HAEMOGLOBIN AND MORPHOMETRIC POLYMORPHISM OF FOUR STRAINS OF DONKEY (Equus asinus L.) IN GAMAWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in 2018 (March to July). Blood samples and some morphometric characteristic of donkeys were taken in Gamawa Local  Area (LGA) of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The aim was to describe the haemoglobin polymorphism and to characterize the genetic pool of four commonly kept strains (Auraki, Duni, Fari and Idabari) of donkeys in the study area. Eighty (80) matured donkeys were used for this research, comprising both sexes (39 males and 41 females), with 16 donkeys from each of five agro-ecological zones (Gamawa East and West, Udubo East and West and donkey market) of Gamawa. The red lysates were subjected to cellulose acetate electrophoresis and specific staining procedure to reveal the band patterns of the haemoglobin. The results revealed the presence of three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) with BB found only in Fari strain. The frequencies of A and B alleles were 0.925 and 0.075, respectively. The implication is that donkeys with AA genotype are more resistant to infections. Analysis of the morphometric measurements revealed that height at withers and neck circumference were significantly (P<0.01) correlated (0.514). Negatively lower correlation (-0.224) was significantly (P<0.05) found between lengths of ear and tail. Body length and neck measurements were significantly (P<0.01) Correlated (0.324 to 0.497). It could be concluded that, donkeys in Gamawa LGA of Bauchi State with A gene (Auraki, Duni and Idabari) can be selected for resistance and performance. Further study could be undertaken to evaluate the effects of genotypes on the productivity.