As part of a national action plan to manage animal genetic resources in Burundi, we characterized smallholders’ goat production systems and assessed the effect of Boer crossbreeding on animal body measures. To that end, 319 farmers were surveyed in the five agro-ecological zones of Burundi and the zootechnical measures of 939 adult goats were taken. Cluster analysis of the goat production systems resulted into two opposed groups and one intermediate. On the one hand, there are the dry lowlands systems characterized by large herds composed mainly of indigenous animals grazing freely, and having high market characteristics. On the other hand, there are the humid highlands systems characterized by small herds composed of indigenous and crossbred animals in stall feeding or herding/tethering systems, and by low market characteristics. Fixed effect linear models were used to evaluate the effect of Boer crossbreeding on body weights and linear body measures, after adjustment for age, sex, grazing systems and agro-ecological zones. Results showed that least square means for body weights of adult Boer crossbreds were 4.74 kg higher than those of indigenous goats, which was lower than expected. Least square means for linear body measures of Boer crossbreds were significantly higher than those of indigenous breeds: differences in chest girth, body length and height at withers were 4.88 cm, 5.59 cm and 4.82 cm, respectively. Goats were heavier and greater in linear measures in lowlands than in highlands. The advantages and issues of a selection programme within indigenous breeds are discussed as an alternative to the crossbreeding programme.

中文翻译：

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小农户山羊生产系统的特征以及布尔杂交对布隆迪山羊体形的影响

作为管理布隆迪动物遗传资源的国家行动计划的一部分，我们对小农户山羊生产系统进行了表征，并评估了布尔杂交对动物体措施的影响。为此，在布隆迪的五个农业生态区对319位农民进行了调查，并采取了939头成年山羊的动物技术措施。山羊生产系统的聚类分析分为两个相对的组和一个中间。一方面，有干燥的低地系统，其特征是大群的畜群主要由自由放牧的本土动物组成，并具有很高的市场特性。另一方面，有一些湿地高地系统，其特征是在畜禽饲养或放牧/系留系统中由土著和杂种动物组成的小群，并且市场特征低。在调整了年龄，性别，放牧系统和农业生态区之后，使用固定效应线性模型评估布尔杂交对体重和线性体形的影响。结果表明，成年布尔杂交的最小二乘均值比本地山羊高4.74千克，低于预期。波尔杂种的线形体度量的最小二乘均值显着高于本地品种：胸围，肩body体长和身高的差异分别为4.88 cm，5.59 cm和4.82 cm。与高地相比，低地山羊在线性尺度上较重且更大。讨论了土著品种选择方案的优点和问题，作为杂交方案的替代方案。