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.