Disarticulation patterns of some modern East African mammals

Paleobiology ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hill ◽  
Anna K. Behrensmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
East African ◽  
African Mammals ◽  
Taxonomic Categories

The sequences of skeletal disarticulation in a broad range of African mammals in a tropical savanna environment suggest that in general the process is very consistent. There is some variation among species, but this cannot yet be convincingly related to higher taxonomic categories or to body size. Disarticulation begins shortly after death, proceeds more or less continuously, and is almost complete after 5 yr. Because of the overall predictability of disarticulation, the stage of disarticulation reached by comparable fossil skeletons provides useful information about their taphonomic history prior to burial.

A Guide to Post-Cranial Bones of East African Mammals

1987 ◽  
Vol 42 (146) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Alan Turner ◽  
R. Walker
Keyword(s):  
East African ◽  
African Mammals

Weights of some East African mammals

1963 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Ledger
Keyword(s):  
East African ◽  
African Mammals

Evaluation of basic and alternative breeding programs for Sahiwal cattle genetic resources in Kenya

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. Ilatsia ◽  
R. Roessler ◽  
A. K. Kahi ◽  
H.-P. Piepho ◽  
A. Valle Zárate
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Weight Basis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Breeding Strategies ◽  
Nucleus Size ◽  
East African ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Sahiwal Cattle

The Sahiwal cattle breeding program in Kenya has been operational on an interim basis for over 45 years. However, there have been no systematic efforts undertaken to evaluate its suitability, or to examine how competitive it is compared with other alternative programs in terms of genetic and economic merit. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the genetic and economic success of the current basic and alternative Sahiwal cattle breeding programs in Kenya. The breeding programs examined were the current closed nucleus with two breeding strategies: a purebreeding (CNPURE) and a crossbreeding system (CNCROSS) involving Sahiwal sires and East African Zebu dams. An open nucleus with a certain proportion of pastoral-born Sahiwal bulls introduced into the nucleus herds to produce cows was simulated as an alternative breeding program. In this program only a purebreeding strategy (ONPURE) was considered. The breeding strategies were evaluated under two breeding objective scenarios that addressed traditional markets where animals are sold on body size/weight basis and the Kenya Meat Commission where payment is based on carcass characteristics. Sensitivity analyses to changes in nucleus size and gene contribution were also performed. The annual monetary genetic gain and profit per cow for all investigated breeding programs varied within breeding objectives. Closed nucleus purebreeding program was the most attractive economically but less competitive in regard to genetic superiority compared with either CNCROSS or ONPURE. Returns and profits were generally higher for the carcass characteristic basis compared with the body size/weight basis for all evaluated breeding strategies. Expansion of the nucleus size was not attractive because of the associated reduction in genetic and economic benefits. However, gradual importation of pastoral-born sires into the nucleus farms at the current nucleus proportion of 14% was both genetically and economically beneficial. The CNCROSS plays a complimentary role of facilitating the exploitation of trade-offs that exist between the Sahiwal and the locally better adapted East African Zebu, it also represents an intermediate phase in the on-going upgrading program.

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