Raças crioulas criadas em comunidades tradicionais do Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses

Abstract

In Brazil, domestic animal breeds developed from Iberian breeds introduced during colonization, which for centuries were subjected to natural selection in different environments, developing adaptive characteristics. In the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (PNLM), traditional communities survive on plant and animal extraction and, more recently, on local tourism. The objective of the research was to identify, in the traditional communities of the PNLM, the breeding of animals remaining from the colonial period and to describe their racial characteristics. Data collection was carried out in eight traditional communities through interviews with breeders, in addition to visual observation of the animals to record their racial characteristics. To evaluate and discuss the results, the data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using the Excel program, using percentage values, figures and tables. The research included a total of 1,533 animals from 10 domestic species raised by families in the communities, with goats being the most significant species (33%), with a total of 507 animals In the morphology of the herds, it was possible to identify phenotypic characteristics (size, size and shape of the ears, head profile, coat color, among others) similar to the characteristics of the locally adapted <Crioula= breeds. In ungulates (cattle, goats, sheep and pigs), a greater interdigital opening of the hoof was observed. This unique characteristic was observed in ungulates from the eight communities and is possibly associated with adaptive evolution for movement on sandy soil and dunes. There is no selection and uniformity in the herds for racial standard, however, individuals with the striking characteristics of <Crioula= breeds were identified. In the goat group, the highlights were the Graúna (10.7%), Marota (6.7%), Serrana Azul (4.1%), Canindé (3.3%), Moxotó (0.98%) and Repartida (0.39%) breeds. In the sheep group, the striking characteristics of the Morada Nova (30.7%), Barriga Negra (11.0%), Crioula Negra (10.6%), Cara Curta (3.5%) and Cariri (0.39%) breeds stood out. In cattle, the characteristics of the Curraleiro Pé-Duro breed were observed in 41.43% of the population. In horses, characteristics of the Nordestina and Baixadeira breeds were observed (28.5%). Pigs presented characteristics of the Monteiro (87.1%), Piau (3.9%) and Moura (0.39%) breeds. In poultry, it was not possible to correlate racial patterns. In the PNLM territory, in the different domestic species, animals with marked traits of locally adapted breeds still persist, remnants of the Iberian breeds introduced during colonization