Safety and quality foods of animal origin are extremely important for consumers. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of a method to track the breed origin of sheep meat all along the production chain using molecular genetics tools. A total of 800 samples evenly distributed among seven Italian sheep breeds have been typed at 19 STR markers, together with 90 samples from both imported sheep animals and local crossbred animals withdrawn at slaughterhouses. A maximum likelihood assignment test was adopted to evaluate STR ability to allocate samples to their true breed of origin. Sarda animals were all correctly allocated, as well as more than 98% of samples from the other breeds. Only slightly worst allocation performances were observed for imported and crossbred animals. Preliminary results seem quite promising, though further analyses will be needed in order to better understand the statistical power of such an assignment test before implementation in the sheep meat production chain

Camels are critically important in the Mauritanian culture and traditions. The study was conducted in May and June 2017 in fifteen localities of two departments of Trarza in Mauritania. The objective was to characterize Aftout camel population from socio-economic and morpho-metric characteristics. A questionnaire was administered to 25 breeders in the study area. Nine morpho-metric measurements were recorded on 104 camels aged 6 years or above. The study showed that camel keeping is a typical men’s activity. All the investigated breeders were men, among which 68% are more than 45 years age, and 84 % has never attended formal education. 80% of the breeders have practiced camel rearing for more than 20 years. The activity was considered a major one, as it contributes more than 75% of the family income for 76% of the breeders. The average zootechnic performances were 5.28±1.64 l/d, 3.48±1.15 years, 5.04±0.84 years, 1.38±0.58 years and 1.6±0.40 years respectively for milk production, age at reproduction of females, age at reproduction of males, age at weaning and duration of lactation. The studied biometric measurements highlighted a marked variability. Four morpho-zoometric indices were estimated, and the average estimated body weight was 352.41±55.12 kg. Based on the obtained results, Aftout camel was characterized by a large diversity of practices, which may be an asset for identifying and orienting the productive potential of various camel types in Mauritania.

The present study was a global and a first characterization (Typology, biometric, biochemical and contribution on the genetic characterization) of the Guelmoise local cattle breed. A structured questionnaire surveys were carried out in 42 farms spread over the four wilayas of the north-eastern region of Algeria in order to characterize the local cattle population of Guelmoise and their mode of rearing. These surveys focused on the characteristics of the farms (socio-economic condition of the farmer, mode of breeding, reproduction and also to take samples of milk and blood). A total of 164 adult animals were selected for morphological description and body measurements (148 females and 16 males). The livestock system has an extensive nature and men are the main responsible for these farms. The height at withers (HaW), body length (BL), Heart Girth (HG), Spiral Tower (ST) and estimated weight (W) in Guelmoise cattle were 115 ± 0.07, 118 ± 0.08, 154 ± 0.09, 187 ± 0.11 cm and 258 , 12 ± 43.12 kg respectively in females and 171 ± 0.16, 176 ± 0.18, 187 ± 0.08, 225 ± 0.08 cm and 462 ± 59.67 kg respectively in males. Multivariate statistical analyses have allowed identifying four different classes were defined as follows morphometric measurements, weight and age in females as in males. Estimated age at first calving was 39.40 months while the calving interval varies between 14 to17 months and the reproductive life of the cows (13,7 years).The average daily production of milk 5,55 ± 1,67 liters in spring with a duration of lactation varies between 6 to 7 month. The physico-chemical characteristics of milk were focused on the Fat content (FC), Protein content (PC), Lactose (Lact), Dry extract (DE), Defatted dry extract (DDE) and freezing point depression (FPD) were respectively 2.85 ± 0.89%, 3.60 ± 0.39%, 4.82 ± 0.13%, 11.84 ± 0.90%, 9.13 ± 0.41% and 0.56 ± 0,01°C. Thegenotyping of 24 individuals of the Guelmoise population using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip, we found that the observed heterozygosity was globally equivalent to 0.30. The inbreeding measured by Fis was slightly positive (~0.04) indicating the absence of a phenomenon of selection. The data contribute to the feasibility of a conservation and selection programme for this breed and the results are useful for the implementation of a conservation strategy that should aim to conserve animals. The Guelmoise cattle can be used as an alternative genetic resource for production improvement programs.