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Azalou M, Assani AS, Kpomasse CC, Tona K, Alkoiret IT, Pitala W. Phenotypic and morphometric characterization of domestic geese raised in northern Benin. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103563. [PMID: 38417339 PMCID: PMC10909896 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Documentation on the domestic geese (Anser anser) in Benin is scarce, making it objectively difficult to exploit. Its production depends on small flocks raised by livestock farmers in different areas. The aim of the study was to describe the phenotypic and morphometric characteristics of geese encountered in northern Benin. To this end, a total of 576 adult geese (353 males and 223 females) from 102 farms in 4 agro-ecological zones of northern Benin were evaluated for 11 quantitative and 5 qualitative body traits. There are 6 plumage colors with white (42.01%), white-brown magpie (24.65%) and white-grey magpie (17.19%) as dominant colors. The proportions of white-grey (75%) and multicolored (51.85%) in Far northern zone of Benin (FNZB) were higher (P < 0.05) than those in the cotton zone of northern Benin (CZNB), Food-producing zone of southern Borgou (FZSB) and West-Atacora Zone (WAZ). The red coloring of the tarsi was more dominant in the FZSB (63.09%) and the FZSB (61.79%) (P < 0.05). Orange (57.47%) and yellow (28.82%) colored beaks were dominant but did not vary (P > 0.05) from one agro-ecological zone to another. Quantitative traits such as body length, tarsus length, wing span and thoracic circumference of geese varied (P < 0.05) between 71.34 to73.22 cm, 10.08 to 10.6 cm, 131.95 to 135.42 cm and between 42.07 to 43.86 cm respectively. Males differed significantly from females (P < 0.05) for all morphometric traits. The live weight of geese in the FNZB showed higher values than those of other agro-ecological zones (P ˂ 0.05). In addition, white phenotype geese (3.76 kg) were heavier (P ˂ 0.05) than other phenotypes. All correlations between weight and body measurements of domestic geese were positive, but the correlations between live weight and wing span (r = 0.68) were the strongest. These correlations could be used to assess the live weight of the geese population studied and for selection based on live weight. This study provides a reference for morpho-biometric traits and will be complemented by molecular characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Azalou
- Regional Center of Excellency on Avian Sciences, University of Lomé, 1515 Lomé, Republic of Togo; Laboratory of Ecology, Health and Animal Productions (LESPA), University of Parakou, 123 Parakou, Republic of Benin.
| | - A S Assani
- Laboratory of Ecology, Health and Animal Productions (LESPA), University of Parakou, 123 Parakou, Republic of Benin; Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, 123, Parakou, Republic of Benin
| | - C C Kpomasse
- Regional Center of Excellency on Avian Sciences, University of Lomé, 1515 Lomé, Republic of Togo
| | - K Tona
- Regional Center of Excellency on Avian Sciences, University of Lomé, 1515 Lomé, Republic of Togo
| | - I T Alkoiret
- Laboratory of Ecology, Health and Animal Productions (LESPA), University of Parakou, 123 Parakou, Republic of Benin; Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, 123, Parakou, Republic of Benin
| | - W Pitala
- Regional Center of Excellency on Avian Sciences, University of Lomé, 1515 Lomé, Republic of Togo; Higher School of Agronomy, University of Lomé, 1515 Lomé, Republic of Togo
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