Morphological comparison between two south Italian goat breeds and two Canary Islands goat breeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare four goat breeds: two from Canary Islands (81 Majorera and 61 Tinerfeña goats) and two breeds from Calabrian region of Italy (98 Aspromonte and 98 Rustica goats). In this study eleven morphological measurements were recorded, zoometric indexes were calculated and the profile and coat colour were evaluated. The results showed that Aspromontana breed was significantly smaller than Canary breeds, showing differences in measures such as the height at the end of the neck, the circumference and length of the shank, the rump width and the length of the head. Majorera breed resulted the highest breed in this study due to they presented a body length, rump length and width bigger than the other studied breeds. With regard to the other parameters and using the calculated indexes, Tinerfeña breed showed a body index, transversal rump index, longitudinal rump index bigger than the other breeds used in this study. Rustica breed presented a rump index, relative thoracic deep index and relative shortness index bigger than Majorera, Tinerfeña and Aspromonte breeds.