Morphostructural characterization of the Creole goat (Capra hircus) of the municipality of Cuajinicuilapa, on the Costa Chica of Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Goats were introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards during the conquest in the sixteenth century. The main breeds that arrived the country and gave rise to the Mexican Creole goat were the White Celtiberica, the Murciana and the Granadina.1 The “Creole” of this cattle was probably due to the isolation, the main force of several geographically different local goat populations. A well-marked situation in the country, while further south the frequency of pure Creole flocks increases.1,2 The morpho-structural characteristics of the mexican Creole goats are differentiated by two types of animals: small (25-32 kg and 60 cm of height at the cross in adult goats) in the center and southwest of the country, and medium (30-40 kg in adults goats) in arid and semi-arid regions of the country.3,4 On the other hand, the characteristics of Creole goats from Central America (smaller size, 28kg, 71 cm thoracic circumference and 64 cm height at the cross)5 are smaller than those of Mexico and the Caribbean (18.2-34.4 kg and height at the cross 50 cm).6 However, due to the lack of information of their origin, reproductive management, genotypic and phenotypic characterization; isn’t possible to differentiate the genetic composition of the goats flocks.7 In developing countries like Mexico it’s necessary to design reproductive and genetic improvement programs more efficient where genetic differences are involved between populations of production systems, this will allow to decide which genotypes introduce to the flocks to make them more efficient.2,8