat slaughtering for meat consumption as described in (32) and (23).…”

“…A comprehensive phenotypic evaluation of Ethiopian goats was done by (FARM Africa 1996) classifying indigenous goats based on their geographic location and the ethnic communities who keep them (11). Based on the analysis of morphological data along with geographic distribution, fourteen distinct goat populations were identi ed across Ethiopia and Eritrea (12). These were categorized into four major families including the Nubian (Nubian, Barka), Rift valley (Worre, Afar, Abergele, Arsi-Bale, Woyto-Guji), Somali (Hararghe highland, short-eared Somali, long-eared Somali) and the small East African (central highland, western Highland, western lowland, Keffa) goat families (11) and (13).…”

Morphological Characterization of Goat Populations in Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

“…The existence of morphological variations within and between goat population is due to the variation of ecological zones accompanying unique climate and vegetation which leads to management and environmental influences (Hagan et al, 2012). Many studies in Ethiopia reported that indigenous goat populations have different body weight and linear measurements in their habitat among districts as well as agroecology (Hassen et al, 2012;Fantahun et al, 2013). The present findings of goats in Adwa district are comparable in body weight (27.88 kg), body length (63.15 cm), and height at withers (68.63 cm) of indigenous goats in South-North Wollo, reported by Hassen et al (2012).…”

Variabilidad morfoestructural, zoométrica y faneróptica de machos cabríos locales del norte de México

“…Las cabras indígenas del sur de la región de Óromia, Etiopia, presentan una alta frecuencia de capa plana o lisa (82 %) con un color blanco, el cual ayuda para adaptarse al entorno desértico de la región (Bedada et al, 2019). Por otra parte, Fantahum et al (2013) señalan que cabras de Bench Maji en el Sudoeste de Etiopia presentan un pelaje plano (49,7 %), patrón irregular (42,9 %) y manchado (7,4 %), y cabras Maefur presentan un patrón de pelaje manchado (32,3 %) y sombreado (marrón, negro y gris; 15,3 %) (Gebreyowhens y Kumar, 2017). Esta variedad de tonalidades entre razas, y entre regiones o ecosistemas, sugiere que los diferentes grupos genéticos han desarrollado mecanismos evolutivos para reali-zar procesos de termorregulación más eficientes (Lenis-Sanin et al, 2016), logrando con ello una mejor adaptación al ambiente árido y semiárido (Bedada et al, 2019), situación que probablemente está relacionada de forma directa a las condiciones climáticas y geográficas propias de cada localidad.…”