Colour and Morphometric Characteristics of Ukerewe and Bunda Indigenous Cattle Populations in the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the objective of comparing body colour and morphometric characteristics of indigenous cattle populations in Ukerewe and Bunda Districts located in the Lake Victoria basin area of Tanzania. A total of 169 adult cattle selected randomly from the study area were examined for colour and morphometric characteristics and then taken linear body measurements. Majority of the cattle had plain colour pattern (63.8% in Ukerewe and 67.4% in Bunda). Predominant coat colour in Ukerewe and Bunda Districts were black and brown, respectively. A considerable proportion of cattle in this study had small sized dewlaps and navel flaps. Ukerewe cattle population had significantly (P < 0.05) bigger heart girths and very highly significantly (P < 0.001) shorter horns than Bunda cattle. The rest of the physical body measurements and all external body appendages showed insignificant (P > 0.05) differences between the two strains. With the exception of ear length and muzzle circumference, all measurements were positively and highly (P < 0.01) correlated with the body weight estimated from heart girth. Thus, the strains under the study differed remarkably in phenotype. Genetic characterisation of the strains using molecular techniques is recommended in order to establish if they could have a common origin.