Discriminant analysis on the morphometry of local goats breed in the western of Algeria

Abstract

The objective of this study is a morphometric characterization of local goats in western of Algeria. With the use of 19 quantitative variables, we carried out a discriminant analysis on 119 goats and 32 bucks divided into 4 Wilayas (Tlemcen, Adrar, Naama and Bechar). The discriminant analysis on males was not significant. As for the female population, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the region effect was highly significant p=1.32 x 10-11. A clear separation has been found between the populations, with the exception of Naama and Tlemcen, which are overlapped. Measurements belonging to chest width ( LP),chest circumference ( TP), chest depth ( PP), rump width (LB), ischium width (LI), withers height( HG), ear length LO) and hair length (LPI).are the best variables that separate between regions in the female population, with a very high significance level (p<0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) is 82.04%. This study can serve as a basis for more precise genetic characterization studies of this species.