Sheep and Goat Genetic Resources in Central Serbia

From locally adapted sheep and goat breeds in Central Serbia pramenka (with its ecotypes), and Balkan and Serbian white goat are present. These breeds differ by morphological, reproductive and productive traits and their differentiation was affected by specific climatic, hydrological and nutritional conditions. Thanks to that, these breeds are characterized by the wide adaptability, disease resistance, expressed maternal instinct, relatively high fertility and a long productive life-time. The productivity of these genotypes is relatively low, which led to a drastic reduction in the number of head of locally adapted breeds, simultaneously emphasizing the more productive genotypes. These trends led to loss of genetic diversity. The consequence of these practices in sheep and goat farming is that most of the locally adapted races are endangered in different degrees (from high to critically endangered), according to the criteria of the valid Rulebook. Genotypes of sheep and goat observed in this study belong to a group of genetic resources. According to the Institute for animal husbandry's annual report for Central Serbia in 2017, number of heads for most of locally adapted breeds is in slight increase, but still is not satisfactory. Thus, the number of active animals registered in flockbook for sheep and goats by races are 10386 for Svrljig pramenka, 686 Lipa pramenka, Krivovir pramenka 616, Karakachan pramenka 139, Pirot pramenka 124, Bardoka 94 animals, Balkan goat 121 and Serbian white goat 145 animals. The highest values of live body weight (BW) for the lamb were found in the Lipa lambs (BW at birth 3,44 kg, BW after 30 days 11,79 kg and BW at weaning 27,92 kg), and the Serbian white goat's kids (BW at birth 2,56 kg, BW after 30 days 7.68 kg and BW at weaning 16,04 kg). The highest fertility indexes were observed in Svrljig strain (1,28) and the Balkan goats (1,51). The protection and conservation of sheep and goat genetic resources in the Republic of Serbia is still insufficient, although there is a shift in their conservation. However, urgent protection measures must be taken in the form of in situ and ex situ conservation to prevent the loss of genetic resources forever.