Intensive and Selective Breeding
African Indaba has reported about the apparently exclusive South African phenomenon of selective breeding for coat color variations, and the more globally spread intensive breeding for horn or antler length.
In taking up this issue once again the editors of African Indaba want to state that we of course respect the rights of landowners to manage their lands and the game thereon within the boundaries of the national laws and regulations as they see fit.
We suggest, however, that landowners practicing intensive breeding methods with formerly wild animals to create or enhance coat color variations, uncharacteristic antler or horn growth, high carcass weights, etc. should classify their activity as livestock breeding and hence a branch of animal agriculture. They should refrain from using conservation, hunters and hunting as reasons (or excuse) to justify their apparently entirely legal undertakings.
We would like to draw the attention of all African Indaba readers to report of Lizanne Nel, Conservation Manager of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association, published on the SAHGCA website. Nel’s report focuses on the 2nd SOUTH AFRICAN STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON INTENSIVE AND SELECTIVE BREEDING. In the interest of fair representation we have decided to annotate the article and provide direct links to the various presentations given.
You can download the Nel’s annotated article HERE or paste the following link in your browser https://www.conservationfrontlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2016-African-Indaba-Special-issue-Workshop-on-Intensive-and-Selective-Breeding-.pdf.
We strongly recommend that you also study the presentations of the various participants – all the links are in the annotated version of Nel’s article.