Livestock Breeds and Strains in Tanzania

In Tanzania livestock production is an important economic activity necessary to the livelihood of a big number of the population. Livestock consists of 28.4 m cattle. 16.7 m goats, 5.0 m sheep and 1.85 m pigs of which about 97% are indigenous. The number of indigenous chicken is 37.4 m and 34.5m are commercial layers and broilers. As shown most of the livestock species are indigenous and have got genetic potential to produce and survive in the harsh environment. In order to exploit this genetic potential for the benefit of farmers there is an urgent need to study and document the desired traits. Some work has been done on phenotypic and little on genetic characterization and population trends of the different strains and breeds. In this book 11 strains and one breed of cattle, 6 strains of indigenous and one breed of a composite breed goat, 3 strains of sheep, 5 strains of indigenous chicken and one strain of pig are described. This book should work as a guideline for people working in livestock and assisting on decisions particularly and researchers and academicians. More research is required on genetic characterization so as to be able to establish the genetic distance.