Abstract
This study is aimed at evaluating the phenptypic and genetic diversity of local cattle breeds in Cameroon. To this end, biometric data were collected randomly in six (6) localities of the Mayo-Banyo Division, on a sample of 321 adult Banyo Gudali zebu cattle (234 cows and 87 bulls) aged between 6 and 16 years and having a body condition score varying from 2 to 4. Results reveal a variability of the coat color i.e., 19,00% white coat and its derivatives (speckled, stoat, grey, truiture); 9.99% black coat and its derivatives (black list and black piebald); 18.06% piebald (4.67% black piebald and 13.39 red piebald); 52.94% red and its derivatives (red piebald and red list). The single-colored coats are less represented (38.94%)compared to double-colored coats (61.06%). The frequency of alleles S+, D, ED, Aa, E+, s, A+, e and P are respectively 0.315; 0.201; 0.140; 0.267; 0.859; 0.685; 0.733; 0.386 and 1.000. There is a predominance of white-black horns (50.2%) over grey horns (42.4%). This population is characterized by long hairs, straight-edged ears oriented laterally and with humps occupying a cervico-thoracic position. The facial and back profiles are straight. The neck has a horizontal curved profile, the rump with a low set tail. Crescent shaped horns predominate (73,5%) followed by the horns in low lyre (15,9%) with the other shapes (stump, lateral pointed tip, crown and asymmetrical deformed right or left) being the least represented. The raised horns (92.5%) are predominant. Erect and moderate humps (86.6%) are dominant over drooping ones (13.4%).
Highlights
The cattle population of Cameroon is estimated at a little over 5,040,000 heads for an annual production estimated at over 110,000 tons of meat
Zebus arrived in the Northern part of Cameroon from Bornu approximately 200 years ago (Paguem et al, 2020)
They exist in two breeds: the Gudali zebu (34%) and the M’bororo zebu (66%) (Manjeli and Tchoumboué, 1990)
Summary
The cattle population of Cameroon is estimated at a little over 5,040,000 heads for an annual production estimated at over 110,000 tons of meat. This production represents more than 54% of all meat products consumed per capita per year (MINEPIA, 2011). Zebus arrived in the Northern part of Cameroon from Bornu (in Nigeria) approximately 200 years ago (Paguem et al, 2020). Today, they exist in two breeds: the Gudali zebu (34%) and the M’bororo zebu (66%) (Manjeli and Tchoumboué, 1990). It is estimated that between 400,000 and 600,000 people derive most of their livelihood from cattle breeding (Hamadou, 2009)
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