Zootechnical function of a population of Blackbelly sheep in Campeche, México, based on morphometric indices

Objective. The objective of the study was to determine the zootechnical function of Blackbelly sheep utilizing morphometric indices (MI). Materials and methods. Five hundred and twenty-five females and 67 adult males were utilized to analyze live weight (LW) and eleven MI, one of ethnological type: body index, and 10 of functional type: relative shortness index, depth index, relative depth of thorax index, longitudinal index, longitudinal pelvic index, foreleg length index, dactyl-thoracic index, dactyl-costal index, body capacity index 1, and body capacity index 2. Results. Averages of the ethnological index in males (68.8) and females (74.2) indicated that Blackbelly sheep of this population are classified as short-sized. Results from the meat-aptitude index indicated in males a clear orientation for meat production. However, results from the milk-aptitude indices indicated in females an eumetric tendency, which means an acceptable orientation for milk production. A strong sexual dimorphism was found with higher averages (p<0.05) for males in most morphometric variables, with an overall mean of 1.16 in the difference between males and females. In males, 82.1% of correlations among LW and morphometric variables were positive and significant, whereas in females it was 57.1%. Conclusions. This population of Blackbelly sheep has a high sexual dimorphism, it is undefined in its zootechnical function, and it has a high-medium body harmony.