Incorporating new technologies in breeding plans for South African goats in harsh environments

Abstract

Angora and meat producing goats play an important role in food security and sustainable livelihoods of livestock producers in South Africa. To maintain their role, it is important to select animals that can thrive in the harsh South African climate, especially under the envisioned climate change conditions. Several phenotypes have been identified as selection criteria for adaptation. These include litter size at birth, litter size at weaning and litter weight at weaning (reproduction), weaning weight (growth), fecal egg counts, FAMACHA score, packed cell volume, tick counts, hair length, and coat type (endo-and ecto-parasite resistance) and coat type, coat thickness, color of skin and coat, rectal temperature (heat tolerance). Many of these phenotypic indicator traits have limitations such as low heritabilities or being difficult to measure. The application of new technologies in breeding and selection is under-utilized in goats in general, and especially in South African goats. The use of validated causative mutations affecting traits relating to adaptation to harsh environments in selection programs would facilitate genetic progress in herds where phenotypic recording is challenging. In addition, increased investments by various role players in applying new technology in the systematic collection of phenotypic indicator traits (especially for traits related to adaptation), can be used to improve the rate of animal improvement in the South African goat breeds.