Mauritania is a major livestock country with a population of 1 050 000 camels, l 200 000 cattle and 8 500 000 small ruminants. There is also an important population of equines. While the herd/flock structures and zootechnical statistics of the animal sector are not well 1<nown, there is an important annual consumption of milk (0.5 kg/inhabitant/per day) and meat ( 35 kg/ person/year). The evolution of the cattle population density and movements is conditioned by the availability of grazing and the density of watering points. The cattle belong mainly to two groups: the Peulh zebu exclusively linked to the Peulh tribes and the Maure zebu of Sahel. Both are phenotypically easily distinguishable breeds. There are three distinct sheep populations, the shorthaired Maure of the Southern Saharan region, the longhaired Maure on the frontier of Mali and the sheep kept by the shepherds of Peulh tradition. There are three distinct goat types: the very adaptable Sahel goat found all over the country (nomadic, transhuming and sedentary); the so-called Spanish goat found in small numbers in the North of the country and the smallbodied Dioungy (15–20 kg) mainly found in the Southeast. The camel population can be classified into the shorter type (1.85–1.90 m high) found in the Centre and Southern regions and the Regeuibi or Sahel Dromadaire (2.0–2.1 m high) found in the North and East. The author describes also shortly the local horses (Barbe and arab) and poultry genetic resources.

The author discusses the overall availability and economic role of indigenous livestock resources in Uganda. After a distinct reduction in number during the 80's, there is now an upsurge in the cattle number (4 300 000 in 199 1). The better milk yielding Ankole (Songa cattle) represents nearly half of those cattle, while just over 32% are of the zebu short-horn type (mainly the stocky Nkedi and the large framed Karamojong). The remaining 18% are of the non-distinct Nganda type that probably originated the crossbreeding of the Ankole and zebu shorthorns. While there are no exact data concemin crossbreeding with exotic breeds, it is estimated that there are some 30 000 exotic beef and dairy cattle and around 100 000 crossbreeds. The total goat population remained reasonably stable in recent years (3 700 000 of which 2 000 000 are breeding females). The majority (I 500 000) belong to the distinct smallbodied East Afiican goat type (25–30 kg liveweight), the two other distinct populations being those originating in the Mubende (4 230 000) and the Kigezi (930 000) regions. Both are predominantly black coloured, the Mubende being characterized by a short and fine coathair, the Kigezi being longhaired. All sheep breeds are fat-tailed. The Masai (216 000) is found in the Eastern and Northern part of the country, the Black-head (490 000) in the East and the so-called East Mrican long-tail (257 000) all over the country. The author indicates that there is an indigenous pig type (670 000) and some 1 200 000“village”chickens.

La chèvre noire Marocaine peuple les régions arides et semi-arides du Maroc où elle survit et produit du lait et de la viande pour la population rurale des zones défavorisées. L'objectif du présent article est de présenter cette race tout en mettant l'accent sur ses capacités d'adaptation aux conditions arides d'élevage. Il ressort des études réalisées que cette race possède un faible turnover de l'eau corporelle et une autorégulation précise de la masse corporelle. Ceci lui permet une grande mobilité et agilité pour chercher de l'eau et de la nourriture dans son biotope. La production laitière est faible mais le lait sécrété est concentré. Durant les périodes de privation d'eau ou d'aliments (2 jours), cette chèvre montre une bonne capacité àpréserver le poids corporel. D'autres études sont nécessaires (effet du stress thermique) afin d'élucider d'éventuelles capacités adaptatives.

En el presente trabajo se detallan los avances logrados en la recuperación del Bovino Criollo Patagónico a partir de una población asilvestrada, ubicada en el Parque Nacional“Los Glaciares”. Además, se informa de los primeros resultados experimentales obtenidos a partir de los animales extraidos de diferentes sectores de dicho Parque y que hoy se encuentran emplazados en establecimientos privados fuera del área protegida.

Este estudio fue realizado con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del toro sobre el peso al nacer de terneros (machos y hembras) de bovinos de la raza Criolla de Santa Catarina. Los datos fueron colectados en una propiedad pecuaria privada localizada en el municipio de Ponte Alta -SC. Fueron utilizados tres toros Criollos y catorce terneros hijos de cada toro y vacas también Criollas, con veintiún machos y veintiuna hembras - cuarenta y dos en total. El factor toro influyó significativatnente (P<0,01) sobre el peso al nacer. El sexo también influyó (P<0,01) siendo el peso promedio de los machos superior al de las hembras. Las medias de peso al nacer para los terneros hijos de los toros 1, 2 y 3 fueron respectivamente de 27,8; 23,9 y 23,3 kg, todos con el error estdndar de 0,24 kg. El toro I produjo hijos con peso al nacer superior (P<0,01); aquéllos de los toros 2 y 3 no difirieron entre ellos significativamente. Los promedios de peso al nacer para los temeros de sexo masculine y femenino fueron, respectivamente, de 25,4 y 24,6 kg, con el error estdndar de 0,2 kg.

Selection of meat goat breeds and crossing for meat production provides food a nd is a source of self sufficiency for man. The following four goat breeds are examples of meat production of, Manjiang yellow, Matou, Longling and Hual goat breeds. Recently, it was reported that the quantity of meat output was increased and quality of meat was improved of the local goats in some areas by crossing with Nanjing, Matou and Longling. The Huai breed is a very important breed for producing high quality meat and hides' It is also -noted for its high prolificacy. The natural environments of China are well suited for goat production. Most of its harsher environments can be utilized efficiently only by goats. Especially southern agricultural region and northern agricultural regions develop and use the meat goat breeds as genetic resources for adaptation and production of unique and economically important meat products, and as a complement to cattle or sheep production.

This article introduces the water buffalo and yak populations of China and their production, it feels in the Chinese animal genetic resources pictures: two articles published in AGRI No. 9 on the Sheep Genetic Resources and the Wenling Humped and Red Cattle of China; the articles on goat breeds in this number of AGRI and the cattle production survey published in World Animal Review No. 3/ 1993. The authors discuss in this article the types, characteristics and distribution of the Chinese water buffalo population (2 220 000 animals); they also present the animals work, meat and milk performances and the crossbreeding experimentation to date with Murrah and Nili-Ravi bulls. The Chinese yak populations are described with an in depth presentation of adaptability and production performance information.