Beetal is one of the largest Indian breeds of goats bred mainly for milk but equally important for meat as well. This breed is found in Punjab along the Indo-Pakistani border. The status of the Beetal breed in its native tract was studied through a detailed survey in the Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts of Punjab. In this part of the country goats are mainly reared by ‘Sansi’ tribals who are landless. Goat flocks are mainly stationery and browsing is the main source of feed and fodder for these goats. Long drooping ears and roman nose are the typical characteristics of this breed. The total population of this breed in its native tract in 1997 was found to be 20 772 and the average flock size was 5.27. Average test day milk yield and lactation length were 1.8±0.79 kg and 161 days, respectively. Average ages at first kidding and kidding interval were 17.2 and 11.14 months, respectively. Prolificacy was fairly high with an average of 1.76 kids per kidding.

Beetal goats are the mainstay for the landless poor families of this region and the breed needs to be conserved in its breeding tract. There is a need to popularize this breed through demonstration units to convince the farmers that this breed is sustainable under low input conditions. This will help in in-situ conservation of the Beetal breed.

Les auteurs présentent dans cet article une révision détaillée des populations locales de bovins, ovins et caprins en relation avec les possibilités de programmes de conservation. Bien que les populations de zébus et de zébus similaires soient plus nombreuses, c'est sûrement les populations de Bos taurus qui présentent un intérêt tout particulier. Cette population représente seulement 1% de la population bovine mais a l'avantage d'être trypanotolérante. Les ovins et caprins sont élevés dans les familles en petit nombre (5 animaux approximativement), le plus souvent pour l'abattage lors des célébrations spéciales (fêtes nationales ou religieuses) ou comme monnaie d'échange. On trouve également une briève présentation des schémas nationaux de sélection de race et d'introduction de matériel génétique exotique utiliséla plupart du temps pour le croisement.

En este documento se presenta una red temática latinoamericana con financiación del Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED), dedicada a la conservación de los recursos genéticos de los animales domésticos, al estudio de los sistemas de explotación tradicionales, as í como las repercusiones sociales y ecológicas de estos recursos, además de la evaluación de sus posibilidades en el desarrollo rural sostenible de los países implicados.

En esta red participan mas de 140 investigadores de 16 equipos multidisciplinares ubicados en 9 países Latinoamericanos (México, Brasil, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Cuba, Portugal y España).

Se presentan los objetivos de la red y las actividades realizadas junto con las acciones planeadas para el futuro.

The Maremmano horse, one of the most important and ancient Italian breeds, has a Stud Book only since 1980. This breed is used for saddle horse production, both as a purebred and as a crossbred. A systematic breeding programme has been implemented to maintain the old genotype and ensure wider variation within the breed.

Examinded are some of the most important dairy sheep breeds, among the great diversity of the Mediterranean sheep population, by focusing on their phenotypic characteristics, their productive and reproductive potential as well as on the management practices and systems of testing. Information is also given on their genetic parameters, with emphasis on heritability coefficients, and the range of respective selection and breeding schemes, applied under their particular husbandry conditions.

The author describes the Punganur dwarflike Bos indicus breed of the Southern tip of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. An attempt to rescue the breed in the 1950's was not successful; this cattle are now faced with extinction.

La Xisqueta es una raza ovina de orientación cárnica que se localiza mayoritariamente en tres comarcas del N-O de Catalunya (España). Se caracteriza por poseer una coloración centrífuga particular y por ser una raza rústica, perfectamente adaptada a las condiciones trashumantes y pirenaicas. El censo aproximado de xisquetas en pureza lo situamos entre 12 000 y 15 000 hembras reproductoras, habiendo sufrido una importante reducción en las últimas décadas.

La caracterización estructural de las explotaciones de Xisqueta se ha realizado mediante una encuesta, y los resultados se han analizado estadísticamente con el fin de obtener información sobre la distribución poblacional, los sistemas de manejo productivo y reproductivo, la sanidad y otras cuestiones adicionales sobre el entorno social de los ganaderos.

Utilizando como base la información y resultados generados en el presente estudio, se pretende iniciar un programa de conservación de la raza, el cual deberá englobar las marcadas diferencias existentes entre las comarcas de la región. Además, deberá considerarse la elevada media de edad de los ganaderos (52 años como promedio) y el bajo relevo generacional de las explotaciones (<30%), factores que agravan la continuidad del sector ovino en dichas comarcas.

The Mithun (Bos frontalis) is a heavily built semi domesticated bovine species originated in north eastern hill region of India. In some folklore, Mithun have been referred to as the descendent of the Sun. There are interesting and divergent legends about the orig of mithun among different in tribes. Even today, mithun is used as a holy sacrificial animal to appease the Gods by the tribesman. It is a woodland animal found at an elevation of between 2 000 and 9 000 feet. The habitat of mithun extends like a long curved belt of hills from the Akasan hill and Chin Hills of Burma through the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and the Lushai (Mizo) hills of Manipur and Naga hills of India. The geographic zone is covered with tropical evergreen rain forests. At higher elevations mithun territories are also shared by yak (Poephagus grunniens), while at lower altitudes domestic cattle and mithun co-habit. The information contained in the article is primarily based on a field survey carried out on mithun of Porba village of Nagaland. Some data collated and published by other departments is also included.

This paper describes the origin of one of the most recent Criollo cattle herds in Brazil (approximately 600 head). A description is given. of its zootechnical characteristics and habitat, where the herd is bred. It includes some results on weight at birth, development prior to weaning of heifer calves and weight fluctuation of cows in distinct periods of the year.

The study was conducted to phenotypically characterize the Bengal (Desi) sheep in some purposively selected villages of Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, India. The Bengal sheep is reared as mutton sheep and has not been studied or characterized. Qualitative (coat colour and tail type) and quantitative (height at withers, height at rump, chest circumference, paunch girth, oblique body length, head length, head width, ear length, horn length, shoulder width, ear width, pelvic width, canon length, length of the fore leg, length of the hind leg, fore canon circumference, neck circumference, neck length, body weight) traits were included in the study. Phenotypic traits indicated that the sheep is of a small, thin tailed type adapted to grazing in water logged areas and lowly to moderately prolific. The structural indices indicate that the sheep is forward aligned, robust and rectangular in shape; it is well balanced and adapted for humid climates. The wool is coarse and hairy type, used for making blankets and durries. The reproductive parameters indicate that the age at first service was 295 days for ewes and 252 days for rams while the age at first lambing averaged around 425 days. Conservation efforts and genetic characterization are needed to maintain the breed purity and further studies regarding the carcass and mutton quality traits need to be carried out

This study forms part of a series of works in progress within the framework of the research programme registered at the laboratory of livestock production improvement at the Institute of Rural Development. The aim of this research is the improved performance of the indigenous Batéké hen.

The observation of weights at each weighing indicates a dynamic of significant growth. The chick which is born at 28,38 ± 2,3 g multiplies its weight by 4,2 one month after, gaining 119,3 ± 10 g (td > 3). The males grow more quickly than the females: at 3 months they reach 770,51 ± 94,35 g and 563,9 ± 43,2 g; in 6 months, 1 462 ± 118 g and 993,43 ± 99 g respectively (td > 4). Egg production per clutch reached 13,44 ± 0,2 eggs with a fecundity rate of 78,96 ± 10% and hatchability of 71,7 ± 8,4%. The positive correlations observed were regarded as linear. The conditions of breeding and feeding are determining factors in improving the performance of the indigenous Batéké hen and this is well appreciated by the Congolese population and the Islamic community living in Congo.

El cerdo Zungo, constituye una fuente importante de ingreso para muchos campesinos colombianos a nivel de pequeás explotaciones de subsistencia.

Este cerdo es un animal de piel negra, pelo escaso, anca caída y poco jamón. Des cerdo Zungo existen tres tipos: el mediano, el choncho y el chuzo.

La monta de las hembras Zungo se debe realizar aproximadamente a los siete meses de edad, con un peso de 70-75 kg. y los verracos deben entrar en servicio después de los ocho meses de edad, con un peso aproximado de 80 kg.

Con un manejo mejorado los cerdos híbridos producto del cruce de cerdos Zungo puro con hembras Duroc puro, se comportan de forma intermedia en comparaión a los lechones puros Zungo y Duroc desde el nacimiento hasta el destete.

Desde el destete (56 días) hasta los 90 kg de peso promedio, los cerdos Zungo presentaron un aumento diario de peso y una conversión alimenticia inferiores a los Duroc que no difirieron significativamente de los cruces Zungo x Duroc y Duroc x Zungo.

Los autores presentan los esfuerzos realizados para la salvaguardia de la vicuña silvestre, así como las distintas metodologías empleadas para el censo (mediante: a) censos totales; b) censos por muestreo y a través de transectas lineales; y c) censos estratificados) junto con su caracterización biológica y ecológica. Estas características se basan principalmente en una mayor dimensión respecto a la subespecie a la que pertenecen (vicugna vicugna vicugna); por otra parte, la raza posee una lana con buenas características. Este animal está bien adaptado a su ambiente, con poco dimorfismo entre sexos y con un comportamiento social y sexual particular. Dado que se trata de un animal protegido, las poblaciones campesinas han necesitado autorizaciones particulares para la explotación de su lana.

Comparative study was conducted at Alage and Ardaita Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training College dairy farm to evaluate the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian (HF) and associated factors in the two farms. The data collected from 2000 to 2015 on reproductive traits (n = 1688) were analyzed using general linear model procedures of SAS version 9.2 (SAS, 2008). The result revealed that an overall least square means and standard errors for Age at first Service (AFS), Age at first calving (AFC), Calving interval (CI), Days open (DO) and Number of services per conception were 29.70 ± 0.49 months, 39.75 ± 0.53 months, 465.76 ± 7.22 days, 188.11 ± 7.22 days and 1.31 ± 0.04, respectively. AFC was significantly influenced by agro ecology (P < 0.001) and year of birth (P < 0.01). Besides this, agro ecology (P < 0.001) and year of birth (P < 0.05) was significantly influenced by AFC. Year of calving and parity had significant effect (P < 0.001) on CI and DO. Except CI, agro ecology had significant effect on all traits. Service per conception was significantly influenced by agro ecology (P < 0.05) and year of calving (P < 0.01). Season of birth and season of calving was not significant on all reproductive traits. Except SPC, the result obtained for AFS, AFC, CI and DO were below the standard expected from commercial dairy farm. Poor efficiency of estrus detection and expression were the most probable management factors accounted for longer period of AFS, AFC, CI and DO. Improving the level of nutrition as well as efficiency of estrus detection system is required for optimal reproduction performance of HF breed in the area.

The authors describe the history, evolution and actual situation of Estonia's two only remaining autochthonous breeds of farm animal namely the Estonian Native Cattle (577 cows in milk production in 1992) and the Estonian Native Horse (271 purebred horses). This is actually mainly found in the island of Saaremaa, where a nucleus of 211 purebred horses exists. The interest in the Estonian Native Cattle breed is growing since the creation in 1989 of an active Breeders' Association and many farmers applying less intensive production systems and farm management techniques prefer now this breed to the more productive Black and White and Estonian Red cattle. The situation of the Estonian Native Horse is much more fragile, as a clear breeding and conservation programme is needed to save this unique genetic material.