The current status of indigenous ovine genetic resources in Southern Africa and future sustainable utilisation to improve livelihoods

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMolotsi, Annelin Henriehettaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDube, Bekezelaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCloete, Schalk Willem Petrusen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-05T10:22:31Z
dc.date.available2020-03-05T10:22:31Z
dc.date.issued2019-12-25
dc.descriptionCITATION: Molotsi, A. H., Dube, B. & Cloete, S.W. P. 2020. The current status of indigenous ovine genetic resources in Southern Africa and future sustainable utilisation to improve livelihoods. Diversity, 12(1):14, doi:10.3390/d12010014.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.mdpi.comen_ZA
dc.descriptionPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAbstract: Indigenous sheep play an important role in the livelihoods of communal farmers in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and this underlines the need to curb the genetic erosion of these valuable resources. This contribution reports that the phenotypic performance and genetics gains of institutional and commercial sheep in Southern Africa are well recorded. In contrast, there is a dearth of knowledge as far as the performance and genetic gains of indigenous ovine genetic resources utilized by smallholder farmers are concerned. High levels of genetic diversity have been observed in exotic breeds, whereas low levels of genetic diversity were found in the Zulu and Namaqua Afrikaner breeds. Phenotypic measurements for indigenous resources include linear measurements indicative of size and reproduction for Zulu sheep. Lamb survival, reproduction and resistance to ticks of the indigenous, fat-tailed Namaqua Afrikaner sheep, as well as growth and reproduction have also been recorded for Sabi and Landim sheep. This review discusses ways to sustainably utilize ovine genetic resources, which includes the suggested implementation of structured breeding and conservation programs, marketing, improving feed resources, health and diseases, as well as gender and age issues. Clearly, there is ample room for further research and development as far as the performance and improvement of African indigenous sheep are concerned.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/1/14en_ZA
dc.description.versionPublisher's versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent16 pages : illustrations, mapsen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMolotsi, A. H., Dube, B. & Cloete, S.W. P. 2020. The current status of indigenous ovine genetic resources in Southern Africa and future sustainable utilisation to improve livelihoods. Diversity, 12(1):14, doi:10.3390/d12010014en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1424-2818 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.3390/d12010014
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107585en_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherMDPIen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectSheep farming -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSheep breeds-- Southern Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAgriculture -- Economic aspects -- Southern Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAgricultural development projectsen_ZA
dc.titleThe current status of indigenous ovine genetic resources in Southern Africa and future sustainable utilisation to improve livelihoodsen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
molotsi_current_2018.pdf
Size:
626.49 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Articles (Animal Sciences)