Multivariate characterization of morphological traits in West African cattle sires

Abstract

Abstract.A total of 183 adult sires belonging to nine West African cattle breeds sampled in 67 villages of Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin were assessed for 16 body measurements and 18 qualitative traits. Within type of cattle (zebu, sanga or taurine), the different breeds analysed showed large differences in body measurements. In general, taurine breeds had lower average values than the zebu breeds while sanga cattle tended to have intermediate values. Principal component analysis identified three factors characterising body measurements. Factor 1 summarised the information provided by those traits characterising the size of the individuals and explained 59.0 % of the variability. Factor 2 tended to gather information characterising the body width and explained 8.0 % of the variation. Less representative, Factor 3 (6.6 % of the variability) had no clear interpretation. Qualitative traits did not allow to distinguish among either cattle groups or breeds. Two Correspondence Analysis Dimensions computed on qualitative traits (explaining 26.2 and 15.5 % of the variability, respectively) did not allow to differentiate between zebu, sanga or taurine cattle breeds. Our results confirm that, in the framework of a general appearance, body measurements are the main criteria for differentiating West African cattle breeds. Furthermore, the current research has not allowed to identify breeding preferences on qualitative type traits in West African cattle sires. Therefore, homogenisation of the appearance of individuals within cattle breed is not expected.

Morphological assessment of the Zebu Bororo (Wodaabé) cattle of Niger in the West African zebu framework

“…However, only 15 of them coincided with those obtained by Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016 in nine West African cattle populations. Moreover, definition of two of the traits recorded (tail length and facial width) differed between the current research and the project of Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016.…”

“…However, only 15 of them coincided with those obtained by Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016 in nine West African cattle populations. Moreover, definition of two of the traits recorded (tail length and facial width) differed between the current research and the project of Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016. Therefore, after editing, only 13 quantitative traits were used for analyses (Tables 1 and 2): facial length (from orbital fossa to upper lip), muzzle circumference, horn length (greater curvature), ear length, height at withers, heart girth, height at hips (tuber coxae), body length (from lateral tuberosity of the humerus to tuber ischii), thorax depth, shoulder width (between lateral tuberosities of the humerus), pelvic width (between tuber ischii), ischium width (between tuber ischii) and rump length (from tuber coxae to tuber ischii).…”

“…Eleven qualitative traits were scored with the same withintrait levels, codes and definitions used in Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016: cephalic profile, ear shape, muzzle pigmentation, eyelid pigmentation, hoof pigmentation, horn colour, dewlap size, backline profile, horn shape, spotting pattern and coat colour pattern (Table 3).…”

“…Recently, nine West African cattle breeds have been jointly analysed for body measurements and qualitative type traits using multifactorial analyses (Traoré et al, 2015(Traoré et al, , 2016. These analyses included individuals of the Burkina Faso populations of Zebu Azawak (also known as Touareg) and Zebu Mbororo (Red Fulani), as well as the Benin and Burkina Faso populations of the short-horned Zebu Peul.…”

“…The aim of the current research was to document the phenotypic variation on body measurements and qualitative type traits in a representative sample of Niger Bororo cattle using the methodology reported in Traoré et al (2015Traoré et al ( , 2016. Morphological variation was compared with that of four West African zebu cattle populations of Burkina Faso and Benin considering jointly all measured morphological variables using multifactorial techniques to assess within-and betweenpopulations variation.…”