Adaptive Potential and Breeding Paradoxes of Sanga and Zebu Cattle

Beef farmers are faced with multiple production-related challenges which are complex.Although, Sanga and Zebu beef cattle are used in crossbreeding programs, deliberate efforts to improve polygenic traits are still limiting and, this is threatening their existence.Their potential to survive harsh conditions has not been genetically tested and proven, in the same vein, their meat characteristics are unknown.There is also a need to determine the relationship between farmersʼ and consumer preferences for Sanga and Zebu beef.To solve such production-associated problems, there is a need to incorporate all factors which affect beef production when defining a beef breeding plan.There is thus, a need for research in areas such as feed resource utilization, maternal behaviour, greenhouse gas emission and thereof incorporate such information into breeding objectives.The balance between adaptive traits and economic traits in these animals is also unknown.Approaches such as the use of genomics to identify the expression of specific genes for particular diseases, behaviour attributes and other complex traits can be explored to produce beef with the required meat quality.Generally, Sanga and Zebu cattle have traits that compare favourably with other beef breeds, however, there is a need to synchronize selection and definition of breeding objectives to meet beef consumer demands on the market.Deliberate conservation of cattle genetic resources as well as improving productivity is germane.Consumer preference for these meaty breeds should predominate breeding objectives.Breeding goals and the development of a selection index for these breeds are germane.