Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T13:12:44.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The state of African cattle genetic resources I. Classification framework and identification of threatened and extinct breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

J.E.O. Rege
J.E.O. Rege
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Get access

Summary

A field and literature survey was conducted to determine the status of cattle genetic resources of sub-Saharan Africa and to identify cattle breeds at risk and those which may have become extinct over the last century. This paper - in two parts - summarises preliminary results of the survey. The survey revealed that sub-Saharan Africa is home to a total of 145 cattle breeds/strains comprising two taurine Longhorns, 15 taurine Shorthorns, 75 zebu (Bos indicus), 30 sanga, eight zenga (zebu-sanga), nine breeds derived from interbreeding of indigenous breeds/strains located in close proximity to each other, and six systematically created composite breeds. Out of the 145 breeds identified from the survey, 47 (about 32%) were considered to be at risk of extinction. Risk categories used were: Critical (most severe), Endangered, Vulnerable, and Rare (least severe). Of the breeds identified to be at risk of extinction, six were in the “Rare”category, 10 were “Vulnerable” another 10 were “Endangered”and 15 were in the “Critical”category. A total of 22 breeds (about 13%) previously recognised in the continent have become extinct in the last century. This number excludes some populations which have lost their individual identity due to admixtures involving two or more originally distinct breeds.

Resumen

Se llevó a cabo un estudio bibliográfico y de campo para determinar cuál era el estado de los recursos genéticos ganaderos del Africa subsahariana y para identificar las razas ganaderas en peligro así como aquellas que se hayan podido extinguir durante el último siglo. Este artículo, dividido en dos partes, resume los resultados preliminares del estudio. El estudio reveló que el Africa subsahariana alberga un total de 145 razas bovinas/estirpes, comprendiendo dos razas taurinas Longhorn, 15 Shorthorn, 75 zebu (Bos indicus), 30 sanga, 8 zenga (zebu-sanga), 9 razas derivadas de cruzamientos entre razas autóctonas y estirpes estrechamente relacionados y 6 razas compuestas creadas de forma sistemática. De los 145 razas identificadas en el estudio, 47 (alrededor del 32%) se consideraron en peligro de extinción, las categorías de riesgo utilizadas siendo las siguientes: crítica (más severa), en peligro, vulnerable, y rara (menos severa). De las razas identificadas como en peligro de extinción, seis se encontraban en la categoría “rara” 10 eran “vulnerables” otras 10 estaban “amenazadas”y 15 estaban en la categoría “crítica” Un total de 22 razas (alrededor del 13%) previamente reconocidas en el continente se han extinguido en el último siglo. Esta cifra excluye algunas poblaciones que han perdido su identidad individual debido a mezclas entre dos razas originalmente distintas.

Keywords

Breed classificationCattleEndangered breedsExtinct breedsPhenotypic diversitySub-Saharan Africa
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 25 , April 1999 , pp. 1 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboagye, G. S., Tawah, C. L. & Rege, J. E. O. 1994. Shorthorn cattle of West and Central Africa III. Physical, adaptive and special genetic characteristics. World Anim. Rev. 78 (1) 22–32.Google Scholar
Blench, R. 1993. Ethnographic and linguistic evidence for the prehistory of African ruminant livestock, horses and ponies. In: Shaw, T., Sinclair, P., Andah, B. and Okpoko, A (eds.). The Archaeology of Africa, Routledge, London, p.71–103.Google Scholar
Bozzi, L. and Triulzi, G. A. 1953. Osservazioni sugli animali domestici allevati in Somalia. Riv. Agric. Subtrop. 47: 266–294.Google Scholar
Burton, R. F. 1961. The Lake Regions of Central Africa. 2 vols. New York.Google Scholar
Curson, H. H. 1934. Bechuana or Mangwato Cattle. Farming in South Africa. September 1934.Google Scholar
Curson, H. H. and Thornton, R. W. 1936. A contribution to the study of African native cattle. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry. Vol. 7, No. 2, October 1936.Google Scholar
Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1929.Google Scholar
Epstein, H. 1971. The origin of the domestic animals of Africa Vol. 1 New York, USA, Africana Publishing Corporation.Google Scholar
Epstein, H. and Mason, I. L. 1984. Cattle. In: Evolution of domesticated animals (I.L.Mason, ed.), New York, USA, Longman, 6–27.Google Scholar
FAO. 1992. The management of global animal genetic resources. FAO Animal Production and health Paper No. 104. Food and Agriculture Oganisation of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.Google Scholar
Ford, H. and Hall, de Z. R. 1947. The history of Karagwe, Bukoba District. Tanganyika Notes and Records 24:3Google Scholar
Groenewald, J. W. and Curson, H. H. 1933. A note on Ovambo cattle. Studies in native animal husbandry (6). Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Vol 1, No. 2.Google Scholar
ILCA 1979. Trypanotolerant livestock in West and Central Africa. Vol. 1: General Studies and Vol. 2: Country Studies. International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA). Monograph No. 2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
ILCA. 1992. Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information Database (DAGRID). International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Animal Genetic Resources, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Jeffreys, M. D. W. 1953. Bos brachyceros or dwarf cattle. Vet. Record 65: 393–396; 410–415.Google Scholar
Jones, H. B. C. 1955. Contribuicao para a Estudo da Origem do Bovino Africander. Boletin da Sociedade de Estudo de Moçambique No. 91.Google Scholar
Keller, C. 1898. Die Ostafrikanischen Inseln. Bibliothek der Landerkunde. Berlin.Google Scholar
Kolb, P. 1719. Caput Bonae Spei Hodiernum. Nuremberg.Google Scholar
Lydekker, R. 1912. The Ox and its Kindred. London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marchi, E. 1929. Studi sulla pastorizia della Colonia Eritrea (2nd ed.). Instituto Agricolo Coloniale Italiano, Florence.Google Scholar
Martinho, J. P. 1955. Contribuicao para a Estudo da Origem do Bovino Africander. Boletin da Sociedade de Estudo de Moçambique No. 91.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1951. The Classification of West African Livestock, Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Edinburgh, Technical Communication No. 7.Google Scholar
McCall, F. J. 1928. Annual Report of the Department of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, 1926. Tanganyika Territory. London.Google Scholar
Murdock, G. P. 1959. Africa - Its Peoples and their Culture History. New York. Toronto. London.Google Scholar
Payne, W. J. A. 1964. The origin of domestic cattle in Africa. Emp. J. Exp. Agric. 32(126): 97–113.Google Scholar
Rege, J. E. O. and Tawah, L. C. 1999. The state of African cattle genetic resources II. Geographical distribution, characteristics and uses of present-day breeds and strains. Animal Genetic Resources Bulletin (submitted).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rege, J. E. O. 1998. The contribution of indigenous livestock to the economies of sub-Saharan African countries. In: Livestock Development Policies in Eastern and Southern Africa, Proceedings Regional Seminar, Mbabane, Swaziland, July 28 - August 1, 1997. Pub. CTA, 91–108.Google Scholar
Rege, J. E. O., Aboagye, G. S. & Tawah, L. C. 1994a. Shorthorn cattle of West and Central Africa I. Origin, distribution, classification and population statistics. World Anim. Rev. (FAO) 78 (1): 2–13.Google Scholar
Rege, J. E. O., Aboagye, G. S. & Tawah, C. L. 1994b. Shorthorn cattle of West and Central Africa II. Ecological settings, utility, management and production systems. World Animal Rev. (FAO) 78 (1): 14–21.Google Scholar
Rege, J. E. O., Aboagye, G. S. & Tawah, C. L. 1994c. Shorthorn cattle of West and Central Africa III. Production characteristics. World Animal Rev. (FAO) 78 (1): 33–48.Google Scholar
Rossetti, G. and Congiu, 1955. Ricerche zootecnico-veterinarie sugli animali domestici della Somalia. Ispetorato Veterinario, Amministrzione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia. Mogadishu. pp. 207.Google Scholar
Smith, H. 1827. Griffith's Animal Kingdom. London.Google Scholar
Stuhlmann, F. 1927. Die Tagebücher von Dr. Emin Pascha, Vol IV. Braunschweig, Berlin, Hamburg.Google Scholar
Tawah, C. L., Rege, J. E. O. & Aboagye, G. S. 1997. A close look at a rare African breed-the Kuri cattle of Lake Chad Basin: origin, distribution, production and adaptive characteristics. S. African J. Anim. Sci. 27 (2): 31–40.Google Scholar
Thompson, F. R. B. 1932. Studies in native animal husbandry V. Indigenous cattle in the Transkeian Territories. Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association 3: 190–193.Google Scholar