Biometric Assessment of Blackbelly Sheep in Central Africa

The Genetic and phenotypic characterization of the Central AfricanBlackbelly sheep was carried outfrom April 1st to November 30th2019. A total 288adults sheep were sampled in order to assess the genetic diversity of the Blackbelly population in 3 Central Africa countries (Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville and Gabon).A total of twenty-two (22) body measurements were collected with the aid of metric tools(i.e.,headlength, head width, hornlength, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, total body length, trunk length, height at withers, height at back, height at rump, chest circumference, chest depth, chest width, rump width, rump length, front leg length, rear leg length, tail length, canon bone circumference, nipple length and body weight). The latter was used to calculate twelve (12)indices (sub-sternal gracility, ear-length, format, compactness, massiveness, chest,slenderness, frame, body, dactylo-thoracic, caudal and ear) in a bid to appreciate the functional relationship between measurements. Phenotypic dimorphism (P ≤ 0.05) has been observed between the Blackbelly sheep of different countries, with the highest and heaviest animals coming from Congo (HW= 62.217 ± 5.288 and BW = 27.44 ± 6.08kg), the longest from Gabon (TBL = 84.69 ± 8.70) and the largest (CW=15.01± 2.531 and RW=14.716 a± 2.351) from Cameroon. A perfect correlation was recorded between BW and TC. Principal Component Analysis reveals that six main components explain 73.1% of the observed variability in the body measurements of Blackbelly sheep population of Central Africa. The first two components which have eigenvalues greater than 3 and explain 25.44% (CP1) and 17.41% (CP2) of the variability in body measurements, can be considered for an improvement and selection program. Hence, the height at back and thethoracic circumference appear to be the most interesting measurements to beconsidered for the selection and conservation of the Blackbelly sheep.