Morphometric Characteristics of Holstein x Local Breed and Montbéliard x Local Breed Crossbreeds in Peri-Urban Livestock Farming

Abstract

Mali is a tropical country with an agrosylvopastoral vocation. The livestock sub-sector in Mali is the primary source of livelihood for more than 30% of the population and is a productive activity for more than 85% of the country's population. Despite this large population, Mali still has a deficit in animal products (especially milk), mainly due to the breeds’ low productivity. This study aimed to determine the morphometric characteristics of crossbreds aged 0–6 months. This study was conducted in the peri-urban area of the Bamako district. Measurements were taken on 55 calves born due to artificial insemination. These measurements included variables such as TP, WH, and SIL. Live weights increased gradually and proportionally with the age of the animal. Holstein crossbreds had slightly higher weight gains than Montbéliard crossbreds. The analysis of variance revealed that age had a highly significant influence on live weight values (p<0.05). Strong positive correlations were observed between various morphometric parameters and live weight in crossbred Montbéliard x local breed crossbreds. TP as the best indicator for live weight estimation (r=0.996; p<0.05).