Phenotypic characteristics and Gene Frequency of the Banyo Gudali zebu (Bos indicus) variety in the high Guinean Savannah zone of Cameroon

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%)

CONSTRAINING RESOURCES PREVENTING THE OPTIMAL PROFITABILITY BY GOAT RAISERS IN CAMEROON

Cameroon is on the way to render its pastoral sector more productive by 2035 through the alleviation of the main problems faced by breeders. Because of the interest of most breeders to raise goat, this paper evaluates the constraints faced by goat raisers in the Centre region of Cameroon. From the field results, land and labour are available in sufficient quantity for goat raising activity. Their zero marginal productivity testify that these two resources are not exhausted/non-scarce in comparison to the five other constraining factors (credit, capital, transport to markets, health and food) which are exhausted/scarce hence displaying non-zero marginal productivities in linear programming model. In conclusion, if the government aims at improving the farmers’ returns, then resources with the highest marginal productivities should be allocated in priority to goat raisers i.e. credit at first, followed in order by capital, transport to markets, health, food, land and labour. Concrete governmental actions would be the creation of agricultural banks necessary to grant credit or capital facilities to breeders, veterinary hospitals and centers for training personnel to prevent illnesses and vaccination of goats, to develop road infrastructures and marketing channels for goat activity, to provide goat raisers with quality and sufficient food for their animals

Non Conventional Livestock for Better Livelihood: Prospects of Domestic Cavy in Mixed Production Systems of Tanzania

Similar to majority of Sub-Saharan African countries, Tanzania depends largely on small and large ruminants, poultry and seafood to meet its animal protein needs. While most of the nonconventional protein sources are hunted, domestication of some of the species is equally promoted because hunting harvests cannot provide sustainable and affordable meats. Meanwhile, there have been growing demands for white meats, especially among the middle and high income population classes, exacerbated by changes in eating and living habits. Recent reports have identified domestic cavy (Cavia porcellus L.) as a right delicacy. This small pseudo ruminant that is also referred to as guinea pig or as Pimbi or Simbilisi in Kiswahili, is adopted in rural and urban households in Tanzania. This paper highlights on prospects of production of cavies focusing on the mixed production systems of Central Tanzania, where identified farmers keep a few cavy families either in own pens in a compound or within living houses of owners. Results indicated that farmers have such major reasons as keeping cavies for food (37%) or cash income (33%). Inadequate knowledge on improved husbandry practices was the most limiting constraint (38%) in the study sites where cavy keeping hinges on local knowledge and locally available feed resources. Therefore, innovative approaches and more attention from research and extension services are called for to improve production, consumption and marketing of cavies and other non-conventional meat sources as stipulated in the national livestock policy

Production and valorization of maggot meal: sustainable source of proteins for indigenous chicks.

The feed industry needs new sources of highly digestible protein to substitute other valuable limited protein sources of animal origin such as fishmeal in animal feed. The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of the housefly larvae (maggots) in production of a low-cost, high-quality protein source to supplement feeds for poultry farmers

Genetic diversity and structure of domestic cavy (Cavia porcellus) populations from smallholder farms in southern Cameroon

Although domestic cavies are widely used in sub-Saharan Africa as a source of meat and income, there are only a few studies of their population structure and genetic relatedness. This seminal study was designed with the main objective to assess the genetic diversity and determine the population structure of cavy populations from Cameroon to guide the development of a cavy improvement program. Sixteen microsatellite markers were used to genotype 109 individuals from five cavy populations (Wouri, Moungo and Nkongsamba in the Littoral region, and Mémé and Fako in the Southwest region of Cameroon). Twelve markers worked in the five populations with a total of 17 alleles identified, with a range of 2.9 to 4.0 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity (from 0.022 to 0.277) among populations was lower than expected heterozygosity (from 0.42 to 0.54). Inbreeding rates between individuals of the populations and between individuals in each population were 59.3% and 57.2%, respectively, against a moderate differentiation rate of 4.9%. All the tested loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except for locus 3. Genetic distances between populations were small (from 0.008 to 0.277), with a high rate of variability among individuals within each population (54.4%). Three distinct genetic groups were structured. This study has shown that microsatellites are useful for the genetic characterization of cavy populations in Cameroon and that the populations investigated have sufficient genetic diversity that can be used to be deployed as a basis for weight, prolificacy and disease resistance improvement. The genetic of diversity in Southern Cameroon is wide and constitute an opportunity for cavy breeding program

From ‘cuy' in South America to ‘cavy' in sub-Sahara Africa: Advancing development through South-South Cooperation

Neglected and underutilised livestock species like ‘cuy' or ‘domestic cavy' or ‘guinea pig' (Cavia porcellus L.) play an important role in better nutrition and poverty reduction. Cavy is indigenous in South America and has been introduced to sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), where it has an extensive distribution from Senegal in the West to Tanzania in the East. The remarkable adoption by smallholder farmers and peri-urban dwellers of a simple, apparently suitable technology has not received much international attention. Animals mostly roam freely in the kitchen or house and are kept in a way comparable to the traditional one in South America. In SSA, cavies are a source of meat, a flexible source of cash income – particularly used for schooling expenses – and an appreciated source of manure. In many SSA-countries (e.g., Cameroon, DR Congo and Tanzania), predominantly women and teenage boys engage as cavy keepers and sellers in local markets. Keeping cavies is also used as an alternative to consumption of bushmeat in order to protect wildlife in forest zones; or as part of humanitarian starter kits for displaced people in conflict areas. In Peru, improvement programs of ‘cuyes' over the past 60 years have yielded earlier maturing, heavier breeds. Further, improving husbandry and, especially, optimising feeding have led to enhanced ‘cuy' production. In most SSA-countries, however, formal knowledge about optimal cavy husbandry is limited. Production systems are simple and animal mortality seems high, partly a negative consequence of inbreeding. Thus, the animal's potential is not realised, and its consumption is not valued in line with its high nutritional value because of certain cultural perceptions of society. Researchers, development agents, practitioners and donors from sub-Sahara Africa, South America, Europe and Australia have come together to further identify opportunities for advancing the use of this resource through enhanced South-South cooperation. While aiming to understand the multiple roles that cavies can have in enhancing livelihoods, paramount differences in cavy culture between the continents must be recognised. The diverse production realities need to be considered, therefore, by conducting socio-economic, cultural, as well as technological research and development to offer producers an array of suitable options

Diversité phénotypique de l’âne domestique (Equus africanus asinus) dans la région des hautes terres du nord oust Cameroun

L’objectif général du travail était de contribuer à une meilleure connaissance de la diversité des ânes en vue de son exploitation rationnelle et plus spécifiquement, d’évaluer la variabilité morphobiométrique et d’en déduire la structure et les relations phylogénétique des ânes dans la région. A cet effet, un échantillon de 174 ânes adultes (96 mâles et 78 femelles) a été observé dans 7 localités. Les résultats montrent que sur le plan phanéroptique, la robe grise est dominante (86,2%) et la robe baie brûlé moins représentée (0,5%). Les mensurations corporelles et leur moyenne ont été la hauteur au garrot (HG) 99,73±3,57 cm, le pourtour thoracique (PT) 108,66±5,08 cm, la largeur de la poitrine 25,85±2,62 cm, la profondeur de la poitrine 48,80±3,97 cm, la longueur du corps(LC) 110,07±6,06 cm, la hauteur à la croupe 103,28±3,91 cm, le pourtour du canon 14,95±1,85 cm, le poids vif (PV) est de 128,68 ± 17,07 kg. Les corrélations sont significatives (P<0,01), positives et presque parfaites entre le PV et le PT (r=0,99). L’équation de prédiction du poids vif PV=2,34PT-233,89 semble être la meilleure, car elle est simple et son coefficient de détermination est élevé (R2=0,99). Les indices corporel de profil et relatif sont respectivement de 0,91±0,04 et 1,01±0,05 et permettent de classer les ânes des hautes terres du Nord-Ouest Cameroun comme longilignes. L’indice dactylo-thoracique est de 0,14±0,04 et suggère que les ânes sont de type hypermétrique. Le PV et la LC contribuent à 59,76% à la variabilité génétique au sein de la population. L’analyse factorielle discriminante montre que la population est constituée de 3 types génétiques A, B et C. L’arbre phylogénétique révèle que les types génétique A et C sont génétiquement plus reproche et plus distant du type génétique B. La variabilité observée suggère des possibilités d’amélioration génétique des ânes des hautes terres du Nord-Ouest Cameroun.Mots clés : Asins, Biodiversité, phénotype, indice biométrique, Camerou

Primarity and biometric indices of native goats in western Cameroon

Goats are well integrally part of communities’ livelihoods in both rural and urban regions in Cameroon. Our study intended to contribute to genetic characterization of native goats populations found in one of the highest populated region based on morphometric indices as developed by Lauvergne and COGNOSAG standards for small ruminants. A total of 221 mature goats, both males and females were sampled in this investigation. Our findings showed that the native goats are dwarf or brevipes. Color patterns identified are very wide from monochrome to variegated spotting. Based on segregation and locus agouti distribution indices, the mean value of 0.9 and 1 obtained indicated that the native goats are of primary type and form a traditional –non standardized population. This implies huge selection potentials for communities’ needs. Molecular tools could be applied for further analyses and better management prospects.Key words: Genetic variability, Morphometrics, visible polymorphism, Goats, Cameroo

Corrigendum: Phenotypic characteristics and gene frequency of the Banyo Goudali zebu (Bosindicus) variety in the high Guinean Savannah zone of Cameroon

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