ANTELOPE BREEDING (ELAND ANTELOPE) IN SELECT COUNTRIES OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC UTILIZATION
SADA L., VERNER P., NAPRAVNIK J.
Abstract
The population of sub-Saharan Africa has not so far
sufficient own sources of animal protein for its nutrition. There appears a
possibility on extension of meat production, eventually of milk production besides
the production of cattle and other ruminants, by gradual domestication and breeding
of some antelope species, using farm system in enclosures, not in free nature.
Some of the suitable species of antelopes are briefly described in this contribution.
As a most suitable species appears to be Eland antelope - Taurotragus oryx which
already in the past century was kept in Africa and at present is successfully
kept in captivity in the Zoos and even in reserves of temperate zones. Czech
Republic has also great experience with keeping of majority of antelopes in
large numbers, mostly in the Zoos. Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture,
Czech University of Agriculture in Prague submitted a project within the frame
of developing assistance on utilization of antelopes (Eland antelope in particular)
for their commercial utilization of meat, eventually of milk in several African
countries of sub-Saharan region. The project issues from world and Czech experience
with keeping Eland antelope and was accepted by FAO, approved by Czech Republic
and some of the African countries showed up their interest about it.
Key words:
Antelopes, Eland antelope, antelope keeping