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Conservation of the Tswana cattle breed in Botswana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

Ntombizakhe Mpofu
Ntombizakhe Mpofu
Affiliation:
Animal Production and Range Research, P Bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana
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Summary

The Tswana cattle breed is indigenous to Botswana. Its popularity and numbers in the national herd is declining due to crossbreeding. This paper presents results of work done so far to characterise the breed for milk and beef production and describes the current breed conservation program. Suggestions on more characterisation work and improvement on the conservation program are given.

Résumé

La race bovine Tswana est une race indigéne du Botswana. Sa popularité et son nombre dans le cheptel national est en diminution à cause des croisements réalisés. Cet article présente les résultats du travail réalisé pour caractériser la race du point de vue de la production de lait et de viande, et décrit également le program actuel de conservation de la race. On présente aussi les suggestions sur d'autres travaux de caractérisation et l'amélioration du program de conservation.

Keywords

Animal genetic resourcesCharacterisationGenetic improvementUtilisation
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 20 , April 1996 , pp. 17 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1996

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