Abstract
The breeding of creole cattle from the southern region of Ecuador, also known as Criollo Lojano, is a source of economic support and work for the communities located in the remote areas of the Andes mountains in this region. These cattle are grouped into four biotypes based on their phenotypic characteristics: Negro Lojano, Encerado, Colorado, and Cajamarca or Pintado. This study analyzes the morphometric variability of these creole cattle using least squares means (LSM) and restricted maximum likelihood Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) variance components. The evaluation parameters used to characterize these cattle were live weight plus 15 morphometric characteristics and nine morphometric indexes. The measurements came from 151 adult animals (28 male and 123 females). With the exception of Height at Withers (P = 0.06), the other morphometric characteristics do not show significant difference among these creole biotypes. Sexual dimorphism was found in live weight, thoracic circumference, height at withers, chest width, length of thorax, length of body, depth of thorax, depth of abdomen, length of head, and length of horns (P < 0.05). The adult Creole Lojano has an average live weight of 288 ± 12.9 kg (mean ± standard error), The Cephalic index is 45.6, the Corporal index is 115.9, the Pelvic index is 90.5, the Thoracic index is 58.3, the Proportionality index is 62.6, the Thoracic Capacity index is 2.1, the Lower Leg–Thoracic index is 9.9, the Transverse Pelvic index is 34.7, and the Pelvic Length index is 38.4. This creole bovine breed presents 4 biotypes that are similar; there are differences in the analysis with respect to sex (males are higher in 10 of the 16 characteristics analyzed); and on the basis of the indexes, this animal is small, has a triangular head, is longilinear with a long and narrow hip. It is a dual-purpose milk type with the exception of the Colorado biotype which is a dual purpose meat type.
Highlights
When Sebastian de Benalcázar arrived in 1534 to Ecuador for the conquest of Kingdom of Quito, he introduced the first Bos taurus cattle [1]
Sexual dimorphism was found in live weight, thoracic circumference, height at withers, chest width, length of thorax, length of body, depth of thorax, depth of abdomen, length of head, and length of horns (P < 0.05)
The existence of small and heterogeneous nuclei of Creole cattle is still reported in some remote places, such as the Southern Region of Ecuador (SRE) bordering on the north of Perú [2]
Summary
When Sebastian de Benalcázar arrived in 1534 to Ecuador for the conquest of Kingdom of Quito, he introduced the first Bos taurus cattle [1] The descendants of these animals have had a long process of more than five centuries of adaptation to different climates and environments. The existence of small and heterogeneous nuclei of Creole cattle is still reported in some remote places, such as the Southern Region of Ecuador (SRE) bordering on the north of Perú [2] Due to their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics they have managed to survive and develop in these complex environments, acquiring their own characteristics that have allowed them to adapt and thrive in this hard habitat.
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