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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
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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

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