Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects
Pig genetic resources in Africa originate from different regions and were introduced through several migration pathways. Genetic analysis has shown a strong phylogeographic pattern, with pigs on the eastern parts showing a high frequency of alleles from the Far East while the ones on the western par...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-02-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/68 |
| _version_ | 1798039127414800384 |
|---|---|
| author | Tinyiko Edward Halimani Obvious Mapiye Tawanda Marandure Diedre Januarie Venancio Edward Imbayarwo-Chikosi Kennedy Dzama |
| author_facet | Tinyiko Edward Halimani Obvious Mapiye Tawanda Marandure Diedre Januarie Venancio Edward Imbayarwo-Chikosi Kennedy Dzama |
| author_sort | Tinyiko Edward Halimani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pig genetic resources in Africa originate from different regions and were introduced through several migration pathways. Genetic analysis has shown a strong phylogeographic pattern, with pigs on the eastern parts showing a high frequency of alleles from the Far East while the ones on the western parts show a strong European influence. This highlights the influence of trade routes on the genetic legacy of African pigs. They have, however, since adapted to the local environments to produce unique populations with unique attributes. Most of the pigs are now reared in resource-constrained smallholdings under free-range conditions. They are largely owned by women who spread ownership of the resource through kinship networks. Very little work has been done to characterize, conserve, and sustainably utilize pig genetic resources in Southern Africa. The risk status of the breeds together with population numbers, distribution, and other attributes are largely unknown. This paper proposes several strategies for the sustainable utilization of the pig genetic resources: A market-driven in situ conservation program and two complementary ex situ strategies. In addition, the possibility of community-based breed improvement programs is discussed. It was concluded that genetic characterization of domestic free-range pig populations should be a supreme priority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:49:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7e1f00edb964f5ca0873246d1143f31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:49:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7e1f00edb964f5ca0873246d1143f312022-12-22T04:01:16ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-02-011226810.3390/d12020068d12020068Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and ProspectsTinyiko Edward Halimani0Obvious Mapiye1Tawanda Marandure2Diedre Januarie3Venancio Edward Imbayarwo-Chikosi4Kennedy Dzama5Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare 0001, ZimbabweDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Research and Training, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries, Windhoek 9000, NamibiaDepartment of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare 0001, ZimbabweDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South AfricaPig genetic resources in Africa originate from different regions and were introduced through several migration pathways. Genetic analysis has shown a strong phylogeographic pattern, with pigs on the eastern parts showing a high frequency of alleles from the Far East while the ones on the western parts show a strong European influence. This highlights the influence of trade routes on the genetic legacy of African pigs. They have, however, since adapted to the local environments to produce unique populations with unique attributes. Most of the pigs are now reared in resource-constrained smallholdings under free-range conditions. They are largely owned by women who spread ownership of the resource through kinship networks. Very little work has been done to characterize, conserve, and sustainably utilize pig genetic resources in Southern Africa. The risk status of the breeds together with population numbers, distribution, and other attributes are largely unknown. This paper proposes several strategies for the sustainable utilization of the pig genetic resources: A market-driven in situ conservation program and two complementary ex situ strategies. In addition, the possibility of community-based breed improvement programs is discussed. It was concluded that genetic characterization of domestic free-range pig populations should be a supreme priority.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/68diversityconservationanimal genetic resourcesdomestic pigssouthern africa |
| spellingShingle | Tinyiko Edward Halimani Obvious Mapiye Tawanda Marandure Diedre Januarie Venancio Edward Imbayarwo-Chikosi Kennedy Dzama Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects Diversity diversity conservation animal genetic resources domestic pigs southern africa |
| title | Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects |
| title_full | Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects |
| title_fullStr | Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects |
| title_short | Domestic Free-Range Pig Genetic Resources in Southern Africa: Progress and Prospects |
| title_sort | domestic free range pig genetic resources in southern africa progress and prospects |
| topic | diversity conservation animal genetic resources domestic pigs southern africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/68 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tinyikoedwardhalimani domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects AT obviousmapiye domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects AT tawandamarandure domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects AT diedrejanuarie domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects AT venancioedwardimbayarwochikosi domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects AT kennedydzama domesticfreerangepiggeneticresourcesinsouthernafricaprogressandprospects |