Zoometry of two Criollo cattle populations from Venezuela

Abstract

In Venezuela, Criollo cattle, introduced by colonizers, were raised under various conditions and for different purposes. These led to the formation of two lines: the Criollo Llanero (CrLl), kept under savanna conditions, practically disappeared; and the Criollo Río Limón (CrRL) conserved in northwestern region of Zulia state, in danger of extinction. The “Cooperative Project MAC - UCV at the Los Llanos Experimental Station” included CrRL in pure and cross mating, as well as CrLl in absorption mating. Fifty CrRL foundation cows and 50 CrLl cows purchased in the Llano were the subjects of this article to describe them morphologically and compare them through statistical analysis. Some observations were eliminated due to temper that prevented taking some measurements; concluding 46 CrRL and 43 CrLl. The F test was applied to distinguish the differences between the lines of each measure. The Line effect was significant (p<0.05) or highly significant (p<0.01) for 21 of 24 variables. CrRL outperformed CrLl in the relevant dimensions. The Weight in CrRL was 20% higher than in CrLl (p<0.01). In the other dimensions, the advantage ranged between 3 and 8%, in favor of CrRL. The correlations between relevant variables were positive and significant (p<0.01), always higher in CrRL. The few negative sign correlations were not significant (p>0.05). Fifty years after the observations were mader, time altered the research justification, from to generate basic knowledge, today its relevance lies in the valuation of autochthonous germplasm and its contribution to the genetic variability necessary to couple specific genotypes with particular breeding systems and altered environmental conditions. The decline of these populations reported in the literature reveals that it might be late to recommend their conservation and assessment and that the initiatives for their preservation and use have been insufficient and ineffective.