Phenotypic characteristics and trypanosome prevalence of Mursi cattle breed in the Bodi and Mursi districts of South Omo Zone, southwest Ethiopia

Terefe, Endashaw; Haile, Aynalem; Mulatu, W.; Dessie, Tadelle; Mwai, Okeyo Ally

doi:10.1007/s11250-014-0746-7

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…These include horn shape and size (e.g. Ankole and Kuri cattle: [11,37,38] and coat colour (i.e Nguni) as shown in Figure 2. In addition to physical features, non-visible traits such as disease resistance, climatic stress resistance and productivity traits also differ among breeds.…”

Section: Characterisation and The Adaptive Traits Of Indigenous Beef mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation of indigenous cattle genetic resources in Southern Africa’s smallholder areas: turning threats into opportunities — A review

Nyamushamba

Mapiye

Tada

et al. 2016

Asian-Australas J Anim Sci

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The current review focuses on characterization and conservation efforts vital for the development of breeding programmes for indigenous beef cattle genetic resources in Southern Africa. Indigenous African cattle breeds were identified and characterized using information from refereed journals, conference papers and research reports. Results of this current review reviewed that smallholder beef cattle production in Southern Africa is extensive and dominated by indigenous beef cattle strains adaptable to the local environment. The breeds include Nguni, Mashona, Tuli, Malawi Zebu, Bovino de Tete, Angoni, Landim, Barotse, Twsana and Ankole. These breeds have important functions ranging from provision of food and income to socio-economic, cultural and ecological roles. They also have adaptive traits ranging from drought tolerant, resistance to ticks and tick borne diseases, heat tolerance and resistance to trypanosomosis. Stakeholders in the conservation of beef cattle were also identified and they included farmers, national government, research institutes and universities as well as breeding companies and societies in Southern Africa. Research efforts made to evaluate threats and opportunities of indigenous beef cattle production systems, assess the contribution of indigenous cattle to household food security and income, genetically and phenotypically characterize and conserve indigenous breeds, and develop breeding programs for smallholder beef production are highlighted. Although smallholder beef cattle production in the smallholder farming systems contributes substantially to household food security and income, their productivity is hindered by several constraints that include high prevalence of diseases and parasites, limited feed availability and poor marketing. The majority of the African cattle populations remain largely uncharacterized although most of the indigenous cattle breeds have been identified.

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Section: Characterisation and The Adaptive Traits Of Indigenous Beef mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to physical features, non-visible traits such as disease resistance, climatic stress resistance and productivity traits also differ among breeds. These characteristics are largely the result of natural and human selection [38]. …”

Section: Characterisation and The Adaptive Traits Of Indigenous Beef mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation of indigenous cattle genetic resources in Southern Africa’s smallholder areas: turning threats into opportunities — A review

Nyamushamba

Mapiye

Tada

et al. 2016

Asian-Australas J Anim Sci

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“…Two locations, Mursi and Bodi areas, where the Mursi and Bodi pastoral communities live, respectively, were selected for this study. The two pastoral communities keep the Mursi cattle breed and share common territorial boundary and the locations also characterized by tsetse fly infested area, where trypanosome is prevalent (Terefe et al, 2015).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pastoralists prefer the breed due to its perceived relative trypanotolerance (that is, its ability to survive and produce under trypanosomosis challenge) in trypanosomosis epidemic areas (Terefe et al, 2015), where there is little veterinary services. The study reported here is part of a project, which designed to study phenotypic characterization and trypanosomosis prevalence in Mursi cattle breed in its production environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On-farm phenotypic characterization of Mursi cattle in its production environment in South Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Terefe

Dessie²,

Haile³

et al. 2015

Anim. Genet. Resour.

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This study was conducted to characterize the morphological peculiarities and performance characteristics of Mursi cattle in its production environment managed by Bodi and Mursi pastoral communities in Southern Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire survey, group discussion, cattle morphological measurements and morphological descriptions were used to collect data. One hundred and two household heads were selected to administer the questionnaire and 201 adult cattle were selected for morphological description and body measurements. The Mursi cattle population was found to have variable coat colour type (85.9 percent) and coat colour pattern (51.3 percent). Body length, chest girth, withers height, rump width and rump length of Mursi cattle were 122.1 ± 0.9, 144.5 ± 0.9, 113 ± 0.1.1, 36.9 ± 0.3 and 20.4 ± 0.3 cm, respectively. Morphological measurements of most linear traits show no difference in the two locations but all measurements vary (P < 0.001) between males and females. Estimated age at first calving was 4.6 years and was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the Mursi area, while the calving interval (14.5 months) and cow reproductive life (14.2 years) were the same in both locations. Average daily milk yield (2.1 litres) and lactation length (7.8 months) of Mursi cattle in the two locations were similar. Cattle production was constrained by high disease prevalence, seasonal feed availability, and water shortage, with frequent drought. Trypanosomosis, black leg, anthrax and skin diseases are major cattle diseases reported in the two study areas. Because of its peculiar morphological characteristics, including large body frame, higher production performance, and survivability in the harsh environment, the Mursi cattle can be used as an alternative genetic resource for production improvement programs. RésuméCette étude a été menée dans le but de caractériser les particularités morphologiques et les performances productives des bovins Mursi dans son milieu de production, géré par les communautés pastorales Bodi et Mursi dans le Sud de l'Éthiopie. Un questionnaire structuré, un groupe de discussion et des mesures et des descriptions morphologiques des bovins ont été utilisés pour la collecte des données. Cent-deux chefs de famille ont été sélectionnés pour le questionnaire alors que 201 animaux adultes ont été choisis pour la description morphologique et les mesures corporelles. Il a été observé que la population bovine Mursi présente des couleurs (85,9 pour cent) et des motifs de la robe (51,3 pour cent) variés. La longueur du corps, le périmètre thoracique, la hauteur au garrot et la largeur et la longueur de la croupe chez les bovins Mursi ont été de 122,1 ± 0,9, 144,5 ± 0,9, 113 ± 0,1, 36,9 ± 0,3 et 20,4 ± 0,3 cm, respectivement. Aucune différence n'a été décelée entre les deux zones pour ce qui est de la plupart des mesures linéaires mais toutes les mesures ont varié (P < 0.001) entre mâles et femelles. L'âge estimé à la première mise bas a été de 4,6 ans et a été significativement (P < 0.0001) plus élevé da...

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“…The presence of high gene flow and admixture between indigenous cattle breeds is one of the major contributing factors in threatening unique cattle breeds [27], [40]. In Borana area, pastoralists usually move to look for feed and water resources which leads the breed to be admixed with the surrounding small sized zebu in the watering and feeding points [47], [16]. Similarly, there is indiscriminate crossbreeding and high affinity of replacing Sheko cattle by other thoracic-humped zebu cattle which have good temperament [6], [31], [32], [34].…”

Section: High Rate Gene Flow and Genetic Dilution Among Indigenous Brmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethiopian Cattle Genetic Resource and Unique Characteristics under a Rapidly Changing Production Environment-A Review

2017

IJSR

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Ethiopia is endowed with diverse cattle genetic resources adapted to various local environmental conditions and acquired unique features. Describing of the unique characteristics, the necessity and urgency to understand and utilize these genetic resources is respond to the needs of the people of the nation and to the benefit of Ethiopian cattle producers. Thus, this review is aimed to summaries the cattle genetic resources, their unique features, main causes of threat for survival and to recommend on their improvement and conservation strategies. Today, we find a variety of genetically diverse population from Bos taurus to Bos indicus species with unique adaptation characteristics in Ethiopia. These cattle breeds are found all across the country from the rift valley highlands as well as below sea level in the Afar depression. However, despite the potentials of these diversified genetic resources, their unique genetic features, these cattle breeds are at risk to disappear rapidly following uncontrolled cross breeding, breed replacements with exotic breeds and other challenges. Breed improvement programs of Ethiopian indigenous cattle remain too few while the demand of livestock products is continually increasing. This situation therefore demands the need to devise strategies to conserve and improve the cattle breeds based on the challenges that threatens them. Use of genomic study is also imperative to facilitate the genetic restoration process. Besides, uses of new information technologies which can enhance the conservation and improvement program are very crucial. Various ongoing development interventions like Artificial Insemination and introduction of genotypes into new environments that are exacerbating threat of the breeds should be revised and a sound approaches for cattle Conservation and improvement programs should be redesigned. Strict regulations and bylaws should also be in place for illegal movement of breeding cattle to the neighboring countries.

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Phenotypic characteristics and trypanosome prevalence of Mursi cattle breed in the Bodi and Mursi districts of South Omo Zone, southwest Ethiopia

Cited by 31 publications

References 13 publications

Conservation of indigenous cattle genetic resources in Southern Africa’s smallholder areas: turning threats into opportunities — A review

Conservation of indigenous cattle genetic resources in Southern Africa’s smallholder areas: turning threats into opportunities — A review

On-farm phenotypic characterization of Mursi cattle in its production environment in South Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Ethiopian Cattle Genetic Resource and Unique Characteristics under a Rapidly Changing Production Environment-A Review

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