Abstract
The variation in hair coat and skin histology traits of Criollo Limonero cattle was analyzed using 213 Criollo Limonero females. Skin biopsies were obtained from slick-haired (N = 16) and normal-haired (N = 14) animals. Measured traits included hair length (HL), color coat (CC), number of hair follicles per square centimeter (NHF), sweat glands per square centimeter (NSG), sweat glands size (SGS), sebaceous glands per square centimeter (NSBG), blood vessels per square centimeter (NBV), and thickness of epidermis (TE). Hair length differed (P < 0.001) between slick- and normal-haired animals (4.9 ± 0.12 vs 10.9 ± 0.20, respectively). Differences (P < 0.01) in CC (Bayo = 144/67.6% vs Red = 69/32.4%) and HL (slick-haired = 199/93.4% vs normal-haired = 14/6.5%) were found. Distribution of slick- and normal-haired animals differed (P < 0.01) between bayo-coated and red-coated (139/62.2% vs 9/4.2%; respectively). Most (P < 0.05) red-coated animals belonged to a single family. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between slick-haired and normal-haired animals in NHF (637 ± 164 vs 587 ± 144, respectively), NSG (556 ± 134 vs 481 ± 118, respectively), NSBG (408 ± 87 vs 366 ± 77, respectively), NBV (1628 ± 393 vs 1541 ± 346, respectively), and TE (1.24 ± 0.14 vs 1.32 ± 0.12, respectively). However, SGS was greater (P < 0.01) in slick-haired than normal-haired animals. In conclusion, Criollo Limonero cattle are predominantly bayo-coated, slick-haired, with a reduced number of hair follicles relative to Zebu cattle, sweat and sebaceous glands in proportion to hair follicle numbers, and with a high blood flow irrigating the skin. There is a sub-group of red-coated animals with yellow or cream skin, thicker epidermis, and with a higher frequency of normal-haired animals. It appears that the slick hair gene has been favored by natural selection in this breed.
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Acknowledgment
Appreciation to Dr. Rafaela Muñoz and employees of the Laboratorio de Histología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and to Dr. Carlos Duvanchelle at the Laboratorio de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia. This research project was developed under a cooperative agreement between Unidad de Investigaciones Zootécnicas (UNIZ)-DPIA-Facultad de Veterinaria at Universidad del Zulia, Estación Local Carrasquero INIA-Zulia, and the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
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Landaeta-Hernández, A., Zambrano-Nava, S., Hernández-Fonseca, J.P. et al. Variability of hair coat and skin traits as related to adaptation in Criollo Limonero cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 657–663 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9749-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9749-1