Multivariate analyses of Balami sheep population in the Sudan-Sahelian zone of Cameroon

The morpho-biometric characteristics of 214 Balami sheep from the Far North Region of Cameroon were studied with the objective of analyzing genetic variability, determining the structure of the population, establishing the phylogenetic relationships of the population. of Balami sheep from the area and identify each genetic type. The data collected was subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) and discriminant factor analysis (FDA). The main results showed that the first 03 principal components (F1, F2 and F3) explain more than 53.74% of the total phenotypic variability observed within the population of sheep studied. The discriminant analysis shows that the studied population consists of 3 genetic types: morphotype 1 with high measurements: height at the withers (84.76 cm), chest circumference (93.11 cm), live weight (56.51 kg) ; the morphotype 2 with average characteristics: height at the withers (82.22 cm), chest circumference (87.61 cm), live weight (47.83 kg) and the morphotype 3 with low characteristics: height at the withers (79.12 cm), chest circumference (87.36 cm), live weight (47.06 kg). The phylogenetic tree while confirming the structure of the population (3 morphotypes) made it possible to establish the genetic relationships that exist between genetic types. Thus the morphotypes 2 and 3 are closer together while the morphotype 1 is more distant. The Balami sheep therefore constitutes an ovine genetic resource with high breeding potential due to its variability and its high capacity for adaptation.
Keywords: morphometry; multivariate analysis; Balami sheep; Cameroon