Caracterización morfológica y faneróptica de hembras Ovino de Pelo Criollo Colombiano “OPC” Sudán

Abstract

Etiope Colombian creole woolless sheep (OPC) have been suppliers of animal protein throughout years for peasant and indigenous people. However, the breed status of this animal genetic resource has not been agreed yet, which has favored to accentuate the menace produced by the introduction of foreign breeds since without clarity about the breed classification of Etiope and OPC in general, it is difficult to create awareness among farmers about what they should conserve, improve and why. The objective of this research was to describe morphologically and phaneroptically Etiope OPC, for contributing with its suitable characterization and breed classification. This study was developed in nine farms which were located in the Cordoba and Bolivar Departaments (Colombia), six phaneroptical traits and seven morphological qualitative characteristics were evaluated in 92 ewes. The assessment of these characteristics was made by direct observation with the support of a photographic camera and a digital goniometer. Data analysis was made through the estimation of absolute and relative frequency with the software InfoStat®. Etiopes were generally dark red (43.48%) or very dark red (44.57%) coat color, black-rosy mucosae (93.48%), horizontally oriented ears (100%), sub-convex cephalic profile (72.83%), potbellied (81.52%), inclined rump (86.96%), marbled hooves (81.32%), with occasional wattle presences (24.28%) and pigmented udders (13.19%). In conclusion, this description focused on Etiope sheep, and elaborated minutely, provided elements which help to define the traits which determine the belonging to this ethnic group as well as they help to reach a consensus on the appropriate breed classification of these autochthonous ovines.