Abstract
This study aimed to characterize and assess genetic variation of indigenous cattle using morphometric traits and preliminary screening of hemoglobin (Hb) polymorphism in the Sidama region, Ethiopia. Three hundred sixty cattle (120 per agroecology) for morphometric and one hundred twenty cattle (40 per agroecology) for genotyping were assessed. Hemoglobin genotypes were analyzed using PopGene (ver. 32), while morphometric traits were measured and analysed using SAS (ver 9.4). Morphometric traits varied significantly across sex, age, and agroecology (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001), with lowland cattle showed larger body sizes than those in the highland and midland. Males and older animals revealed larger body measurements. Three Hb genotypes, HbAA, HbAB, and HbBB were detected. HbAA was most frequent in highland (52.5%) and least frequent in lowland (25%), while HbAB predominated (55%) in midland cattle. Cattle populations did not deviate significantly (χ² (1) = 0.03, P = 0.84) from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. Midland cattle showed the highest heterozygosity (0.55), showing higher genetic diversity at the Hb locus. Genetic identity was highest (0.98) between midland and lowland cattle, while the greatest genetic distance (0.127) occurred between lowland and highland populations. The study revealed morphometric variation and preliminary genetic diversity at the hemoglobin locus, may serve as a guide for the selective breeding.