To facilitate livestock improvement in developing countries, records on animal populations and their various productivity levels are important. However, in these countries, livestock recording presents a huge challenge. This paper presents an outline of the historical developments and the current scenario in dairy and beef recording in Kenya, where a recording scheme has been in place since 1963, yet the productive potential of most animals in the country remains unknown. The paper brings into context the state of recording in relation to the potential for future developments in dairy and beef production within the country. Despite the enormous existing potential, low numbers of livestock records are captured due to multiple challenges, which include limited funding, lack of incentives to record, limited feedback on records, a fragmented organizational structure, poor infrastructure, limited numbers of skilled personnel and lack of supporting policies. Strategies to overcome the challenges and achieve more sustainable utilization of the existing livestock populations are discussed. Linking recording to key service providers within the livestock production sector could enhance data collection, processing and feedback to livestock producers. The quality of extension services provided must be improved in order to holistically support livestock production. Recent international regulations on the traceability of livestock products sold within different countries mean that unless Kenya implements a robust animal recording programme, the country will be locked out of markets for its livestock products.

Phenotypic characterization is critical in breed improvement and conservation. To determine the performance and morphological features of Ankole cattle in three livestock production systems (LPS) of Uganda, 248 farms were studied. Height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG), body length (BL), ear length, horn length (HL), distance between horn tips (HS) and body weight (BW) were then measured on 120 bulls and 180 cows. Data were analysed using LPS (crop livestock, agropastoral, pastoral), county (Gomba, Kazo, Kiboga, Mawoggola, Nyabushozi) and sex (females, males) as main factors. In the results, age at sexual maturity was 23.6 ± 0.5 months for bulls and 22.7 ± 0.5 months for cows. Age at first calving was 33.2 ± 0.5 months, whereas calving interval was 12.9 ± 0.8 months. Lactation length differed between LPS (5.5 ± 0.4, 6.3 ± 0.3 and 7.4 ± 0.2 months in agropastoral, crop livestock and pastoral, respectively). Mean daily milk off take was 2.2 ± 0.1 kg/cow whereas preweaning calf survivability was 90.0 ± 6.5%. Sex and LPS significantly influenced HW, HL and HS. Positive correlations were observed between BW and HG, BL and HL. Correlation coefficients were much lower in females than in males, except for BW vs HG and BW vs HW. Results show wide variations both in performance and morphology suggesting that within breed selection scheme and/or management improvement may lead to productivity improvements.

Blood samples for blood protein analysis were collected from three strains of the Nigerian local chicken (normal feathered, frizzle feathered and naked neck) and one exotic strain (Anak Titan). Each of these populations represents a genotype. Blood samples from 50 birds per genotype were used to assess genetic diversity of the Nigerian local chickens. A total of 18 bands were observed from the four strains during resolution of the proteins using sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). Dendrogram developed from the different bands observed revealed that the strains were clearly separated from one another and mean genetic similarity among the four strains was 55 percent with naked neck strain being the most diverged.

The Garole is a prolific breed of sheep. High prolificacy in sheep carrying the Booroola gene (FecB) is the result of a mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IB (BMPR-IB) (Wilson et al., 2001a,b) which had previously been identified in Garole sheep from the Sunderban region of West Bengal (Davis et al., 2002) . There is evidence that the breed has originated from the sheep brought by the Tibetan traders and traded in the plains of Bengal during the seventeenth till the nineteenth century. The present study was carried out to remap the distribution of the Garole sheep within the state of West Bengal (India) using the presence of the BMPR-IB mutation in the sheep flocks reared at different locations within the state of West Bengal. The breeding tract of Garole sheep was initially thought to be in the districts of 24 Parganas, South and North alone. However, the results from the present study indicate that the sheep is also reared in the district of Midnapur (East), besides in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts situated in northern parts of the state. The results of the present study indicate that the breeding tract of Garole sheep extends up to Jalpaiguri and CoochBehar districts of West Bengal at 26°16′ and 27°0′ North latitude and 88°4′ and 89°53′ East longitude. This study also indicates that the ancestors of the Garole sheep have migrated from China/Tibet, during the trading between West Bengal and Bangladesh during the seventeenth century till the early-twentieth century.

Pigs are the most important livestock species in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from economic as well as cultural perspectives. Most of the estimated population of 1.8 million pigs are maintained by smallholder farmers. The genetic attributes, differentiation and production capacities of indigenous pigs are largely unknown. But the rich socio-cultural diversity of rural communities living in geographically isolated pristine environments, with long and strong attachments with indigenous pigs implies that indigenous pigs may harbour unique genetic diversity. This study reports preliminary survey of indigenous pigs sampled from major pig farming areas of the country as part of a South Asia-wide regional indigenous pig genetic diversity study. It assesses farmers’ perceptions about the origin, population trend and utility value of indigenous pigs, as well as their trait preferences. Average herd sizes and external physical forms and appearances of pigs are described. About 19 percent of the sampled indigenous pigs were identified through pedigree checks to have an admixtured genotype with some distant indigenous or exotic parentage. The importance of indigenous pig genetic resources in PNG requires a policy and legislative framework to support sustainable utilization. As a first step in informing such development, a comprehensive molecular genetic study is required to elucidate the genetic attributes of this unique genetic resource.

Pigs have socio-economic and cultural importance to the livelihood of many Bhutanese rural communities. While there is evidence of increased religious disapproval of pig raising, the consumption of pork, which is mainly met from imports, is increasing every year. Pig development activities are mainly focused on introduction of exotic germplasm. There is an evidence of a slow but steady increase in the population of improved pigs in the country. On the other hand, indigenous pigs still comprise 68 percent of the total pig population but their numbers are rapidly declining. If this trend continues, indigenous pigs will become extinct within the next 10 years. Once lost, this important genetic resource is largely irreplaceable. Therefore, Government of Bhutan must make an effort to protect, promote and utilize indigenous pig resources in a sustainable manner. In addition to the current ex situ conservation programme based on cryopreservation of semen, which needs strengthening, in situ conservation and a nucleus farm is required to combat the enormous decline of the population of indigenous pigs and to ensure a sustainable source of swine genetic resources in the country.

Pastoral habitats in the County of Devon in southwest England range from lowland temporary pastures to upland rough grazing. These habitats have resulted in the development of locally adapted livestock types. In 2010, Devon is repository to two cattle, five sheep and two equine breeds: Historically there were sheep, equine and pig breeds now extinct or subsumed into existing types. Breed origins are discussed and physical descriptions and main production characteristics are provided. Information is given on organizations in England and overseas that promote the breeds and are responsible for maintaining pedigree records. Available numerical data are presented and conservation status discussed. All sheep and equine breeds are at risk because of low numbers or restricted geographical distribution. The government provides no direct assistance for conservation or preservation although there is limited support for native breeds from agrienvironmental schemes. Owner awareness of breed values, “designer” made for thriftiness under harsh conditions, supported by civil society organizations, will render them “fit for purpose” for new uses in conservation grazing in environmentally sensitive areas, maintenance of plant diversity and sustainable production, and assist in ensuring survival of these invaluable genetic resources.

The current study proposes a method for the morphological characterization of chicken. It involves the measurement of 25 variables, 12 from head measures and the other 13 from rest of the body. This method was used to compare two Catalonian autochthonous chicken breeds: partridge Penedesenca and blond Empordanesa with measurements of 30 hens each. Measurements were taken by two operators, each measured 15 hens per breed. Hens were 30 weeks old, and were bred under the same conditions. As a whole the results showed us that both breeds are very similar morphologically. Nevertheless, nine variables were different between the two breeds and six were different between the two operators, most of them were head measurements. So it is suggested that the measurements on head must be accurate. Only four variables, beak length and width, comb width and ear lobes length, showed interaction among the factors that do not allow us to address the differences between the breeds. The comparison results between Empordanesa and Penedesenca showed that Empordanesa had higher values in wattle length, wattle width and ear lobes width than Penedesenca. Regarding the corporal measures, Empordanesa had higher values of the folding wing and tarsus diameter than Penedesenca although Penedesenca had larger values in keel of sternum length and breast angle than Empordanesa. Empordanesa was a little heavier than Penedesenca.

Patterns of wool variations found in modern sheep breeds may shed some light on the history of circum-Mediterranean migrations, which at present are still largely unknown. In this study, the characteristics of wool from five different local European breeds were investigated. Wool samples were taken from the following sheep breeds: Aranese, Roussillon Red, Castillonnais, Levant Red and Majorcan Red. Specimens were collected from 88 animals in different herds for each breed. The following sheep fleece characteristics were investigated: length of long-coarse, short-fine and kemp (medullated) fibres; their proportion within the staple; yield after scouring with isoalcohol; and fibre diameter. The amount of short-fine fibres was lower in the Levant Red and Majorcan Red breeds, with an inversely proportional amount of kemp fibres. Clean yield with isoalcohol was about 80 percent in all these breeds. Fleece characteristics offer a glimpse of possible morphologic relationships between the Levant Red and Majorcan Red that moreover exhibit a similarity in colour and a geographical proximity. Because very little is still known about the nature of the patterns of the fleece of Atlantic West and North African sheep, the importance of the African influence on existing European Mediterranean red sheep breeds remains to be clarified. A plausible hypothesis is that different influences would have left different traces, with a lesser impact on Pyrenean breeds.

This article describes the characteristics of the Chilote breed of sheep (OCH) as a genetic animal resource which is highly adapted to the conditions of the Chiloé archipelago in the south of Chile. The article describes the geomorphological features of the archipelago, the historical and cultural origins of the Chilote breed, its genetic structure, its morphological and productive characteristics, and the systems of production in which it is used.

This paper describes the origin of the Colombian Creole breeds, in particular the formation of one of these, the Horned Coastal Creole (CCC) cattle. It outlines the ecological environment where it has flourished, and the history of the foundation of the conservation herd that the Colombian government has maintained since 1936 in one of its research stations, Turipaná, located at the town of Cereté in Córdoba department. Additionally we detail the breed's principal external, physiological and genetic characteristics, with special emphasis on the research results as regards growth and milk production traits. We conclude that the CCC, because of its adaptation to the humid tropic environment, is an important genetic resource to produce in a sustainable, competitive and ‘green’ way, especially in extensive systems with low external inputs.

The local Brazilian breed of cattle known as Curraleiro is at risk of extinction. As a result a group of researchers have taken action to conserve and utilize these animals. The Curraleiro breed is descended from cattle brought to Brazil by Iberian colonizers. These animals have adapted to pasture of low quality, very low humidity conditions, heat and other adverse factors characteristic of the Brazilian savannah. A population census was conducted and, in order to identify the characteristics of Curraleiro breeders, 28 farmers in the states of Goiás and Tocantins were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire, eliciting information about them, their farms and their animals. The type of production system and the level of technology applied in the farms were determined in each case. Forty-nine herds, with a a total of 3,692 animals, were located in the states of Goiás, Tocantins, Bahia, Pará and Piaui. The production system applied to Curraleiro livestock herds is extensive, with a medium level of technology, low production costs and low economic returns. The risk of inbreeding is evident and there is great concern and interest on the part of producers in conserving this breed. Because the national census of these cattle is low, this breed can be considered vulnerable and at risk of extinction.