Phenotypic Characterization of Creole Cattle in the Andean Highlands Using Bio-Morphometric Measures and Zoometric Indices

Abstract

Several Creole cattle biotypes can be found in the Andean highlands, and most of them are considered as being in risk of extinction. The main aim of the present study was to perform a phenotypic characterization of the Creole cattle in the Andean highlands using bio-morphometric measures and zoometric indices. Individuals from three different biotypes (Black ‘Negro’ (n = 57), Colour-Sided ‘Callejón’ (n = 20), and Brindle ‘Atigrado’ (n = 18)) from an experimental research center located in the Peruvian highlands were enrolled in the study. In total, seventeen morphometric parameters were evaluated and ten zoometric indices were calculated in each biotype. To test the relationship between biometric traits, correlation analyses were carried out between morphometric parameters. Differences were observed regarding different morphometric variables such as head length (HL) and rump length (RL) among cattle biotypes (p ≤ 0.05). The coefficient of variation (CV; %) regarding different morphometric parameters ranged between 11.32 for neck length (NL) and 3.63 for height at withers (HaW), which indicated low–moderate variability among morphometric variables. Differences were observed in the longitudinal pelvic index (LPI) when different zoometric indices were compared among biotypes (p ≤ 0.05). The CV regarding different zoometric indices, which ranged between 10.78 for the cephalic index (CEI) and 5.05 for LPI, indicated low variability among indices. No differences were observed in any other morphometric parameter or zoometric index among cattle biotypes or genders (p > 0.05). Finally, multiple correlations were observed between morphometric variables (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that Peruvian Andean Creole cattle can be considered as a dairy-related biotype with a slight tendency for beef production (dual-purpose). The great homogeneity regarding zoometric characteristics among biotypes and genders may indicate that the Andean Creole cattle have been maintained quite isolated, avoiding the genetic influence of other foreign breeds. Finally, the phenotypic characterization including bio-morphometric measurements and zoometric indices obtained from the different Creole bovine biotypes is crucial in order to begin different conservation programs to preserve cattle breeds in the Peruvian Andean highlands.

Early Cannon Development in Females of the “Sanmartinero” Creole Bovine Breed

“…As the anamorphosis index decreases, the animal is considered tall of its legs and with a lower body weight [22]. In our study, the anamorphosis index found (2.53%) corresponds to a longer animal and was located within the same range of values obtained in other Ibero-American creole bovine: the Limonero creole bovine from Venezuela (2.5%) [24], the Saavedra creole bovine (2.7%) [43], the Mixtec creole bovine (2.1%) [25], the creole bovine from the province of Azuay, Ecuador (2.2%) [45], the creole bovine from the Andean highlands, Peru (2.01%) [44], the Casanare creole bovine (2.03%) [42], and the creole bovine from the Province of Huamanga (1.86%) [37]. Therefore, the Sanmartinero creole bovines phenotypically tend to be more milk producers than meat producers, with an anamorphosis index similar to the Limonero creole bovine of Venezuela.…”

“…Thus, the Sanmartinero creole bovine seems to be in a position of dual aptitude, as mentioned above. The corporal index was higher than that reported for the Limonero creole bovine from Venezuela (74.3%) [24], the Mixtec creole bovine from Oaxaca (79.9%) [25], the creole bovine Guaymi of Panama (80.52%) [40], the Barroso-Salmeco creole of Guatemala (83.55%) [41], the Casanare creole bovine from Colombia (82.5%) [42], the Saavedra creole bovine from Bolivia (82%) [43], and the creole bovine from the Andean highlands of Peru (82.98%) [44]. However, the corporal index was lower than that reported in Ecuador for the creole bovine from the Province of Azuay (86.8%) [45], the creole bovine from the Province of Huamanga (88.97%) [37], the creole bovine of the Ecuadorian coast (87.5) [46], the creole bovine from Uruguay (88.2%) [47], the creole bovine from the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador (95.03%) [48], and the creole bovine from the Province of Loja (115.9%) [26].…”

“…The dactylo thoracic index relates the strength of the limbs to the body mass they support [27,28]. In the case of the Sanmartinero creole bovine, the dactylo thoracic index (15.68%) was higher compared to that reported for other Ibero-American creole bovine: the creole bovine of the Ecuadorian coast (11.3%) [46], the Mixtec creole bovine of Mexico (11.0 %) [25], the Barroso-Salmeco creole bovine of Guatemala (10.95%) [41], the creole bovine from the Province of Huamanga (10.78%) [37], the creole bovine from the Andean highlands, Peru (10.49%) [44], the creole bovine Guaymi of Panama (10.32%) [40], the Limonero creole bovine from Venezuela (10.14%) [24], the creole bovine of the province of Azuay, Ecuador (10.3%) [45], the Saavedra creole bovine (10%) [43], and the creole bovine from the province of Santa Elena, Ecuador (9.8%) [49].…”

“…The external morphology has value as a descriptor, identifier, and differentiator of an individual or breed and allows a greater productive assessment of the animal [51]. On the other hand, morphometric characteristics in creole bovine provide sufficient technical information in the short term [44]. However, at the level of Ibero-America, the lack of information on creole bovine is based both on characterization studies and on the productive behavior of these animals [52].…”

Genomic Insights into the Population History and Adaptive Traits of Latin American Criollo Cattle

“…Compared to taurine breeds from temperate zones, Criollo cattle are renowned for high fertility and excellent reproductive performance under tropical conditions [21,29,100,101] and using the CSS method we detected several genes associated with these traits. For example, in the Blanco Orejinegro breed a BTA7 CSS cluster region contains the CATSPER3 gene exclusively expressed in the testis, which encodes a sperm-specific ion channel protein directly linked to sperm motility and male fertility in many species, including cattle [102].…”