Identification of Morphometric Traits through Multivariate Analysis for Precision Selection in Indonesian Tropical Swamp Buffaloes

Abstract

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a vital livestock resource in Indonesia, significantly contributing to food security and the rural economy. However, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) indicate a concerning decline in the buffalo population, decreasing from 1,154,226 heads in 2020 to 556,794 heads in 2024. This decline underscores the need for scientifically-based breeding strategies to enhance both productivity and population sustainability. This study aimed to identify key morphometric markers for precision breeding selection in Indonesian tropical swamp buffaloes using advanced multivariate analyses. Data were collected from 53 buffaloes across three breeding stations of BPTU HPT Siborongborong: Bahal Batu (n=18), Rondaman Palas (n=14), and Silangit (n=21), between July and December 2024. Morphometric measurements included body weight (BW), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), and withers height (WH). The data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM), Least Significant Difference (LSD) test, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The population exhibited mean values of BW 192.11±63.15 kg, BL 99.85±16.38 cm, HG 141.60±14.44 cm, and WH 109.13±8.44 cm. GLM analysis revealed highly significant effects (p<0.001) of age and breeding location on all morphometric traits, with Silangit showing superior performance compared to other locations. In contrast, birth season and sex did not have significant effects (p>0.05). PCA identified two principal components explaining 93.2% of the total variance. PC1 (79%) represented overall body size, with body weight having the highest loading (0.976), followed by withers height (0.907), body length (0.843), and heart girth (0.820). PC2 (14.2%) represented body proportion. These findings provide a practical morphometric framework for precision breeding selection in Indonesian swamp buffaloes, identifying body weight as the primary indicator, supported by withers height and heart girth as optimal predictors. Moreover, the results suggest that location-specific breeding strategies could enhance the efficiency of genetic improvement within tropical livestock systems.