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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
The small East African shorthorn zebu cows in Kenya. I: Linear body measurements
Tropical Animal Health and Production, Volume 38, No. 1, Year 2006
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Description
Assessment of genetic diversity is a prerequisite for the management and conservation of animal genetic resources. Appropriate design of breeding programmes is therefore impossible for breeds that have not been adequately characterized either phenotypically and/or genetically. Phenotypic characteristics are important in breed identification and classification in ways that farming communities can relate with. This study phenotypically characterized two breeds of zebu cattle in Kenya. A total of 12 measurements (face length, ear length, horn length, heart girth, height at withers, chest depth, body length, height at rump, pelvis width, corpus length, pin bone width and tail length) were collected on 373 Maasai and 277 Kamba zebu kept by traditional farmers in south-east Kenya. The data were classified on the basis of breed group, age group, sex and coat colour pattern. Breed group, age group and sex significantly influenced all measurements. Coat colour pattern significantly influenced only height at withers, corpus length, ear length and tail length. Except for horn and ear length, all the other measurements were significantly higher for the Maasai zebu. Additionally, the Maasai zebu was taller than it was long. The opposite was true for the Kamba zebu. The Maasai and Kamba zebus can be classified as medium-sized breeds; however, great variations exist in their body sizes within and between the breeds. © Springer 2006.
Authors & Co-Authors
Mwacharo, Joram Mwashigadi
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo University of Agriculture
Okeyo, Ally Mwai
Kenya, Nairobi
International Livestock Research Institute Nairobi
Kamande, G. K.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Rege, John Edward O.
Kenya, Nairobi
International Livestock Research Institute Nairobi
Statistics
Citations: 104
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s11250-006-4266-y
ISSN:
00494747
e-ISSN:
15737438
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Study Locations
Kenya