This study aimed at determining the socio-economic roles, traditional management practices and production constraints of the Fipa cattle, was conducted in Rukwa region of South-Western Tanzania, using a structured questionnaire. The results indicate that most (90.8 percent) of the respondents depended on crop and livestock production for household income and food security. The Fipa cattle were preferred to other cattle strains by most (91.6 percent) of the farmers owing to their multiple socio-economic functions, adaptive qualities and low management requirements. The Fipa cattle were essentially kept for provision of draught power, income, manure, meat and security against uncertainties. Herded grazing on communal land was practiced by most (99.2 percent) of the farmers all the year-round without any supplementation. However, most (87.5 percent) farmers utilized crop residues in situ during the dry season, after harvesting cereal crops. Kraals made of untreated thorny bushes were the predominant shelters used for Fipa cattle by most (95.8 percent) of the respondents. The majority of respondents mentioned diseases/parasites (94.2 percent) and feed shortages (61.7 percent) during the dry season as the main production constraints. The farmers’ preference for Fipa cattle coupled with the multiple roles of the cattle and traditional management practices used by farmers should be used as the entry point for improvement and sustainable utilization of the strain.

Assessment of diversity is a prerequisite for the management and conservation of farm animal genetic resources. To study the morphological features of Fipa cattle in Southwestern Tanzania, 108 herds were studied. Fourteen body measurements (body weight, body length, height at withers, heart girth, ear length, ear width, horn length, horn-base thickness, horn-base spacing, horn-tip spacing, rump width, rump length, tail length and tail-base thickness) and qualitative traits were recorded from 307 animals. Measurements were classified according to location and animal sex. Both location and sex significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all the measurements, with castrates and bulls superseding cows. Most measurements were positively and highly significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with the body weight predicted accurately from heart girth. The animals had variable colour patterns, but being predominantly red (20.9 percent), pied black and white (18.6 percent), black (17.9 percent) and pied red and white (14.7 percent). All animals had sloping rumps and most (81.8 percent) had small-sized humps. Most (94.8 percent) animals had pyramid-shaped humps located in the cervico-thoracic position. Most (91.5 percent) animals had upward–forward oriented and lyre-shaped horns. All the animals had flat faces and backs, and laterally oriented ears. Most (97.1 percent) animals had medium-sized dewlaps, medium-sized teats (93.6 percent) and medium-sized quarters (87.2 percent). The navel flap was absent in most (87.6 percent) animals. Thus, the Fipa cattle can be classified as a medium-sized strain with considerable variation in body size and morphological features within and between districts.

This study aimed at characterising the genetic diversity of two Fipa cattle populations (Sumbawanga and Nkasi) of South-Western Tanzania, and establishing their genetic relationships with the other indigenous cattle strains (Tarime, Iringa red and Ankole) and Friesian cattle found in the area. The genetic diversity was analysed using 30 microsatellite markers. All the markers used were highly polymorphic. The Nkasi Fipa cattle exhibited the highest mean number of alleles (7.31) and mean genetic diversity (0.732) per locus, followed by Sumbawanga Fipa cattle with 7.10 mean number of alleles and 0.725 mean genetic diversity per locus, with the latter population having a very low mean inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.027). Three percent of the genetic diversity was due to differences among indigenous strains while the rest was due to differences among individuals within the strains. Small genetic distances (DA) were observed between Sumbawanga Fipa and Nkasi Fipa (0.032), Tarime (0.073), Iringa red (0.076) and Ankole cattle (0.086). As expected, the largest genetic distances were observed between the Friesian and all indigenous strains since this breed has a quite distinct genetic origin. In the assignment test, the proportion of animals from each group correctly assigned to their source population ranged from 55.3 percent (for Nkasi Fipa) to 100 percent (for Friesian). Despite the low genetic differentiation and genetic indistinctiveness of the Sumbawanga Fipa population from the other indigenous strains, its high genetic diversity, very low inbreeding coefficient and a threat emanating from population admixture with other indigenous strains underscore the importance of establishing appropriate conservation and management strategies for it.

Farmers in different cattle production systems have different trait preferences and breeding strategies that need an investigation before designing any sustainable breeding plan. The present study was undertaken to assess characteristics deemed desirable, breeding practices and productive performance of Fipa cattle in three districts of southwestern highlands of Tanzania, using a structured questionnaire. The majority of farmers perceived body size (91.7 percent), body conformation (85 percent), body colours (85 percent), disease resistance (87.5 percent), heat/drought tolerance (82.5 percent), draught power (87.5 percent), better carcass (84.2 percent) and fertility (70.8 percent) as the most important attributes of the Fipa cattle. Most (91.6 percent) farmers preferred pure breeding to cross-breeding in order to maintain the genetic purity of the strain. Mating practice was random among the majority (95.8 percent) of the farmsteads owing to non-availability of breeding bulls for each individual farmstead (43.3 percent) and also owing to grazing on communal rangelands (52.5 percent). Selection of breeding bulls was rarely rationally done. Age at first calving was 50 ± 1.3 months, while lactation length and calving interval were 7.1 ± 2.8 and 15.5 ± 0.6 months, respectively. Mean daily milk yield at peak was 3.35 ± 0.15 litres, while longevity was 10.78 ± 0.59, 14.56 ± 0.50 and 15.48 ± 0.55 years for bulls, cows and castrates, respectively. The farmers’ preference for certain attributes and the inherent performance variability should be deployed as the entry point for participatory establishment of improvement and sustainable utilization strategies of the strain.

The study was conducted to characterize the variations in physical characters and some important feather and skin mutations observed in different populations of native chickens of West Bengal and Sikkim, India. The data encompassing eight different phenotypes such as, naked neck chicken, frizzled chicken, muffed/bearded chicken, creeper chicken, crested chicken, rumpless chicken, feathered shank chicken and fibromelanosis chicken, were collected from six districts of West Bengal and two districts of Sikkim. Seven qualitative traits such as colour of the egg shell, feather, skin, shank, comb and earlobe as well as the type of feather, and three quantitative traits such as shank length, egg weight and body weight, were assessed in a total of 2 170 fowls of both sexes. The data were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, the differences in means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test and χ2 was used for non-parametric characters. Each of the populations had multiple variants and mixed feather colours were seen in most of the chickens while the feather, skin and shank colours were all black in fibromelanosis chickens. The shank colour was predominantly blue, followed by yellow and white. The skin colour in most of the chickens was white. Most of the chickens had a single comb (except for the crested chicken). The highest body weight was observed in the desi chicken while the rumpless chicken weighed the least. The egg-shell colour varied between cream and light brown in all the flocks except for the fibromelanosis chicken whose egg-shell colour was tinted bluish. The highest recorded egg weight was observed in the naked neck chicken, whereas the hatchability and egg weight were the lowest for the rumpless chicken. In the recent years, it has been observed that there is a significant reduction in the population of native chickens. This may be attributed to the restocking with Rhode Island Red and synthetic Kruilor chickens following the avian influenza outbreaks in the region. Hence, immediate steps need to be taken to preserve whatever is left in the native chicken ecotypes in the region.

The local or traditional types of chicken found in the Philippines are not well described and no comprehensive information is available and as yet not described as breeds. Among the regions in the Philippines, Western Visayas has the largest population of chickens with limited information on their distinct morphological characteristics. Eight hundred and ten chickens from 270 flocks were divided equally into six areas representing the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. Data collected were qualitative and morphometric traits the former were analysed using non-parametric test and general linear model (GLM) for the latter. Results showed that red-lace and brown-pencilled plumage dominated in roosters and hens, respectively. The local types from Guimaras were the heaviest and dominantly possess amber-coloured iris, yellow skin and shank, snake-like head and have a pea comb, whereas those from Aklan had the lightest live weight and having single comb (p < 0.01). Chickens from Antique were known for its wedge-shaped body. Those from other provinces were found to be comparable.

This study aims to provide data on the physical profiles of the red goat of Maradi. It was conducted in the centre of the goat's main territory, and further comprised 4 departments of the Maradi area (Tessaoua in the east, Dakoro in the north, Madarounfa in the south and Guidan Roumdji in the west). This work was performed on 339 animals including 77 in the centre, 88 in the east, 69 in the north, 50 in the south and 55 in the west. It focused on the following measurements: height at withers, scapulo-ischial length, chest size, back length, length of the horns, ears and head, the presence of “pendeloques” and goatees, the coat color and structure of the hair. The results have shown differences between body variable measurements related to geographical position. In fact, the geographical position has significantly influenced body profiles, IGS and IAT indices (P < 0.0001). The dominant trend of the red color is probably an adaptation character of Maradi goats. Our contribution to define the standard of this breed of red goats should be summary as a population with medium size, short and erect ears, two horns (most developed in males) tilting back, short hair and the presence of a beard (beard developed in males) in both sexes. We also note the presence of “pendeloques” in some animals in the East of Maradi.

Pattanam is an important mutton-breed sheep of Tamil Nadu, India and is popular among the farmers for its heavy body weight. Despite its economic importance and distinct identity, this breed is not included in the list of descript sheep breeds at the national level, as it is not researched so far. Hence, a study has been made to document the habitat, distribution, physical traits, production and reproduction performances and the existing management practices of Pattanam sheep of Tamil Nadu, India. The preliminary study revealed that Pattanam sheep is a large-sized breed with compact body and uniformly creamy white in colour with black colour in the ventral region from the inner side of the jowl extending up to the inguinal region. Pure breed animals were distributed in the Paramakudi, Mudukulathur and Kamuthi taluks of Ramanathapuram district and Aruppukottai and Thiruchuli taluks of Virudunagar district of southern agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The means of body length, height at withers and chest girth in adult rams were 80.65 ± 0.49, 85.58 ± 0.58 and 93.65 ± 0.35 cm and in adult ewes were 70.05 ± 0.45, 72.80 ± 0.65 and 78.34 ± 0.35 cm, respectively. The body weight in adult rams and ewes were 51.50 ± 1.20 and 36.95 ± 0.51 kg, respectively. Pattanam sheep are used extensively for breeding purposes with other native breeds especially from Coimbatore, Kilakarsal and Ramnad White sheep of Tamil Nadu.

Goats were first domesticated in Turkey some 10 000–11 000 years ago. The country's population of 5.1 million goats in 2009 (down from 24.6 million in 1960) are still an important livelihood asset for smallholder farmers and nationally are a rich array of farm animal genetic resources of current enormous and future inestimable value. The structure of agriculture is such that most farms are predominantly subsistence oriented, of small size, keep few animals and provide only minimal inputs. Native breeds have evolved to meet these conditions and are generally well adapted to the natural environment, inadequate and unbalanced nutrition and disease stress. In general, there are two classes of goat, the one being the iconic Angora that produces mohair and the other the “common” or “hair” goat. The reduction in numbers is owing to a variety of reasons both internal and external to the country, but the Angora, which now amounts to only 2.5 percent of national goat numbers, has suffered relatively more than the hair types. This paper, based on detailed reviews of the literature and on the authors' own experiences, provides information on 17 breeds or recognized populations of Turkey's goat genetic resources and their conservation status. The government is now aware of the danger of the impoverishment or loss of this important aspect of biodiversity and has established programmes for conservation and preservation of several native breeds. The government, research institutions and producers should work together to ensure that the local gene pool is preserved and can thus continue to contribute to biodiversity and sustainable livestock production.

Typical features, breeding objectives and morphological as well as biometrical characters of Begait sheep breed were studied in two districts (Setit Humera and Kafta Humera) of Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires, recording body weight, linear body measurements and field observations were employed. Begait sheep breed is described as long and thin tailed (up to 50-cm long), with muscular body, short and smooth hair and polled for both male and female sexes. As reported by the respondents’ growth rate (0.21), tail length (0.20), appearance/conformation (0.19) and coat colour (0.18) were the most important traits in selecting breeding rams. For breeding ewes’ body size (0.27), age at first service (0.15), growth rate (0.14) and coat colour and tail (0.13) were their first, second, third and fourth traits, respectively. Sites and age had significant (P < 0.01) effect on body weight and most linear body measurements. Relatively, Kafta Humera had lower values in body weight and most of the linear body measurements than Setit Humera. The overall mean body weight and body length of female Begait sheep were 31.4 ± 0.4 kg and 62.5 ± 0.5 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for male Begait sheep were 34.5 ± 0.5 kg and 66.1 ± 0.5 cm, respectively. The existing traditional herding, breeding practices and trait preferences are the key breeding components that need improvement at smallholder farmers’ in Ethiopia.

The Nigerian indigenous pigs (NIP) are threatened to lose their genetic diversity through unsustainable farming practices in Nigeria. Therefore, the genetic relationships of NIP and commercially developed cross-bred pigs were evaluated to pinpoint a possible source of pure uncontaminated genetic stocks of NIP for conservation. Blood protein polymorphisms were used as a preliminary genetic analysis of blood samples from a total of 120 pigs (79 NIP from three separate locations and 41 cross-bred pigs). Nineteen polymorphic bands of the blood proteins globulin, transferrin and albumin were observed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and a phylogenetic dendrogram was developed to analyse the genetic relationship between the NIPs. The three NIPs were found to have a high genetic similarity (84 percent similarity coefficient), and were found to be distinctly different from the commercially cross-bred strains. One line from a farm in Ogbooro, Saki Oyo, Nigeria was identified as a relatively stable genetic resource that may be a suitable NIP for future conservation efforts.

The polymorphism of six milk protein loci in five Cuban breeds was investigated by means of DNA analysis by combined techniques of PCR and amplification created restriction sites (ACRS), the method of allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Allele frequencies of loci CASA1, CASAB, CASA2, CASK, LAA and LGB were estimated in the five breeds (N = 324), the number of individuals per population being: Siboney de Cuba (SC = 85), Cuban Creole (CC = 60) Cuban Zebu (ZC = 61), Cuba Mambí (MC = 60) and Taíno of Cuba (TC = 58). Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was estimated for each locus in each population, showing that all the populations have at least one locus deviated from this condition of equilibrium and always through heterozygote excess. Alleles CASA1C and LAAA were identified in the CC and CT breeds, showing the presence of Bos indicus genes in these populations. An increase of heterozygosis is observed in these populations, and genotype frequencies in each population allow differentiation of these from those which originated them.

Two indigenous chicken breeds: naked neck (N) and local white (W) feathered chicken called Netch as sire lines and two exotic chicken breeds: Fayoumi (F) and Rhode Island Red (R) as dam lines were crossed with the objective of producing 4-way cross-bred chicken population, which will later be used as base population to produce synthetic chickens. They were tested under on-station conditions in a college farm and under on-farm conditions at several typical village farms. Mortality during brooding period was lower under on-farm than on-station conditions, which may be owing to housing of the chicks in hay box-brooder on-farm and the coccidiosis infection on-station. However, higher on-farm mortality was observed during the laying period than on-station; mainly because of predation. There was a significant difference between the two systems in recorded body weight from early age to maturity. Age at first egg was lower on-farm than on-station. Average number of eggs produced was not significantly different; although chickens on-station laid more eggs than those on-farm. Hen-housed egg production was lower on-farm than on-station owing to higher mortality in the on-farm system.