Associations among Qualitative Morphological Traits in Indigenous Camels of Ethiopia: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis

Abstract

Camels play a crucial role in Ethiopia's livestock production and livelihoods, yet research on their phenotypic diversity is limited. This hinders the development of breeding programs and conservation strategies. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing qualitative morphological traits in Ethiopian camel populations using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), and to identify significant traits for potential use in breeding and conservation programs. Data on seven qualitative morphological traits were collected from 300 mature camels (150 from each district). Significant differences were found between districts for facial traits, specifically nose shape (p = 0.0153) and face profile (p = 0.0133). Other traits, including coat colour, hair type, ear orientation, and lip shape, did not show significant differences. MCA identified two main dimensions, explaining 26% of the total variance. The first dimension was associated with facial traits, while the second dimension was associated with coat colour and hair type. This study provides valuable insights into the morphological diversity of Ethiopian camel populations. The findings suggest that facial traits may be useful for differentiating camel populations and could be considered in breeding and conservation programs. Further research is needed to explore the genetic basis of these morphological differences.