Caractérisation morphologique des troupeaux ovins dans la région de Sétif

Abstract

his investigation is about the sheep’s morphologically characterization which has

concerned thirty traits (eighteen quantitative and twelve ordinals) and was done in the area of Sétif

(Algeria). Data were analyzed using a discriminate analysis; the aim was to identify the most

discriminate traits, rate of distinction between flocks and to describe morphologically the flocks under

investigation. The results of analysis of variance showed a large differences between flocks, a wide

diversity between and within flocks, sites and zones. The factorial discriminate analysis revealed, that

the descriptors which allow differentiation between rams: the back height, chest‘s tower, ear length

and the ischions’s width for the first axis. The neck length, back height, chest‘s tower and the

ischions’s width for the second axis. For the ewes, the descriptors of the best differentiation are: the

sacrum height, chest’s depth and the head length for the first axis. The chest‘s tower, the head length,

chest’s depth and the sacrum height for the second axis. Flocks were different from each other and the

correct classification for rams was 50.2 % and 37.8% for the ewes