Not just pavement specials
It is not only our technologists who are innovative – our farmers and animal breeders also strut their stuff on the world stage. Several domestic animal breeds have been created in South Africa through artificial selection that are perfectly attuned to our harsh local environments. They include Bonsmara and Afrikaner cattle, Dorper and Dohne-Merino sheep, Boergoats, Kolbroek pigs, Boschvelder chickens and black ostriches. But the three local breeds that really interest me are the Boerperd, Pedi sheep and AfriCanis dog.
The Boerperd is a re-creation of the traditional Cape Horse, now extinct. The Cape Horse originated from horses imported from Java in 1653 that were interbred with English Thoroughbreds to create a tough riding and work horse.
During the South African Wars many of them were killed and intensive efforts were subsequently made to re-breed them. The Historiese Boerperd was officially recognised by the Department of Agriculture as a separate breed in 1996. The first horses imported into Australia were Boerperds, which gave rise to the indigenous Australian Waler. The Basotho Pony and Namaqua Pony are also descended from them.
Another South African breed of riding horse, the Nooitgedachter, stems from the selective breeding of Basotho ponies and Arab horses.
Pedi sheep are one of three local Nguni sheep varieties, together with Zulu and Swazi strains, that have been bred in southern Africa since about 200CE.
They were bred by the Bapedi people in Limpopo province and are relatively small, fat-tailed sheep that are farmed for their meat. Their fleece is white with brown and red blotches, and they resemble feral goats.
Dogs have existed in Africa for over 9 000 years and in South Africa for more than 1 400 years.
Our indigenous breed, AfriCanis, far from being a ‘pavement special’ that arose from the random mating of stray mongrels, is an indigenous animal that has evolved over time to suit the needs of South Africa and its people.
AfriCanis is a medium- sized, slender dog with a pointed snout and ears and a long, curved tail.
Its eye rims, lips and nose are black but its coat colour varies from white through brown to black. They are quiet dogs that only bark when provoked and are known for their alertness and loyalty. They are also tough and low-maintenance, naturally resistant to ticks and other parasites, and eat anything.
The term ‘AfriCanis’ was introduced by Udo Küsel, then Director of the National Cultural History Museum in Pretoria, and Johan Gallant, dog behaviourist, who were passionate about preserving the dog as part of our cultural heritage.
In 1988 they co-founded the AfriCanis Society and developed a genetic profile for the indigenous dog, which differs genetically from all other dog breeds. • ‘Mike Bruton is a retired scientist and a busy writer; mikefishesbruton@gmail.com