Biometrical study of female reproductive tract (Bos indicus) in Cameroon

Abstract

The study aims to determine the biometry of 501 genital tracts of local female zebus (Bos indicus) slaughtered at the Ngaoundere municipal slaughterhouse (Cameroon). Average length (cm), width (cm), thickness (cm) and weight (g) were 2.83 ± 0.03, 1.96 ± 0.02, 1.28 ± 0.01 and 5.17 ± 0.11 in right ovary; and 2.64 ± 0.03, 1.78 ± 0.02, 1.15 ± 0.01 and 4.02 ± 0.09 in left ovary, respectively. Using electronic Vernier calipers, 16957 follicles were counted with an average of 16.92 ± 0.32 follicles per ovary. Small (<3 mm), medium (3 to 8 mm) and large (> 8 mm) follicles were 8.53 ± 0.20, 8.06 ± 0.21 and 0.29 ± 0.02, respectively. 20.4% were pregnant. Regarding non pregnant animals, average oviduct, uterine horn, uterine body, cervix, vagina and vulva commissure lengths (cm) were 19.27 ± 0.14, 20.32 ± 0.20, 1.24 ± 0.02, 6.92 ± 0.08, 19.45 ± 0.08 and 4.91 ± 0.03, respectively. The diameters (cm) of cervix and vagina were 3.23 ± 0.04 and 3.49 ± 0.03, respectively. Younger (aged ≤ 4 years old) and thin (body condition score-BCS 1 and 2) animals presented smaller dimensions of genital tract compared to older with a BCS ≥ 3. The right ovaries were heavier in weight as compared to left ones. Pregnant animals presented a higher follicular population and ovaries with a corpus luteum were larger in dimensions. The results indicated that local female zebus in Cameroon had a particular genital biometry.

Keys words: biometry, genital tract, local zebus, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.