Classification of four ovine breeds of southern peninsular zone of India: Morphometric study using classical discriminant function analysis

Abstract

Six morphometric traits (height at withers, body length, chest girth, ear length, tail length and body weight) were analyzed to characterize from a breed point of view 1981 sheep from four ovine breeds (Bellary, Kenguri, Hassan and Mandya) of southern peninsular zone of India. Discriminant Function Analysis was used to distinguish between four breeds by morphometric traits. The population variability showed Kenguri ewes were the largest and heaviest followed by Bellary, Hassan and Mandya whereas Kenguri rams were followed by Bellary, Mandya and Hassan. Overall sexual dimorphism (m/f) was 1.13, with Kenguri males being 47% heavier than females. The coefficient of variation of all traits in four breeds ranged from 4.06% to 30.28%. The flocks and age effects showed a high heterogeneity among females of different flocks. Height at withers was most discriminating trait in separating the four sheep breeds. The Mahalanobis distance of the morphological traits between Kenguri and Mandya sheep was most while the least differentiation was observed between Kenguri and Bellary sheep. Nearest neighbour discriminant analysis showed that most Kenguri sheep were classified into their source population followed by Mandya. However, varied percentages of misclassification between different breeds were observed showing the level of genetic exchange that has taken place between the breeds overtime. UPGMA based dendrogram showed formation of two separate groups; Mandya and Hassan clustered together while Bellary and Kenguri formed other group.

Differentiation of some Pramenka sheep breeds based on morphometric characteristics

“…Theoretically, the type and performance (function) are in low genetic correlation and they are likely to be independently inherited (Salako, 2006). Diversity among breeds is classically considered a major criterion to be taken into account when setting priorities for the conservation of domestic animal breeds (Yakubu and Ibrahim, 2011).…”

“…The morphometric traits in the same component were classified together, and it may be concluded that they probably have common genomic positions for their genetic control (Khargharai et al, 2015). The accumulation of most of the variance in the first principal component is, according to Yakubu et al (2011), characteristic of animals with larger body measures. The proportion of variance accounted for in the original variables is very high, from 0.861 to 0.999.…”

Productive performance, body condition score and carcass characteristics of Deccani lambs reared under different farming systems

“…Deccani is one of the important sheep breeds of Deccan Plateau. Sheep is a socioeconomically important livestock reared primarily as a source of mutton in rural areas (Yadav et al, 2013). Body condition scoring is done to monitor the progress of sheep in the various production stages round the year.…”

Morphometrical and production traits of Bengal sheep in West Bengal, India

“…the reasons for their domestication, migrations, genetic and geographical isolations, uniqueness of their products, selective breeding's and admixture of populations. The attempts to phenotypically classify the sheep population have been made in the past in India, however the animals were limited to single populations (Yadav et al, 2013). The sheep breeds reared in the area are colloquially known as Desi bhada (native sheep).…”