The Sahelian is an African breed or group of breeds of domestic goat. It is used to produce meat, goatskin and milk.[4]: 404 [5] It is distributed in twelve African countries, principally in the Sahel region from which the name derives, but also in other parts of Africa – in the Central African Republic, Ghana, Somalia and Togo; it is also present in Iran.[2] The largest population is reported from Mali, where in 2015 there were about 35 million head, or about 75% of the total population of almost 48 million.[5]
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| Horn status | horned in both sexes |
| Beard | often present |
| Tassels | often present |
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History
editAlthough domestication of the goat took place in Asia, the Sahelian – like other most African goat breeds – is considered indigenous to the African continent, as it has developed there over some thousands of years.[6]: 34 It falls within the broader grouping of Savanna goats, which also includes numerous Saharan goats from Egypt and the Maghreb.[3] Its principal range extends from the Atlantic coast of Mauretania eastward as far as central Chad, and lies mainly to the north of the 12th[6]: 59 or 14th parallel.[4]: 404 It is kept mostly in nomadic herds, in arid or semi-desert biomes.[4]: 404 [3]
References
edit- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b Transboundary breed: Devon. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Sahelian. Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System. Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute. Archived 17 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Sahelian / Mali (Goat). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2024.
- ^ a b R. Trevor Wilson (1991). Small ruminant production and small ruminant genetic resource in tropical Africa. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 88. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251029989. ISSN 0254-6019.
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