Morphometric and physical characteristics of Baoulé cattle in the "Pays Lobi" of Côte d’Ivoire

B Soro, P D Sokouri, G-K Dayo¹, A S P N’guetta and C V Yapi-Gnaoré¹

Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire. Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences. Laboratoire de Génétique
abramsoro@yahoo.fr
¹ Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES) 01 BP 454 Bobo-Dioulasso 01

Abstract

Conservation of animal genetic resources requires assessment of genetic diversity. This study aimed at investigating the phenotypic and morphological attributes of Baoulé breed in three localities in the northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire. A total of 165 experimental animals were evaluated. Eight morphological parameters with body weight and eleven qualitative traits were assessed separately at different age in males and females individuals.

Body measurements were influenced by age and locality in this area. For linear body measurement and body weight, there were no differences between male and females across all breeds studied. Animal had variable colour patterns; the predominant was the black colour (25.4 %), pied white and black (20.0%), and pied black and white (9.70 percent). They had also laterally (11.2%), loose (08.0%) and curved (1.21%) shape horn. Animals without horn are also observed. The face of all animals was straight and the dewlap is small in both the sex with erect oriented ears.

Keywords: Baoule breed, conservation, morphological parameters, northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire, qualitative traits

Introduction

Livestock plays a significant role in the livelihood of rural populations and the agricultural development of sub-Saharan Africa. It contributes significantly to improved family nutrition and health, and the sale of animals and their products helps to improve and stabilize household income (N’guetta 2006).

Côte d'Ivoire has in its animal genetic resources three local cattle breeds; N'Dama, Baoulé and Lagune. These breeds are well adapted to local tropical climate. Unfortunately their utility and their contributions to sustainable agriculture are still poorly recognized (Sokouri et al 2007).

One of the important features of the Lobi ethnical people living in northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire is that cattle farming are mainly composed of Baoulé cattle. The latter is well suited for livestock infected by tsetse flies, vector of Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT). Indeed, AAT is recognized as one of the major parasitic disease affecting livestock in sub-humid and humid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. These indigenous cattle are primarily reared for ritual ceremonies, gifts and play a major role in the sustainability of livelihoods of the Lobi people.

Nowadays there is a movement of zebu cattle from northern regions (arid and semi-arid areas) to humid southern regions such as Lobi country, where graze is abundant and the needs of draft animals, as well. Therefore, crosses between trypanosusceptible zebu cattle (Bos indicus) and trypanotolerant taurine cattle (Bos taurus) are increasingly recognized, as one of the best way to convey the trypanotolerance character to zebu cattle, or to improve the size and capacity of milk production of taurine cattle. Furthermore, livestock tends to be made according to the request of zebu cattle, due to the secondary interest given to Baoulé cattle. Maintaining these trypanotolerant breeds is essential, given their unique genetic characteristics that enable them to adapt to environmental changes and resist to various diseases.

It is therefore important to provide a research program on taurine Baoulé cattle that takes into account the preservation of their genetic heritage and improve the productivity and the profitability of farms. In fact, an important step in the knowledge and valorization of animal genetic resources is the phenotypic characterization (description of morphobiometric and zootechnical trait). According to FAO (2012), this characterization is essential for identifying these Animal Genetic Resources and the management planning at the local, national, regional and international level. It is also important to characterize cattle phenotypically because information on the phenotypic traits is easily accessible by the communities (Zulu 2008).

Unlike Baoulé cattle in northern and center of Côte d’Ivoire whose qualitative and quantitative traits have been documented (Sokouri 2007).There is scanty documented information with regard to phenotypics characteristics on those in the northeastern where according Hoffmann (1985) and Yapi-Gnaoré et al (1996) they are predominantly found.

To support the conservation effort, the objective of our study is to describe the quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics of Baoulé cattle in the "Pays Lobi" of Côte d’Ivoire.

Materials and methods

Description of the study area

The study was conducted between April and October months of 2013 in three administrative localities (Bouna, Doropo and Téhini) of Boukani Region in the Northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire (Figure 1).The human population of this region is estimated about 267.167 people (INS 2014).The region has a unimodal rainfall from April to the end of October. The dry season extends from November to March with mean annual rainfall of 859 mm (Yapi-Gnaoré et al 1996). The predominant natural vegetation of this region is the tropical savannah mainly with grasses and bushes. The terrain is flat. However, there are some mountains whose heights, ranging from 500 to 600 meters, which break in places the uniformity of the landscape. The drainage system consists of two main rivers that are Comoé and Black Volta.

Lobi ethnical populations are large majority. However other people live in northeastern Côte d’Ivoire: Koulango, Teguesie, Birifor, Dioula, Mossi and Foulani. Livestock keeping is the second dominant agricultural activity after crop production in this area.

Figure 1 Map of Study area

Sampling and study animal

Ten villages were randomly identified per locality, making a total of thirty studied villages. In each village, three farms were randomly chosen and visited. The identification and location of farms were conducted in collaboration with the Departmental Directorate of Ministry of Livestock Production and Halieutic Resources. One or two animals per farm were then randomly chosen for detailed qualitative and quantitative traits. Overall, body measurements and morphological trait descriptions were carried out on a total of 165 cattle of different ages (all of them were over one year) of which 44 were male and 121 were female cattle.

Data collection

The various body measurements were taken on randomly selected animals male and female. Eight quantitative traits were measured according to the guidelines of FAO (FAO 2012). Body weight (BW) and heart girths (HG) were estimated and measured, respectively, using a weigh band calibrated both in kilograms and centimeters, on different sides of the band.

The BW was estimated and HG measured as the perimeter of the body immediately behind the shoulder blades in a vertical plane, perpendicular to the long-axis of the body; height at the withers (HW), as the distance from the hoof base to the withers. A tailor’s measuring tape was used to measure body length (BL), as the distance from shoulder point to pin point; horn length (HL), measures the longest distance from the root of the horn to its tip along the outer couverture; ear length (EL), measures the length on the back side of ear from the root to the tip; muzzle circumference (MC), measures a little above the nostrils and around the point where the dewlap meets the chin; head length (HL) was measured from the distance between snout and forehead of cattle; pelvic width (PW), the horizontal diameter at its widest point between the left and right iliac shafts. Measurements were taken early by the same operator in the morning to avoid the effect of feeding and watering on the animal’s size and conformation. The age of the animal was estimated from its dentition or date of birth. Visibly pregnant females were excluded from the study.

Qualitative data such as body hair colour, around eyes, head and muzzle colours, horn presence, horn shape, horn and ear orientation, dewlap size, head profile and hair length were recorded based on visual observation (Figure 2). Each animal was identified by locality (department).

Figure 2. A herd of Baoulé cattle in "Pays Lobi "of Côte

Data analysis

The data were arranged using Microsoft Excel 2007. The effect of age group, locality, sex and locality*sex on linear body traits and BW of Baoulé cattle were compared using analysis of variance followed by the test of mean comparisons of Duncan to the risk of 5%. Partial correlation coefficients among quantitative traits were also calculated. Qualitative traits in different locality were compared with the Chi square test. The data were analysed statistically using Statistica version 7.1 (2005).

Results

Morphological characteristics

All body measurements and BW of Baoulé cattle in this area were influenced by age (Table 1).The means values from body measurements and BW evaluated on the Baoulé cattle, summarized by locality and sex in this study are presented in Table 2. Generally, body measurements, except EL and PW of the males from Bouna and Doropo were greater than those of Téhini locality. On the other hand, females from Téhini locality were smaller in body size than their counterparts from Bouna and Doropo localities, except for EL and BL.

The means values for the morphological measurements and BW of Baoulé cattle studied in the three localities are presented in Table 3. The body measurements and BW for Baoulé cattle from Bouna and Doropo were comparable and were larger than those of Téhini, except for ear length. This result implies that the animals of these two localities were much bigger than those of Téhini locality.

There were no differences between males and females for all body measurements of Baoulé cattle in this area of Côte d’Ivoire (Table 4).

Partial correlation coefficients among the various morphological traits studied are given in Table 5. The correlations were all positive and the majority was significant at the 0.01 level, except for EL vs HL, EL vs MC, EL vs PW.

Physical characteristics

The occurrence of various body colour patterns and various colours on different body parts of Baoulé cattle is given in Table 6. The results were not different for each study locality. Overall, the predominant colour pattern were black (25.4%); pied white and black (20.0%); pied black and white (9.70%); pied white, black and red (9.10%); white (7.27%) for body colour pattern. For the occurrence of different colour patterns on various body parts of these animals, the predominant colour patterns were black (35.8%); pied white and black (10.9%); pied black and white (9.10%); pied red and white (8.48%); white (7.27%) for head. For around eyes, black (61.2%); fawn (17.0%) and white (8.48%). For muzzle, black (66.6%), fawn (15.2%) and white (9.10%).

Table 7 presents the shape, size and profile of different body parts of the Baoulé cattle. In general, 96.1% of investigated animals had horns. Most (74.6%) of the cattle had straight oriented horns. They had also laterally (11.2%), loose (08.0%) and curved (1.11%) shape horn. Animals without horn and curved horn are observed only in Téhini locality.

 The orientation of horn was upward in most of the animals (64.4%) and in some, it was forward (11.5%), downward (7.90%) or backward (1.11%).The body was generally covered with medium hair length. The face of Baoulé cattle was straight and the dewlap is small in both the sex with erect oriented ears.

Discussion

As expected, body measurements of Baoulé cattle in this area were found to increase with the advancement of age. Sokouri (2002) conducted an experiment in the center area of Côte d’Ivoire and reported that EL was not influenced by age, which is not similar to the result of present study.

In general, body measurements for Baoulé cattle from Bouna and Doropo localities were comparable and greater than those of Téhini. These breeds in this region have diverged in body size, despite their geographical and cultural similarity. The differences observed in body measurements of Baoulé cattle in the three localities of northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire could indicate that there are subpopulations associated to the differences observed in the farming systems existing in these localities. A recent study in this area revealed that, intercrossing between Baoulé breed with zebu cattle are common in Bouna and Doropo localities compared to Téhini locality (Soro et al 2015). Breed crossing is based on phenotypic characteristics, including size, traction power and resistance to disease. Farmers interviewed claimed that they use reproductive males for reproductive management of their herds and these reproductive males are generally, zebu bulls in Doropo and Bouna. The other factors could be the availability of feed resources in this area or light inherent genetic differences. But Kamalzadeh et al (1998) reported that skeletal measurements such as ulna length, body height and length, and chest depth are less affected by nutrition and more by genetics.

Tidori et al 1975 reported that body weight for the Baoulé cattle to be 166-213 kg, suggesting a large variation in this parameter. The PT values observed in the present study are lower than those of Togo (134-141 cm) (Morkramer et al 1984) and Côte d’Ivoire (133-136) (Sokouri2008).The results pertaining to the EL (14.9±1.37-15.0±1.51 cm) did not vary across the three localities. The values are comparable with those reported by Sokouri (2008) for Baoulé cattle, 14.2±0.89 and 15.1±1.45, respectively in the center and north of Côte d’Ivoire. The HW values observed in the current study are lower than those (95-110 cm) (Tidori et al 1975), (100-108 cm) Sokouri (2008) in Côte d’Ivoire and (99-105 cm) Morkramer et al (1984) in Togo. According to Mwambene et al (2012), the difference in HG can be attributed to the differences in body size and degree of fatness (body condition), and are largely influenced by both genetic potential and environment.

The marked differences between male and female of Baoulé cattle, revealed by (Tidori et al 1975), due to sexual dimorphism were not evidence in this study. The diet for male and female was almost same though. The BL (120-122 cm), HEL (37.6-38.4 cm) and HL (14.8-15.7 cm) observed in our study for body measures were lower compared than those reported by Sokouri (2008) in the center and northern of Côte d’Ivoire, (132-144 cm), (40.0-42.0 cm) and (17.8-22.9 cm), respectively. Indeed, according to Sokouri and al (2014), farmers of these regions invest in the health of animals and livestock management is characterized by intense crossing operations between local taurine Baoulé cattle with zebu. Thus, zebu cattle influence is significant. Based on the findings obtained from body size, it is indicated that Baoulé cattle in the "Pays Lobi"of Côte d’Ivoire presented smaller stature compared those of the center and northern of Côte d’Ivoire. However, large differences in BL observed could also be explained by different methodologies used in body measurement. In the study of this author, the BL was estimated as the distance from bun of head to pin point.

The majority of partial correlation coefficients were highly significant except EL vs HL, EL vs MC, EL vs PW. Moreover, BW was highly and positively correlated with HG (0.99), HW (0.63), HEL (0.62), and BL (0.58). The findings on the correlation of HG, HW and BL with the BW agree with those of Mwambene et al (2012) for Fipa cattle of Tanzania. According to these authors, the latter traits can reliably be used as a proxy (either singly or in combination with other linear traits) for estimating BW.

Baoulé cattle had variable body colour patterns across the study region. The results indicate that the black and pied (white and black) were the commons body colour pattern followed by pied (black and white), pied (black and red). Other colours such ashen, fawn, pied (white, red and black), grey, brown, pied (red and white) were observed in some herds visited (Figure 3). The body colour patterns were owing to the distribution or the presence or absence of pheomelanin and eumelanin pigments (Hearing et al 1991). Similar observations were reported by Tidori et al (1975), Yapi-Gnaoré et al (1996), Sokouri et al (2007) for Baoulé cattle and Adanléhoussi et al (2003) for Somba cattle, a local taurine breed in Togo. Yapi-Gnaoré et al (1996) concluded that, this qualitative trait cannot be used to identify specifically Baoulé cattle populations. Most of breeds of this region had generally black, fawn, pied (white and black) and pied (black and white) head; black, fawn and white around eyes. Concerning muzzle, the predominant colours were black, fawn and white.

Black (at left) and fawn (at right) colours pattern
Baoulé cow with pied (black and white) colour pattern
Figure 3. Variants of colours pattern of body part among Baoulé cattle

In general, most of investigated animals were horned. The majority of cattle had straight shape horn. Laterally, loose, curved and float shape horns are also found. The observations are in accordance with the findings of Epstein (1971), Yapi-Gnaoré et al (1996). Animals without horn and curved horn are observed in Téhini locality. Lombo (2002) reported that there were animals without horns in Baoulé cattle in a bibliographic study on animal genetic resources in West Africa.

The orientation of horn was upward in most of the animals and in some; it was forward, downward or backward. The body was generally covered with medium hair length. The face of Baoulé cattle was straight and the dewlap is small in both the sex with erect oriented ears. All, these observations are similar to that reported Epstein (1971), Tidori et al (1975), Pagot (1985) and Yapi-Gnaoré et al (1996).

Conclusion

• Baoulé cattle in the northeastern of Côte d’Ivoire presented diversity in their phenotype and morphology characteristics.
  
  
• The smaller stature of Baoulé cattle in this area of Côte d’Ivoire compared those of the center and north might, therefore due to management practices, production constraints or inherent genetic differences.
  
  
• The Baoulé cattle are raised for their multiple socio-economic functions, adaptive qualities and low management requirements. Measure taken to conserve trypanotolerant breeds of this cattle, should take into account their multiple functions, their specific genetic characteristic in different agro-ecological areas.
  
  
• This local resource should be preserved and valued for its sustainable utilization. More research needs to be done on these breeds for conservation.
  
  
• This study needs to be complemented by analysis of genetic markers in order to provide valuable informations for conservation decisions.

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the higher education support Program inWest African Economic Monetary Union countries (WAEMU).We wish to thank all the local cattle farmers who took part in the study and the technical assistance of the staff of Department of Animal Production and Fish Resources of Côte d’Ivoire. In memoriam to Mamadou Sima, Director of Animal Resources Offices of the sampled area.

References

Adanléhoussi A, Bassowa H, Défly A, Djabakou K, Adoméfa K et Kouagou N T 2003 Les performances de la race taurine Somba en milieu paysan. Tropicultura 21 (3): 135-141. http://www.tropicultura.org/text/v21n3/135.pdf

Epstein H 1971 The origin of domestic animals of Africa. New York, USA. Africana Publishing. p 208-212.

FAO 2012 Phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources. FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines N^o. 11. Rome http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2686e/i2686e00.pdf.

Hearing V J and Tsukamoto K 1991 Enzymatic control of pigmentation in mammals.Faseb Journal 5 (14): 2902-2909.

Hoffmann O 1985 Pratiques pastorales et dynamique du couvert végétal en pays Lobi (Nord-Est de la Côte d'Ivoire) Edition de l'ORSTOM. Collection Travaux et Documents N°189, Paris. 353p.

INS 2014 RGPH 2014. Secrétariat Technique Permanent du Comité Technique du RGPH. http://www.ins.ci/n/RESULTATS%20GLOBAUX.pdf

Kamalzadeh A, Koops W J and Bruchem J V 1998 Feed quality restriction and compensatory growth in growing sheep: changes in body dimensions. Livestock Production Science 53: 57–67.

Lombo Y 2002 Cartographie des races bovines dans la zone du CIRDES. Mémoire d’Ingénieur Agronome Option Zootechnie, Université de Lomé (Togo). 134 p.

Morkramer G et Dékpo K 1984 Caractéristiques d’un troupeau Baoulé.In : Trypanotolérance et production animale, Centre de Recherche et d’Elevage d’Avétonou au Togo (CREAT), projet Germano – Togolais, 3 : 50-58.

Mwambene L P, Katule M A, Chenyambuga W S and Mwakilembe A A P 2012 Fipa cattle in the southwestern highlands of Tanzania: Morphometric and physical characteristics. Animal Genetic Resources. 51, 1–14. © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2012doi:10.1017/S2078633612000112

N'Guetta A B 2006 Genetic improvement of livestock in tsetse infested areas in West Africa. Doctoral Dissertation, Animal Breeding and Genetics group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. 140p

Pagot J 1985 L’Élevage en Pays Tropicaux. Agence de coopération culturelle et technique 13, quai André-Citroe Paris XV. Editons G.-P . Maisonneuve et Larose15, rue Victor-Cousin (V). France. 526p.

Sokouri D P 2002 Caractérisation phénotypique des bovins à viande (Bos ssp.) du Centre de la Côte d'Ivoire (Zone de Bouaké). Mémoire de DEA, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’lvoire. 33p.

Sokouri D P, Loukou N E, Yapi-Gnaoré C V, Mondeil F et Gnangbé F 2007 Caractérisation phénotypique des bovins à viande (Bos taurus et Bos indicus) au centre (Bouaké) et au nord (Korhogo) de la Côte d’Ivoire. Animal Genetic Resources Information, 40: 43-53.

Sokouri D P 2008 Caractérisation des populations de bovins domestiques (Bos taurus L et Bos indicus L) dans les systèmes d’élevage des régions Centre et Nord de la Côte d’Ivoire. Thèse de Doctorat d’université. Université de Cocody-Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). 119p.

Sokouri D P, Loukou N E, Yapi-Gnaoré C V, Soro B and N’Guetta A S-P 2014 Typology of cattle livestock production systems in côte d’ivoire. International Journal of Development Research. 4 (11): 2233-2239.

Soro B, Sokouri D P, Dayo G-K, N’Guetta A S P et Yapi-Gnaoré C V 2015 Caractérisation des bovins de race Baoulé dans le "Pays Lobi" de Côte d’Ivoire : rôle socio-économiques, modes d’élevage et contraintes de production. Tropicultura. Sous presse.

Statistica 2005 STATSOFT (Data Analysis Software System), Version 7.1, 2005, available at www. Statsoft.com.

Tidori E, Serres H, Richard D et Ajuziogu J 1975 Etude d’une population taurine de race Baoulé en Côte d’Ivoire. Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine des Pays Tropicaux. 28 (4): 499-511. http://remvt.cirad.fr/cd/EMVT75_4.PDF

Yapi-Gnaoré CV, Oya B A et Ouattara Z 1996 Revue de la situation des races d’animaux domestiques de Côte d’Ivoire. Animal Genetic Resources Information (19) : 99-118.

Zulu D N 2008 Genetic characterization of Zambian indigenous cattle breeds. Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal and Poultry Sciences. 68p.

Received 8 March 2015; Accepted 5 May 2015; Published 2 July 2015

Go to top