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The small East African shorthorn zebu cows in Kenya. I: linear body measurements

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Title The small East African shorthorn zebu cows in Kenya. I: linear body measurements
 
Creator Mwacharo, Joram M.
Okeyo Mwai, Ally
Kamande, G.K.
Rege, J.E.O.
 
Subject ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES
CATTLE
 
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.
 
Date 2010-05-07T11:04:02Z
2010-05-07T11:04:02Z
2006-01-15
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Mwacharo, J.M.; Okeyo, A.M.; Kamande, G.K.; Rege, J.E.O. 2006. The small East African shorthorn zebu cows in Kenya. I: linear body measurements. Tropical Animal Health and Production 38(1):65-74.
0049-4747
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1405
 
Language en
 
Source Tropical Animal Health and Production