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OCR for page 15
Part ~
Microbreeds
Cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs supply millions of people around the
world with the bulk of their cash and animal products. Yet scores of
breeds-especially in the tropics-are left out of livestock development
projects merely because they are considered too small. These
"microbreeds"' have sometimes been considered genetic dead ends
because they appear undersized and puny. Many of these traditional
animals some in local use for thousands of years are disappearing,
nr1 ~.ve.n the Small ancestors of large modern breeds are becoming
extinct.
These small breeds deserve to be studied and developed in their
own right. Throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America, these usually
hardy animals are especially adapted to traditional husbandry practices
and harsh local conditions. Some have remarkable qualities and are
well adapted to resist hostile weather, ravaging pestilence, and poor
diets. In remote places and in areas of extreme climate, they are often
vitally important for basic subsistence.
Indeed, because of stress or disease, or insufficient forage, land, or
money, microbreeds may be the only practical livestock in many
settings. Their individual output may be low, but it can be efficient
considering the lack of care and poor feeds they are given. Their
availability and the growing number of small-sized farms in the
developing world make them increasingly worthy of consideration.
The following chapters in this section describe microcattle, micro-
goats, microsheep, and micropigs.
' A term used in this report to characterize cattle. goats sheep and pigs that are less
than about half the size of selectively bred types.
15
OCR for page 16
Representative terms from entire chapter:
pigs supply
