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Studies on morphometrical traits of Boran bulls reared on two feedlots in Southern Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2014

Sandip Banerjee ,
Mohamed Beyan Ahmed  and
Girma Tefere
Sandip Banerjee*
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O Box 05, Hawassa, SNNPRS, Ethiopia
Mohamed Beyan Ahmed
Affiliation:
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O Box 05, Hawassa, SNNPRS, Ethiopia
Girma Tefere
Affiliation:
Dilla A.T.V.E.T College, Dilla, SNNPRS, Ethiopia
*
Correspondence to: Sandip Banerjee, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, PO Box 05, Hawassa, SNNPRS, Ethiopia. email: sansoma2003@yahoo.co.in and sansoma2003@gmail.com; tel.: +251916011747
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Summary

The study was conducted on Boran bulls from three age groups (2, 3 and 4 years) reared at two different locations in Southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted to assess the different morphometrical measurements in Boran bulls, to estimate live weight of the bulls using step-down regression equations and also to calculate structural indices for assessment of type for which the breed was developed and thus assist in the selection of the bulls. The feedlots were situated in Meki district and varied both in location and the type of management, with the second feedlot being better managed than the first. The morphometric traits included in the study were height at withers (HW), height at rump (RH), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), head width (WFH), neck circumference (NC), neck length (NL), chest width (CW), rump length (RL), hip width (WH) and flank width (FW) and the body weight (BW). The results indicated that while the skeletal measurements HW, RH and BL did not vary (P < 0.05) between bulls of a particular age across the two feedlots, the other parameters were higher among the bulls reared in the feed lot with wind breaks and situated away from lake Ziway. The results of the step-down regression equations indicated that BW could be assessed using various morphometrical measurements viz. NL, NC, RL, WH and HG. The parameters included varied both across the age groups and locations. The results related to the structural indices indicated that the Boran bulls had posterior alignment and had higher CW than HW.

Résumé

L'étude a été menée sur des taureaux Boran de trois groupes d'âge (2, 3 et 4 ans) élevés à deux endroits différents dans sud de l'Ethiopie. Les parcs d'engraissement étaient situées dans le district de Meki et varié tant dans l'espace et le type de gestion, avec le deuxième parc d'engraissement est mieux géré que la première. Les traits morphométriques inclus dans l'étude étaient la hauteur au garrot (HW), la hauteur à la croupe (RH), la longueur du corps (BL), la circonférence de coeur (HG), la largeur de la tête (FMH), circonférence du cou (NC), la longueur du cou (NL ), la largeur de la poitrine (CW), la longueur croupe (RL), la largeur des hanches (WH) et la largeur de flanc (FW) et le poids corporel de (BW). Les résultats indiquent que, bien que la mesure squelettiques HW, RH et BL ne varient pas (P < 0.05) entre les taureaux d'un âge donné dans les deux parcs d'engraissement, les autres paramètres étaient plus élevés chez les taureaux élevés dans le parc d'engraissement avec des brise-vent et situés loin du lac Ziway. Les résultats de l'étape vers le bas équations de régression ont indiqué que BW peut être évaluée en utilisant différentes mesures morphométriques à savoir. NL, NC, RL, WH et HG. Les paramètres inclus variée à la fois à travers les groupes d'âge et les lieux. Les résultats liés à des indices structurels indiqué que les taureaux Boran eu alignement postérieur et avait CW supérieur à HW.

Resumen

Este estudio fue llevado a cabo con toros Boran, de tres grupos de edad (2, 3 y 4 años), criados en dos lugares distintos del Sur de Etiopía. El estudio se realizó con el fin de medir diferentes parámetros morfométricos en toros Boran, de estimar el peso vivo de los toros con ecuaciones obtenidas por el método de regresión por eliminación de variables (análisis step-down) y con el fin también de calcular índices estructurales para la determinación del tipo de animal pretendido cuando se desarrolló la raza y, así, contribuir a la selección de los toros. Los corrales de engorde estuvieron ubicados en el distrito de Meki y difirieron tanto en el emplazamiento como en el tipo de manejo, siendo el segundo cebadero mejor gestionado que el primero. Los parámetros morfométricos incluidos en el estudio fueron la altura a la cruz (AC), la altura a la grupa (AG), la longitud corporal (LC), la circunferencia torácica (CT), la anchura de la cabeza (ACz), la circunferencia del cuello (CCu), la longitud del cuello (LCu), la anchura del pecho (AP), la longitud de la grupa (LG), la anchura de la cadera (ACd), la anchura de los flancos (AF) y el peso corporal (PC). Los resultados indicaron que, si bien las medidas esqueléticas AC, AG y LC no variaron significativamente, para una misma edad, entre los toros de los dos cebaderos, los valores de los otros parámetros fueron más elevados en los toros criados en el corral de engorde con cortinas cortaviento, situado a gran distancia del lago Ziway. Los resultados obtenidos con las ecuaciones de regresión señalaron que el peso corporal podía ser estimado usando algunas medidas morfométricas, en concreto LCu, CCu, LG, ACd y CT. Los parámetros considerados se vieron afectados tanto por el grupo de edad como por la ubicación del cebadero. En cuanto a los índices estructurales, los resultados mostraron que los toros Boran presentaban alineamiento posterior y que tuvieron mayor AP que AC.

Keywords

Boran bullscharacterizationmorphometrictaureaux Boranparamètres morphométriquescaractérisationtoros Boranparámetros morfométricoscaracterización
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 54 , June 2014 , pp. 53 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2014 

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