Varimax Rotated Principal Component Analysis of Productive Traits in Nigeria Indigenous Cattle Raised under Semi-Intensive Management System

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to quantify the production traits using principal component analysis in Bunaji and Gudali cattle. Morphological traits of Body weight (Kg); BL: Body Length (Cm); HW: Height at withers (cm); CW: Chest width (cm); HG: Heart Girth (cm); Rumwi: Rump width (cm); TL: Teat Length (cm); RUH: Rear Udder Height (cm); UC: Udder Circumference (cm) and lactation traits of TY: Total Yield (Litres); ADY: Average Daily Yield (Litres/day) and LL: Lactation Length (days) were measured. To find the traits that were clustered together, data were fed to the principal component matrix of J.M.P genomics statistical software. In general, communalities varied from 0.32 to 0.91, and the proportion of variance accounted for by variables was 48 percent Bunaji, 0.31 to 0.99 for communalities, and 58 percent in Gudali cows. The information on principal component analysis will facilitate their efficient use in breeding programs for genetic gain and genetic improvement programs in indigenous Nigeria cattle.