சுருக்கம்

Application of morphological indices and distribution of qualitative traits of cattle in Obudu grass plateau-cross river state

Dauda A, Anya MI, Ayuk AA, Okon BI, Eburu PO

A total of 333 cattle of both sexes were randomly sampled from the population of cattle in Obudu for phenotypic traits measurement. Some of the phenotypic traits measured were Body Weight (BW), Body Length (BL), Height Withers (HW), Head Length (HDL), Head Width (HDW), Ear Length (EL), Rump Length (RL), Heart Girth (HG). Descriptive statistics morphological indices formular were used for the analysis. The result showed that distribution of cattle within the age group of 0-3 had the highest percentage (70.0%) followed by 4-6 (23.8%) and those within the age of 7-9 and 10-12 had same percentage (4.6) while 12 and above had the least percentage (0.7%). The cattle in the study area had different shapes, sizes and length of horns. 23.1% had curved outward and upward horn, 21.5% had backward horn, 17.7 had curved side wards horn, while curved forward and curved outwards were 12.3 and 7.6% respectively. The percentage of female cattle (70.0%) was more than that of the male (30.0%). Among the females, heifers (heifer refers to a young cow that had not calved before.) had the highest percentage (43.8%), followed by pregnant cows (11.5%), dry cows (8.4%) (Dry cow refers to cows that have calved before but are not lactating) while the least was lactating cows (6.1%). The cattle were also categorized by lots. Lot 4 (20.0%) recorded the highest percentage of cattle followed by lot 2 (18.2%) and lot 1(17.6%). Lot 5 (3.8%) recorded the least percentage while lots 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 recorded 7.6, 10.0, 7.6, 8.5 and 5.5 % respectively. The cattle in the study area had different coat color ranging from white with black spot (48.4%),white with black patches (30.7%), brown with white patches (24.6%), speckled (commonly known as campala) (6.2) and brown with black stipped (1.5). All the morphological indices in this study revealed significant (P<0.05) difference except LI and IPR. This study could serve as a baseline for breeding programme and selection for improvement in Obudu cattle ranch.