Abordagem multivariada para a caracterização morfométrica de raças caprinas brasileiras : primeiro estágio para conservação

Abstract

Morphometric characterization represents one of the main stages of a conservation program. In this perspective, multivariate statistical techniques have been used in the evaluation of variables simultaneously, allowing for more coherent interpretations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphometric profile of goats of locally adapted Brazilian breeds through multivariate analysis. The data comes from the database maintained by the research group “Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources” (CRGAn). Body measurements (cm) were used: Body length (BL), chest girth (CG), Withers height (WH), Ear length (CO) and adult weight (kg) of 1,317 animals, belonging to the local Brazilian races Canindé and Moxotó and the exotic Nubian race. The data were submitted to multivariate analysis of variance, factorial based on main components - (AF) and canonical discriminant analysis. Based on the commonality value, ear length and body weight were the most important variables for the racial characterization of the animals of the Canindé and Moxotó animals, respectively. In the differentiation of races, the variables with the greatest discrimination power were PT, PC, CO and CC. The Nubian breed was distant morphometrically from the locally adapted breeds. Multivariate statistical analyzes are useful to characterize and differentiate the morphometric profile of the Moxotó and Canindé breeds; these results can be useful for structuring conservation programs for these breeds.