ABSTRACT
A total of 18 cattle were used to characterize the Nigerian local cattle genotypes based on quantitative traits and biologic markers. Three genotypic groups (white Fulani, N’dama and white Fulani x N’dama) crosses were used for the experiment. Experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with genotypic group as major factor of interest. Quantitative traits measure were body length (BDL) (cm), hip height (HHT) (cm), heart girth (HG) (cm), horn length (HL) (cm), tail length (TL) (cm), ear length (El) (cm) andneck length (NL). Biologic markers measured were packed cell volume (PCV) (%), haemoglobin (Hb)(g/dL), white blood cell (WBC/Lx109), red blood cell (RBC/Lx1012), total blood protein (BPT) (g/dL),Platelete (PLT) (Fl) and Albimin (ALB) (g/dL). Results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) inbody length, hip height, heart girth, horn length, tail length, ear length and neck length with White Fulani genotype having highest values mostly in intervals of 99 – 111 and 112 – 124 weeks of age. Biologic markers, namely packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), total blood protein (BPT), and Platelete (PLT) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Crosses between White Fulani and N’dama (WFxND) genotypes particularly in intervals of 73 - 85 weeks of age. The PCV ranged between 22. 55 – 30.99 (%) in WF, 26.50 – 30.00 (%) in WFXND and 24.99-30.01 (%) in N’dama cattle while Haemoglobin counts ranged from 3.92 to 9.35 (g/dL) for White Fulani, 7.20 to 10.05(g/dL)for WFXND and 4.79 to 8.81(g/dL)for N’dama cattle.There were no significant (p>0.05) correlations between quantitative traits and biologic markers in White Fulani genotype. There were significant (p<0.05) positive and high correlations between TL and WBC, also highly significant (p<0.01) between EL and WBC in N’dama cattle. Also there was negative and significant (p<0.05) correlation between EL and RBC in N’dama cattle. Correlations between HB, MCHC and BL were positive and significant (p<0.05). The correlations indicate that an increase in value of BL is associated with an increase in value of HB and MCHC in the WFxND Cattle. The values of coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 50.00 to 94.20 (%) in White Fulani, 80.00 to 90.00 (%) in N’dama and 36.70 to 66.00(%) in WFxND genotypes, respectively, with body length and Heart girth showing the highest R2 value in all the genotype. Marker bank showed that WBC, RBC, MCHC and Hb can be effectively incorporated in MAS for selection of white Fulani, N’dama cattle and WFxNDin Nigeria. These could be used in Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) for all the cattle breeds studied. It was therefore, concluded that for rapid improvement of these traits, White Fulani could be used to enhance growth of Nigerian indigenous cattle in the study area. The present findings could assist in the design of long-term genetic improvement programmes for cattle production in Nigeria using the marker bank for MAS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
i
Declaration
ii
Certification
iii
Dedication
iv
Acknowledgements
v
Table of Contents
viii
List of Tables
x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Objectives of the Study 2
1.3Justification of Study
3
CHAPTER
2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Overview of Local Cattle 4
2.2
Characteristics of Local Cattle 5
2.2.1
White Fulani /Bunaji 5
2.2.2
Ndama 6
2.3 Body Measurements of Cattle and their Relatedness 8
2.4MarkerAssisted Selections (MAS) 9
2.5 Biologic Markers 9
2.5.1 Haemoglobin (Hb) 10
2.5.2
Packed cell volume 11
2.5.3
White blood cell (WBC) 11
2.5.4 Red
blood cells (RBC) 12
2.5.5 Blood protein 12
2.5.6
Blood glucose 13
2.5.7 Rectal temperature 13
2.6 Factors Affecting Blood
Constituents 14
2.6.1 Effect of physiological
state 14
2.6.2 Stress factors 14
2.6.3 Diseases 15
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1
Experimental Site 16
3.2
Experimental Animals and their Management 16
3.4
Experimental Design 17
3.3 Data
Collection 17
3.3.1
Quantitative trait 17
3.3.2 Biological markers measured 19
3.5 Statistical Analysis 20
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Effect of Genotype on Linear Body Parameters of White
Fulani, N’dama
and their
Crosses 21
4.1.1
Body length 21
4.1.2 Hip
height 22
4.1.3
Heart girth 23
4.1.4 Horn length 24
4.1.5
Tail length 25
4.1.6 Ear
length 26
4.1.7
Neck length 27
4.2
Effect of Genotypes on Biologic Markers 28
4.2.1
Haemoglobin concentrations 28
4.2.2
Packed cell volume 29
4.2.3
White blood cells 30
4.2.4 Red
blood cell counts 31
4.2.5
Platelet 32
4.2.6
Blood protein 33
4.2.7
Albumin 35
4.3
Phenotypic Correlations between Quantitative Traits and Markers 36
4.3.1 In
white Fulani 36
4.3.2 In
N’dama cattle 38
4.3.3 In
N’dama x white Fulani cattle 40
4.4
Regression Equations of Indigenous Cattle Genotypes 40
4.4.1
Regression equations of White fulani, N’dama and
white
Fulani xN’dama 42
4.5 Marker Bank for Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in
Growth of
Local Cattle 42
CHAPTER
5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Conclusion 44
5.2
Recommendations 44
References 54
LIST OF TABLES
2.1: Comparison of the
body parameters ofzebu and muturu cattle (cm) 8
4.1: Mean
Body length (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 21
4.2:
Means of Hip height (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 22
4.3:
Means of Heart girth (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 23
4.4:
Means of Horn length (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 24
4.5:
Means of Tail length (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 25
4.6:
Means of Ear length (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 26
4.7:
Means of Neck length (cm) of White Fulani, N’dama and their
Crosses 27
4.8:
Means of Hb (g/dL) of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 28
4.9:
Means of Packed cell volume (%) of White Fulani, N’dama and
their
crosses 29
4.10:
Means of White blood cells (WBC/Lx109) of White Fulani,
N’dama
and their crosses 30
4.11:
Means of Red blood cell counts (RBC/Lx1012) of White Fulani,
N’dama
and their crosses 31
4.12:
Means of Platelet of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 32
4.13:
Means of Blood protein (g/dL) of White Fulani, N’dama and
their
crosses 33
4.14:
Means of Albumin of White Fulani, N’dama and their crosses 34
4.15:Phenotypic
Correlations between quantitative traits and biologic
Markers
in White Fulani 36
4.16:In
N’dama 37
4.17:In
WF x ND 39
4.18: Regression of
quantitative traits on Age in white Fulani,
N’dama and (WF x ND) 41
4.19:
Marker bank for improvement of growth parameters 42
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Cattle are useful in carrying out functions
such as being slaughtered for funeral and marriage ceremonies and as a source
of income and security for the resource poor farmers (Nsoso, et al., 2003). Tropical cattle requires
the development of a very good model for its genetic improvement (Rege and
Tawah, 1999).
Nigeria is endowed with varied ecological
zones with diverse animal genetic resources of the local breeds. These local
breeds possess genes relevant for their survival and adaptation to their
environment and local breeding goals.
In Nigeria, there is need to improve animal
production to meet protein requirement. The choice of the right type of animals
to be raised in the area where it is best adapted which result in higher
productivity and performance is very important.
The local breeds of animals in Nigeria
deserve improvement in their genetic profile and physiological status (Nosike et al., 2013).
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of the study is to
characterize Nigeria indigenous Cattle breeds and their crosses based on
quantitative traits and biologic markers.
The specific objectives of the study are:
- To characterize three genotypes of
indigenous cattle based on quantitative traits and biologic markers.
- To determine phenotypic correlations
between biologic markers and quantitative traits in indigenous cattle and
crosses.
- To predict growth traits of the
indigenous cattle on Age.
- To establish a marker Bank for cattle
breeders for marker-assisted selection (MAS) programmes.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
To improve effectively on physical body
characteristics and physiological parameters of cattle, there is need to
understand the production potentials of these cattle breeds. The method of
weighing animals without scales is to obtain a regression formula of body
weight on a certain number of body characteristics, which can be measured
readily. Linear measurements are divided into two groups, which include
skeletal and tissue measurements. Skeletal measurements include all the height
and length measurements while tissue measurements include heart girth, chest
depth, punch girth, and width of hips (Blackmore et al., 1995). These
body measurements can be further divided into horizontal measurements like body
length (BDT) and head to shoulder (HDS) and vertical measurements like hip
height (HPH) and chest depth.
The
measurements of the amount of various biochemical constituents of blood have
been used in the evaluation of the physiological status of animals (Solomon et al., 2005). This gives genomic
information required for effective use of MAS for genetic improvement (Lynch
and Walsh, 1998).
Selection is a major quantitative tool for
bringing about genetic improvement. The use of Markers (biologic and genetic)
has been shown to bring about faster genetic improvement through selection.
Identification of Markers that are closely associated with important
quantitative traits is, therefore, important.
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