Body Morphometric Measurements in Harmo Cattle (Raya-Azebo Catltle) in Southern Tigray of Ethiopia

Twenty-four qualitative and nine quantitative variables on a total of 251 adult cattle from two purposively selected districts were recorded to characterize Harmo cattle at its natural production environment in 2019. Effect of sampled district, sex and age on the quantitative measurements and qualitative characteristics were analyzed using General linear model (GLM) procedure and non-parametric (Chi-square) test of Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.0) respectively. The qualitative characteristics and quantitative measurements of Harmo cattle were partially affected by district, sex and age categories. Majority of Harmo cattle were horned (100%) with lyre shaped (83.73%) upward orientation (92.46%) and wide horn spacing (≥ 30 cm) (96.03%). They also possess straight edged ear (97.22%). Harmo cattle hump was erected (98.81%), and small (88.1%) and found at cervical thoracic (78.57) position. The results also revealed that Harmo cattle were characterized by flat face (99.21%), straight back profile (88.49%), long tail (95.24%) and large dewlap (75%). Body color pattern of Harmo cattle was uniform (61.11%), spotty (26.98%) and others (11.9%). Red and light-red were the body and head color of the majority of the studied cattle populations. Beside their large horns Harmo cows also possess medium (38.8%) and large (42.4%) naval flap. Similarly, the oxen also possess medium (46.4%) and large (50%) preputial sheath. The overall measurements of body length, Heart girth, Height at withers, Pelvic width, Muzzle circumference, Ear length, Horn length, Canon bone length, Hock circumference for Harmo oxen and cows were 127.8±1.22, 146.7±1.37, 121.7±0.92, 35.5±0.45, 39.5±0.35, 21.2±0.31, 65.5±2.08, 25.0±0.30, 33.0±0.28 and 121.3±0.43, 138.9±0.48 116.5±0.32, 35.0±0.16, 36.9±0.12, 21.3±0.11, 61.8±0.73, 24.0±0.11, 31.3±0.10, respectively. These results show Harmo cattle possess long and thin body and long ear and horn in comparison with most of the Ethiopian cattle breeds. The thin body of Harmo cattle might be due to shortage of available feed in and around the breeding tract of the breed. The long ear and horn may help them to adapt the hot bushy grazing land environment and protect themselves from the enemy existed in their natural habitat.