Analysis of Qualitative Morphological Characteristics of N’Dama Cattle (<i>Bos </i><i>Taurus </i><i>Linneaus</i>, 1758) from the Marahoué Ranch and Farming Environment (Ivory Coast)

The physical characteristics of N’Dama cattle are a major issue in the recognition of the breed for both scientists and breeders. To resolve this ambiguity, a comparative study of the physical characteristics of 94 N’Dama cattle from the Marahoué ranch and 107 others farming system in three agro-ecological zones (Central, North-Western and North-East) of Côte d’Ivoire was carried out by the Chi-square test. Analysis showed that the N’Dama from the farming environment has, in addition to the fawn-colored coat (68.2%), other types of coat color (white, black, grey, pi-black). They have mostly lyre horn (58.9%), bicolored horns (91%) and convex back (75.7%). The N’Dama from the Marahoué ranch, on the other hand, has only a fawn-colored coat (100%), a straight back (100%), and ears carried horizontally (100%). It has mostly eyelids (91.5%) and an unpigmented muzzle (91.5%). Multiple correspondence analysis, show that factor 1 with 64.44% of inertia, alone described the essential variability of the population. This factor allows us to qualitatively differentiate cattle through coat color (Rbe), horn shape (Fcn), eyelid color (Cpp) and muzzle color (Cmu). On the basis of discriminating characteristics, the N’Dama studied separated into two (2) groups. The group 1 is made up mainly of cattle from the Marahoué ranch (57.51%). It is characterized by fawn-colored coats (96.73%), lyre-shaped horns (49.67%), unpigmented eyelids (97.38%) and unpigmented muzzles (90.1%). Group 2, on the other hand, is made up of N’Dama farmers (87.5%). They are characterized by other coat colors (60.41%), and crescent horns (52.08%). Their eyelids are pigmented (95.83%), as is their muzzle (97.91%). Projection of the individuals in the factorial planes of the MCA (1; 2) shows that the N’Dama from the ranch and those from the farming environment constitute a more or less physically homogeneous population.