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Adding value to South African landrace breeds conservation through utilisation*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

K. Ramsay ,
M. Smuts  and
H.C. Els
K. Ramsay
Affiliation:
Registrar of Livestock Improvement and Identification, National Department of Agriculture, Private Bag X 138, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
M. Smuts
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Products Institute, Private Bag X 2, Irene 1675, South Africa
H.C. Els
Affiliation:
P O MEDUNSA, Pretoria, South Africa
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Summary

The paper analyses the importance of breed conservation in South Africa by means of added value through a number of species. This principle was applied to some of Southern Africa populations: Nguni cattle, indigenous pigs, indigenous sheep landraces including fat-tails (Pedi, Damara, Zulu, Afrikaner) and fat-rumped breeds (Persian) as well as the improved Boer goat. The latter is an example of what can be achieved by selecting an indigenous breed for a specific purpose.

For each breed, possible alternative uses are explained by analysing their characters. For the Nguni cattle (very well adapted to local conditions) a premium is paid for hides with minimal tick damage as these are used for car upholstery, an important added value. Beef quality and easy calving are also relevant factors that are important when crossing the Nguni with European breeds.

Indigenous sheep landraces are often used to develop hardy composites and this helps their conservation, while the Boer goat is in demand in many countries for meat-production and has been exported world-wide; this is probably the only selected meat-goat in the world.

Indigenous pig breeds are capable of generating a good income and are satisfactory alternatives to modern breeds.

Resumen

El artículo analiza la importancia de la conservación de las razas en Sudafrica a través de ejemplos y por medio del valor añadido. Este pricipio fue aplicado a algunas de las poblaciones existentes en Sudafrica: bovinos Nguni, razas porcinas indígenas, y razas ovinas indígenas, incluidas las de cola grasa (Pedi, Damara, Zulu, Afrikaner) y cadera grasa (Persian), así como la raza caprina mejorada Boer. Esta última es un ejemplo de lo que se puede obtener a través de la selección de una raza indígena para un fin específico.

Para cada una de las razas, se presentan los usos alternativos posibles a través del análisis de sus caracteres. Para la raza Nguni (muy bien adaptada a las condiciones locales), viene pagado un premio por las pieles con un mínimo de daño, ya que vienen utilizadas como tapicería para los coches, lo que representa un importante valor añadido. La calidad de la carne y la facilidad para el parto son otros de los facotres importantes considerados en el momento de cruzar la raza Nguni con razas europeas.

Las razas indígenas ovinas vienen utilizadas a menudo para desarrollar los componentes de resistencia, lo que ayuda a su conservación. Mientras que las Boer han sido exportadas ampliamente, ya que vienes solicitadas por su producción de carne; es seguramente la única raza caprina seleccionada en el mundo por su carne.

Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 27 , April 2000 , pp. 9 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2000

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