Capitalizing on the Potential of South African Indigenous Beef Cattle Breeds: A Review

Cattle populations arrived in Southern Africa almost 2000 years ago, brought by farming communities migrating southwards. For centuries, cattle have been an integral component of livestock production to meet the animal protein needs a growing population and they are also important many cultural religious events, as repositories wealth signifiers social status. Selection within these led development breeds such Nguni, Afrikaner Drakensberger that well adapted local environment. Genetic information has generated for most populations, providing new insights into their ancestry indicating moderate levels diversity relatively low inbreeding. Indigenous present both well-developed commercial sector developing South African sector. These included several research studies, mostly focusing on adaptive potential. improvement breeds, which often more resilient environmental conditions, potential improve productivity small-scale contribute alleviation poverty.