The Bankim Pigs: A Native Cameroonian Breed Assessed by Biometric Features

Abstract

In order to study the biodiversity of Cameroon’s indigenous pigs, this study was carried out from December 2017 to July 2018 in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Cameroon, precisely in the Bankim subdivision. Data on morphology and body measurements (17) were collected in eight localities from 287 randomly selected pigs of both sexes aged at least 8 months and analyzed. Diversity analyses showed that there is a significant variability in the population. Color pattern results show that Bankim pig has a multiple Coat color with a tendency of bicolor prevalence (58%). The ear orientations of pig were mainly front erected (65.50%). Body measurements were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different among the localities except for hair length. The major body indices indicated that the Bankim pig could be an interesting candidate for meat production in small scale farming. According to the discriminant factorial analysis, the population may consist of three genetic types. Phylogenetic analysis showed that one of the genetic types is at genetic equidistance from the two others. The observed genetic variability within the studied populations may offer opportunity for genetic improvement.