Abstract
A total of 1015 adult cows belonging to nine West African cattle breeds were assessed for 16 body measurements and 18 qualitative traits to ascertain the existence of geographical patterns of variation. Sampling was carried out in 29 different provinces of Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin. For body measurements, taurine breeds took lower average values than the zebu breeds. Sanga cattle took intermediate values. Qualitative traits did not allow to differentiate among cattle groups (taurine, zebu or sanga) or breeds. Principal component analysis identified two factors explaining 56.4 and 9.2 % of the variance for body measurements, respectively. Two correspondence analysis dimensions computed on qualitative traits explained a small proportion of the variability (20.8 and 13.5 %, respectively). Contour plots were constructed using the eigenvalues computed for each individual and either factor or dimension identified; confidence regions calculated confirmed that body measurements clearly differentiated zebu and taurine cattle breeds while qualitative traits did not. Factor 1 was projected on a geographical map, using provinces as nodes, to assess breed-free variation for body measurements. A pattern of continuous variation from the Sahel area southwards was identified. Probably, breeding decisions promoting the crosses between zebu-like and taurine cattle are underlying this geographical pattern of variation. The implementation of selection strategies aiming at the increase of the productivity of native West African taurine cattle breeds while avoiding looses in trypanotolerant ability would be highly advisable.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was partially funded by grants from CORAF/WECARD-World Bank no. 03/GRN/16 and from MICIN-FEDER No. AGL2011-27585. IA, IF and FG are supported by a grant from FICYT GRUPIN14-113.
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No ethics statement was required for data collection. Body measurements and trait scores were obtained from different technicians visiting farms with the permission of the owners. Animals were managed by the owners.
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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Informed consent was obtained from all the owners of the animals scored.
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Traoré, A., Koudandé, D.O., Fernández, I. et al. Geographical assessment of body measurements and qualitative traits in West African cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 1505–1513 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0891-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0891-7