CARACTÉRISATION PHÉNOTYPIQUE ET PERFORMANCES DES VACHES LAITIÈRES DE TROIS RÉGIONS DE CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Two hundred forty (240) cows from 22 smallholder dairy farms of three regions (central, west central and south) of Cote d"Ivoire have been described using visual appreciation criteria and measurements; and their zootechnical perfor-mances have been measured. These parameters have been studied using discriminant analysis and multiple correspondence factor analysis followed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The cows distinguish themselves to the best by their format (heart girth, length of the animal, body weight) and their average milk production. They were classified into five (5) genetic types with the following percentages F1N"Damance (72.9%), N"Damance of blood degree non specified (74.0%), F1 Montbeliarde (53.6%), 5/8 Montbeliarde (50.0%) and 3/4 Montbeliarde (47.5%). The typology by the hierarchical cluster analysis permitted to separate them into three groups identifiable by two (2) phenotypes. The first phenotype is characterized by a heart girth and a height at withers of 153 to 205 cm (170.8±8.72) and of 118 to 143 cm (129.2±4.65) respectively, and a body weight between 330 and 702 kg (404.7±65.36) at 6 years of age. Their age at first calving ranged between 13 and 48 months and they produced 5.1±1.37 litres of milk on average per day with an average lactation length of 258±17 days. The second phenotype is characterized by a heart girth of 145.5 to 189 cm (162.0±8.18) and a height at withers of 115 to 131 cm (122.9±4.08) for a body weight varying between 228 and 551 kg (345.1±55.97) with an average age of 6 years. They produced between 1.5 and 8 litres of milk per day for a lactation length ranging from 118 to 439 days. The first phenotype combining large format with high dairy production remained the most favourable for dairy production in these regions of Cote d"Ivoire.