Diferenciação de populações ovinas encontradas no estado do Piauí

Abstract

The objective of this work was to analyze, using multivariate analysis, the phenotypic similarity between genotypes of sheep located in eight microregions of Piauí state considering morphometric traits of Santa Ines animals related to those of other breeds in the region. Animals of Santa Inês, Dorper and Morada Nova breeds were found. The haircoat type, chamfer profile, height at withers, rump height, thoracic circumference, body length and ear length, were the characteristics assessed on sheeps stratified by microregion, using the principal components and cluster of Ward analyses; the phenotypic similarity among breeds and the variation within the Santa Ines breed, was established on the relationships between the characteristics measured. Santa Ines breed showed variation in size according to the microregion; it was the higher breed, but with shorter length and body perimeter than Dorper sheep in Piauí. Morada Nova sheeps were the smallest. Santa Ines breed showed a group of animals with the larger body size, located in the regions of Floriano, Piauí Middle Parnaiba, Campo Maior and Teresina, another group of animals of intermediate size, but with larger body length and thoracic circumference and small ear, located in the microregion of Sao Raimundo Nonato and a third group of intermediate size, with big ears and smaller animals is located in the regions of the Piauí Coast and Valença. From the correspondence analysis with morphological characteristics, was found that Dorper animals in Piauí state exhibit high correlation with the woolly characteristic that can be considered a disadvantage for being in a region where high temperature prevails during the year.