The Zenga cattle of Uganda: Insights from morphometric measurements

Abstract

Ankole Longhorn (ALH), Nganda (NGA) and Small East African Shorthorn Zebu (SEAZ) are indigenous Ugandan cattle and poorly characterized. The ancestry of ALH is traced to lateral horned Zebu and indigenous African long horned taurine. The ALH and SEAZ are parent breeds of NGA. Therefore, the current study aimed at phenotypic characterization of Nganda (NGA) and Teso Zebu (TSZ) in Uganda. Data were collected on 41 variables including geographic location, breed and morphometric measurements. A sample of 129 NGA from central and 63 TSZ from eastern Uganda were studied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated. Generally, the NGA was a chest-humped breed akin to its parent breeds. The breed had a solid brown coat and extremities (e.g., hooves) compared to the wide color variation tending to solid black in the TSZ. The NGA had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean values for all linear body measurements except height at withers. However, all linear measurements except ear length were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the interaction between breed and sex. The rump profile showed distinct breed differences. Our results demonstrate superiority of NGA over the TSZ in terms of linear traits. These results are pertinent in planning the sustainable utilization of these breeds.