Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity

Indigenous domestic animal diversity constitute a major valuable asset for Africa and for the world. In Africa, indigenous livestock breeds, support the majority of smallholder rural farmers for whom these genetic resources are essential for improved nutrition, income and as a secure form of investm...

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Main Author: Rege, J.E.O.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: 5th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 1994
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50763
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author Rege, J.E.O.
author_browse Rege, J.E.O.
author_facet Rege, J.E.O.
author_sort Rege, J.E.O.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Indigenous domestic animal diversity constitute a major valuable asset for Africa and for the world. In Africa, indigenous livestock breeds, support the majority of smallholder rural farmers for whom these genetic resources are essential for improved nutrition, income and as a secure form of investment. They also provide the only practical means of using vast areas of natural grasslands in regions where crop production is impractical. However, the accelerating demands of a growing human population and pressures of economic Development are affecting the security and survival of these animal genetic resources. There is an increasing tendency to introduce exotic germplasm and/or to concentrate on a narrow range of supposedly more profitable ones. Consequently, native breeds which have been naturally selected for the local environments and are therefore best adapted, are threatened. Unfortunately, most of these breeds are, at best only superficially characterized. Additionally, population statistics on the basis of which the extent of threat could be determined is lacking in most cases. For many breeds, the most rational conservation strategy will be as functioning parts of the production system, i.e. through sustained utiliasation. However, extent of use of a breed depends on awareness of its existence and potential information on its characteristics. This paper summarises the issues and current Developments in characterization, conservation and utilization of indigenous African domestic animal diversity.
format Conference Paper
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publishDate 1994
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publisher 5th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production
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spelling CGSpace507632021-08-09T03:55:38Z Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity Rege, J.E.O. land races domestic animals resource conservation Indigenous domestic animal diversity constitute a major valuable asset for Africa and for the world. In Africa, indigenous livestock breeds, support the majority of smallholder rural farmers for whom these genetic resources are essential for improved nutrition, income and as a secure form of investment. They also provide the only practical means of using vast areas of natural grasslands in regions where crop production is impractical. However, the accelerating demands of a growing human population and pressures of economic Development are affecting the security and survival of these animal genetic resources. There is an increasing tendency to introduce exotic germplasm and/or to concentrate on a narrow range of supposedly more profitable ones. Consequently, native breeds which have been naturally selected for the local environments and are therefore best adapted, are threatened. Unfortunately, most of these breeds are, at best only superficially characterized. Additionally, population statistics on the basis of which the extent of threat could be determined is lacking in most cases. For many breeds, the most rational conservation strategy will be as functioning parts of the production system, i.e. through sustained utiliasation. However, extent of use of a breed depends on awareness of its existence and potential information on its characteristics. This paper summarises the issues and current Developments in characterization, conservation and utilization of indigenous African domestic animal diversity. 1994 2014-10-31T06:21:38Z 2014-10-31T06:21:38Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50763 en Limited Access 5th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production
spellingShingle land races
domestic animals
resource conservation
Rege, J.E.O.
Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title_full Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title_fullStr Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title_full_unstemmed Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title_short Issues and current Developments in the conservation of indigenous African domestic animal diversity
title_sort issues and current developments in the conservation of indigenous african domestic animal diversity
topic land races
domestic animals
resource conservation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50763
work_keys_str_mv AT regejeo issuesandcurrentdevelopmentsintheconservationofindigenousafricandomesticanimaldiversity