Multivariate analysis as a tool for phenotypic characterization of an endangered breed

Goats are important from a socioeconomic perspective for the poor in arid regions, worldwide. Nevertheless, more than half of the local breeds in the world are threatened and have not been fully characterized. The Caninde is one of the main local breeds of northeastern Brazil and, like most, their effective numbers have fallen over the years and needs to be characterized. Many tools are available for assessing the phenotypic profile of a breed and multivariate techniques are important when considering all variables simultaneously. The present study utilized multivariate techniques for phenotypic characterization of the Caninde goat breed from 11 morphometric variables (HL = head length; FW = face width; HW = head width; BL = body length; CG = chest girth; WH = wither height; SRH = sacral region height; CW = croup width; CL = croup length, SP = shin perimeter and ES = ear size) and morphological variables of qualitative character (presence and absence of earrings, horns, beard, abnormal teat number and hair length) collected from herds from different states (populations) in the northeast of Brazil. Multivariate analysis allowed the differentiation and characterization of the evaluated individuals, HL, FW, WH, SRH and BL variables were the most important to define the phenotypic profile of the studied populations. Examined whether spatial organization of individuals was assessed in each state of the Brazil demonstrated considerable diversity of phenotypes within breeds from the different states. These data could be used successfully in a conservation breeding programme.