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Morpho-faneroptic description of the goat “chusca lojana” of the dry forest of the southern of ecuador

Abstract:

In the Southern Region of Ecuador a dry forest area that covers from 100 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l) to 1200 m.a.s.l, was find place where the Creole goat called “Chusca lojana” has been adapted. The present work aimed at the phenotypic characterization of this animal genetic resource, specifying a racial pattern or standard with fines for identification, study, selection and improvement of this population. The research included a sample of 163 adult goats managed in an extensive environment, specific 21 morphometric measures and 10 pheno-optical characteristics; for the morphometric analysis a non-parametric statistic was applied with the Kruskal-Wallis Test as variable variables of sex and biotypes. The results allowed to identify 4 biotypes that according to certain peculiar characteristics that have a level of head and ears have been identified as: Chusca “short and bent ear”, Chusca “lion ear”, Chusca ear “tur-ned” and Chusca “muca “; in the phanero-optic aspect, they have opistocer (58%) and orthoceros (37%) horns, being 22% acorns (Chusca muca biotype), 26 and 29% have a beard and mamelas respectively, presenting these two characteristics a dimorphism in favor of males, the majority of this population has a straight (67%) and subconcave (28%) face profile; the udder shape is globose (64%), the color of nipples (93%) and helmets (87%) is pigmented; males have pendulous testicles (70%) and a peculiar characteristic is that they have a scrotum divided into two sacs (40%). In conclusion, the Chusca goat is an animal with a productive tendency more to milk than to meat, highlighting its thoracic capacity that allows it to move easily through the irregular topography of the area in search of food.