This paper summarises preliminary results of a survey conducted as part of a large effort to systematically collate information aimed at assessing the status of cattle genetic resources of sub-Saharan Africa. The 146 indigenous breeds/strains identified from the survey are classified into nine broad groups (Humpless Longhorns, Humpless Shorthorns, Large East African Zebu, Small East African Zebu, West African Zebu, Sanga, Zenga, Recently Derived Breeds and Commercial Composites) some of which are further subdivided into several groups (based on possible genetic relationships) and clusters (based on eco-geographical locations). Each breed is then described in terms of location, physical characteristics, adaptive attributes, if known, current main uses and status in terms of qualitative or quantitative indication of trends, where available, and presence or absence of programmes for its management or further development.

The gene dropping method was applied to the pedigree of Danish Shorthorn in order to estimate the proportion of alleles of the old type of Danish Shorthorn in the population of 1997.

It was found that about 23% of the alleles in the population of 1997 originated from the old type. Of 21 base animals of the old type, alleles of seven animals were completely lost in the gene dropping while only six base animals contributed with 20.2% of the alleles in the 1997 population. Inbreeding coefficients ranged from zero to 35.6% with a mean of 4.1%.

Sahiwal cattle are indigenous to Pakistan and India, and were imported to Kenya in 1930s and 1940s. The breed has been developed as a dual-purpose breed and is utilised in smallholder farming systems, beef and dairy ranching in marginal areas of Kenya which form 80% of the country. Conservation efforts include keeping of Sahiwal herds on state farms, individual ranches and the establishment of the Sahiwal semen bank at the Central Artificial Insemination Station at Kabete near Nairobi. Breeding of the Sahiwal has been promoted by the formation of the Sahiwal Breeders Society which has established breed standards for registration of Sahiwal cattle with the Kenya Stud Book.

Cette étude présente une synthèse des travaux menés sur l'évaluation des performances zootechniques des caprins Créoles à viande de Guadeloupe. Ce génotype rustique, de petit format, présente de grandes qualités reproductives et maternelles avec 90% de fertilité, 225% de prolificité et une viabilité naissance-sevrage de 78%. Les performances post-sevrage varient du simple au double selon les conditions d'élevage. Une grande souplesse d'exploitation associée à de fortes capacités productives, ainsi qu'à un potentiel d'adaptation, expliquent le succès de cet élevage aux Antilles. La chèvre Créole peut être sélectionnée sur ses performances d'élevage, de croissance et de résistance au parasitisme gastro-intestinal ou encore peut être valorisée comme souche maternelle pour des croisements possibles.

Garole, a highly prolific breed of sheep can be characterised as real microsheep of India. Literature available in respect of its genetic potentiality for fecundity and other economic parameters is very scanty. This has peculiar characteristics such as prolificacy, resistance to foot rot disease, grazing in knee-deep water, adaptability to hot humid conditions and high mothering instinct for their neonates. Some research and development programmes have recently been initiated by Central and State Governments to study this valuable germplasm in a systematic manner. Endeavours are required to evaluate this animal in its home tract and in-situ conservation involving local sheep farmers is necessary for posterity.

Characterisations are given of the little-known Sabi sheep and the local population of the Small East African goat in two areas in NE Zimbabwe. The southern area had been more affected by drought in 1991–92. For sheep (both areas combined; n = 28 in 10 flocks) the mean declared age of breeding females and the median age at first parturition were surprisingly high (6.1 years and 4 years respectively). Breeding female goats in the southern area were younger (4.9 vs. 6.4 years), and their age at first kidding was lower (3 years vs. 5 years), than in the north (n = 122 in 25 flocks total). These advanced ages could be an after-effect of the drought. Juvenile mortality and the proportions of young that were ultimately marketed were similar to what has been found elsewhere in semi-arid Africa. Breeding females were found to be smaller than their counterparts in semi-arid areas in West Africa with mean withers heights of 56.5 cm (n = 112 goats) and 60.4 cm (n = 36 sheep). Conditions in this area appear difficult for small ruminants and the populations sampled may be well adapted to marginal environments and thus worthy of conservation.

A partir del estudio cualitativo y cuantitativo de 46 caracteres morfológicos, obtenidos a partir de recopilaciones bibliográficas, se analizan las relaciones existentes entre 17 poblaciones equinas de la Península Ibérica (14 razas españolas y 3 portuguesas).

Los resultados obtenidos permiten clasificar a las diferentes razas en sus correspondientes troncos ancestrales: Equus ferus gmelini, Equus ferus przewalski y Equus ferus solutreensis, integrándose los representantes de los dos primeros grupos en el llamado Tronco Tarpánico.

El promedio de distancia morfológica entre razas, medida como MCD (Mean Character Difference, o promedio de diferencias entre caracteres), tomó un valor de 0,51± 0,11. El análisis cuantitativo de los datos indica que el grupo que forman los poneys ibéricos es morfológicamente muy semejante, a diferencia de lo que ocurre con los grupos de los caballos de silla y los de tiro.

Se analizan las relaciones y se discuten las causas de la variabilidad morfológica entre grupos.

In Egypt, there are three breeds of rabbits, Giza White, Baladi and Gabali. For Baladi rabbits, there are three strains; Baladi Red, Baladi White and Baladi Black, while Sinai Gabali and Desert Gabali are considered the two strains of Gabali rabbits. Giza White rabbits are usually called improved Giza or El-Giza El-Mohassan. These Egyptian rabbits are medium-sized breeds and used mainly for meat production. Giza White and Baladi rabbits are docile, while Gabali rabbits are moderately tractable. Origin, physical description, and census data for these Egyptian genetic resources were described. Also, they were characterized with regard to their performance (e.g. reproductive efficiency, lactational and maternal abilities, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits and meat composition, hair and fur quality, etc.) and adaptability to heat stress.