Characterization of the sheep breed Balami in Niger by descriptive and multivariate analysis of morpho-quantitative parameters

The main objective of this study is to establish the quantitative phenotypic characteristics of Balami’s sheep in Niger. It targeted the area of ??choice of the breed including the Region of Maradi (Azagor, Bermo, Dakoro communes) and Tahoua (Madaoua commune). Seventeen morpho-biometric quantitative parameters were measured on 311 Balamis belonging to 99 farms at 10 sites selected randomly based on farmer’s willingness to cooperate. The descriptive analysis showed that Balami is a very long and large animal. ACP analysis permit to distinguish in the study area two (2) subpopulations including a larger one bringing together the four studied communes and the second grouping the Balamis of Dakoro and Bermo. AFD pointed out that i) the most discriminating parameters, more characteristic of Balami are lt, lo, LO, CBQ and cm, ii) the Balamis of Dakoro commune are distinguished by the importance of cm, CBQ, LC, Lb and Lsi, those of Azagor by lt, lp, lo, LO and HC, those of Madaoua by lo, CBQ, lt and cm and those of Bermo are better represented by lt, lo, LO, LC and cm.

Key words: Balami, quantitative morpho-biometric parameters, Niger