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Current situation and diversity of indigenous cattle breeds of Saudi Arabia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

R.M. Al-Atiyat ,
R.S. Aljumaah ,
A.M. Abudabos ,
A.A. Alghamdi ,
A.S. Alharthi ,
H.S. AlJooan  and
M.N. Alotybi
R.M. Al-Atiyat*
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
R.S. Aljumaah
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A.M. Abudabos
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A.A. Alghamdi
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A.S. Alharthi
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
H.S. AlJooan
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
M.N. Alotybi
Affiliation:
Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
*
Correspondence to: R.M. Al-Atiyat, Animal Production Department, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. email: ralatiyat@ksu.edu.sa, raedatiyat@gmail.com
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Summary

This study aims to evaluate the current situation and diversity of indigenous cattle breeds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A survey was executed in five regions of the KSA. We recorded population sizes, phenotypes and rearing conditions. Taurine Bos taurus and zebu Bos indicus populations were found. The zebu cattle include two breeds; the Hassawi and the Janobi. The Hassawi breed was found in the eastern region and it is in decreasing number. It may become extinct soon in the absence of conservation plan. Janobi remains common with thousand animals in the south-western part of the country. Only one indigenous taurine cow, showing no phenotypic evidence of zebu introgression, was found in the Central region of KSA (Najd Plateau). This cow might be the last pure indigenous Saudi Arabia taurine animal and therefore, the breed is now close to extinction. We advocate the urgency to design conservation plan for the indigenous livestock of the KSA and to complement these with phenotypic as well as genotypic information.

Résumé

Le but de cette étude a été d’évaluer la situation et la diversité actuelles des races bovines autochtones du Royaume d'Arabie Saoudite (RAS). Une enquête a été menée dans cinq régions du RAS. La taille des populations, les phénotypes et les pratiques d’élevage ont été étudiés. Des populations de bovins (Bos taurus) et de zébus (Bos indicus) ont été rencontrées. Les zébus comprenaient deux races: Hassawi et Janobi. La race Hassawi, dont les effectifs sont en régression, se trouvait dans la région orientale. Cette race pourrait s’éteindre bientôt en l'absence d'un plan de conservation. La race Janobi reste une race assez courante avec mille animaux dans la partie sud-ouest du pays. La seule race bovine autochtone n'ayant pas présenté d'indices phénotypiques de l'introgression du zébu a été trouvée dans la région centrale du RAS (plateau du Nejd). Il pourrait s'agir de la dernière race pure de bovins autochtones de l'Arabie Saoudite. Ainsi, la race est actuellement menacée d'extinction. Nous insistons sur l'urgence de concevoir un plan de conservation pour les animaux d’élevage autochtones du RAS et d'obtenir plus de données phénotypiques et génétiques de ces races.

Resumen

Este estudio pretende evaluar la situación y la diversidad actuales de las razas autóctonas de ganado bovino del Reino de Arabia Saudita (RAS). Se llevó a cabo una encuesta en cinco regiones del RAS. Se observaron los tamaños de población, los fenotipos y las condiciones de cría. Se encontraron poblaciones de ganado vacuno (Bos taurus) y de cebú (Bos indicus). Los cebúes incluían dos razas: Hassawi y Janobi. La raza Hassawi, cuyo censo está disminuyendo, fue encontrada en la región oriental. Esta raza podría extinguirse pronto en ausencia de un plan de conservación. La raza Janobi sigue siendo una raza bastante común con un censo de mil animales en la parte Suroeste del país. La única raza autóctona de ganado vacuno que no presentó indicios fenotípicos de introgresión del cebú fue encontrada en la región central del RAS (meseta de Nechd). Podría tratarse de la última raza autóctona pura de ganado bovino de Arabia Saudita. Así, la raza está en la actualidad en peligro de extinción. Insistimos sobre la urgencia de diseñar un plan de conservación para el ganado autóctono del RAS y de recabar más información fenotípica, así como genética, para estas razas.

Keywords

Taurine (Bos taurus)Zebu (Bos indicus)livestock conservationSaudi Arabiabovins (Bos taurus)zébu (Bos indicus)conservation des animaux d’élevageArabie Saouditeganado vacuno (Bos taurus)cebú (Bos indicus)conservación de razas ganaderasArabia Saudita
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 57 , December 2015 , pp. 39 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2015 

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