Haemoglobin and transferrin types of some West African cattle

Abstract

Haemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin (Tf) types have been studied in the breeds Muturu, N'Dama, Gudali and Red Bororo of Nigeria, West Africa.The Hb gene frequencies were: Muturu,HbA= 0·72,HbD= 0·28; Gudali,HbA= 0·60,HbB= 0·32,HbC= 0·08; Red Bororo,HbA= 0·54,HbB= 0·44,HbC= 0·02.Transferrin studies showed six different Tf phenotypes in Muturu their distribution being in agreement with the occurrence of the allelesTfA,TfD1andTfD2. In N'Dama nine different Tf phenotypes were observed and were explained by the allelesTfA,TfD1,TfD2andTfE. In Gudali 15 different Tf phenotypes were found with a distribution in agreement with the occurrence of the allelesTfA,TfB,TfD1,TfD2,TfFandTfE. All alleles in this breed occurred at frequencies above 0.1. In a limited number of Red Bororo cattle nine Tf phenotypes were seen. Their distribution can be explained by the occurrence of the six genes:TfA,TfB,TfD1,TfD2,TfFandTfE.