Male Bali cattle in this study had a two-color pattern on their heads, while female Bali cattle had a three-color pattern, and both had a three-color pattern on their bodies (Fig 1A, B). Males and females have different color patterns (head and body) due to different sex-based color dominance for specific body parts. In general, animals have three basic color patterns for the body of black, red and white (Oslon 1999). Black color appearing in the head and body parts of males is caused by the dominant color carrier being for red and white in males, while in females red is codominant with white (Rolf 1999;
Tabun, et al., 2013).
The analysis shows male and female Bali cattle there is similarity in the white color in the under lips, half of the inner ear, and white sock, as well as for the black back line (Fig 1 and 2). The formation of white color is caused by the inhibition of melanocyte precursor-cell migration from the neural crest to specific parts of the body
(Videira et al., 2013). White phenotype on lower lips, inner ears and feet and black backline are a normal signs (Charon and Lipka 2014). The characteristic of white lower lips and white feet as well as black back line on male and female Bali cattle in Jambi Province match the characteristics of Bali cattle specified (Anonymous 2010).
Female Bali cattle in Jambi Province exhibited qualitative characteristics that differed from those specified in the decree of Ministry of Agriculture of Republic Indonesia, characterized as brownish-white colored rump in female cattle but with a defined border (Fig 2). Other than this rump characteristic, gray, brownish-white, or brown socks can be found in female Bali cattle while in males, black socks are found instead. The color changes in Bali cattle in Jambi Province could be caused by the migration of melanocyte cells, which changes the color of previously white body parts
(Seo et al., 2007; Videira et al., 2013). In a research conducted by
Mansur et al., (2016), the formation of certain phenotypic characteristics of Bali cattle in Jambi Province can be expressed as a characteristic deviations. Deviating body color was also be found in other places, such as West Lombok
(Sudrana et al., 2014).
Dominant body colors in male and female Bali cattle in Jambi Province were, respectively, black and light brown (Fig 1). According to Hardjosubroto (2004) and
Purwantara et al., (2012), skin- and hair-phenotype change in male Bali cattle before and after adulthood is related to hormone. This agrees with research
(Grymowicz et al., 2020) stating that hair-color change in male cattle is influenced by testosterone. Castration, which has no effect on body color, demonstrates the influence of testosterone on adult Bali cattle (Handiwirawan and Subandriyo 2004). The changing of body color into black in adult male Bali cattle causes the line on the back to not be visible (Fig 2). Some cattle breeds, such as Meghalaya State’s native cattle, have a dark body color in bulls
(Pundir et al., 2019).
Female Bali cattle, unlike males, had spots and black color patterns (Fig 2). Females with white spots are referred to as spotted cattle, while those with dark or black spots are referred to as Bali Injin cattle
(Rahayu et al., 2009). Spotted pattern reflects a disturbance/discontinuation of melanocyte formation occurring in the hair and skin within the area of the spot (Rees 2003). Meanwhile, in female Bali cattle, black body color may be caused by DNA sequences which form eumelanin
(Tabun et al., 2014).
The horn type in Bali cattle (Fig 1) is consistent with previous research into horn type and area of origin
(Handiwirawan et al., 2003; Ris et al., 2012). One of the causes of sex differences in horn types is the expression of the RXFP2 gene, which is influenced by differences in INSL3 concentrations, which affect the growth of keratin to form horns
(Allais-Bonnet et al., 2013). RXFP2 gene expression is linked to an increase in INSL3 production in male cattle during puberty
(Pepe et al., 2009). The expression of this gene may be linked to male Bali cattle having larger diameter and length horns than females
(Ris et al., 2012). However, no research has been conducted to explain the factors that influence the direction of horn development, resulting in the various horn phenotypes. Female Bali cattle have abnormal horns (Fig 1). Damage, such as broken horns, can be caused by a combination of impact strength and horn hardness, depending on the horn composition
(Li et al., 2010).
Female Bali cattle have more characteristics than males in Jambi (Fig 2). Female Bali cattle have eleven distinct head characteristics, whereas males have only eight (Fig 2A, C). Male Bali cattle from SLG have the most distinguishing characteristics (5) when compared to those from other areas in terms of head characteristics (Fig 2A). Female Bali cattle from TJT, on the other hand, are the most distinct (5 characteristics) (Fig 2C).
Female Bali cattle have 12 differentiating characteristics based on body characteristics, whereas male Bali cattle only have eight (Fig 2B, D). Male and female Bali cattle from PTPN VI have the most distinct body characteristics, with 8 and 9 characteristics, respectively, when compared to male and female Bali cattle from other districts (Fig 2B, D). Because PTPN VI is a breeding site with a natural breeding system, it is expected to have a higher level of phenotypic diversity
(Scheper et al., 2015). This means that using head or body characteristics to determine female sex is more likely. This is in line with the findings of
Das et al., (2018), who discovered that sex influences differences in male and female cattle characteristics.
The similarities in phenotypic body characteristics between cows from MJB and other regions are thought to be the result of gene flow from MJB to other regions, as MJB is a source of Bali cattle for other regions (Fig 2B, D). MJB has the most population of any of the districts where Bali cattle samples were collected for this study (Anonymous 2011). This is consistent with Talib (2002) belief that Bali cattle from high-population areas have an impact on the quality of Bali cattle. Bali cattle migration between districts and from outside the province into Jambi Province influences the body characteristics of male and female Bali cattle
(Gutiérrez-gil
et_al2007; Sutarno and Setyawan 2015). The environment influences body color changes in cattle
(Seo et al., 2007; Heimbürge
et_al2020). This can result in qualitative differences between male and female body characteristics depending on the origin of the cattle. According to
Singh et al., (2017), the environment can act as a triggering or restraining factor for qualitative phenotypic traits linked to genes, just as it has for quantitative phenotypic traits.
