407 Awardee Talk: a Survey of Researchable Questions Posed in Collaborating with South Africans

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Abstract Research priorities in South Africa, indeed in many developing countries, are viewed from a tripartite perspective of economic growth, food security, and increased employment. While these priorities overlap with those of the developed world, they are not entirely consistent. Strikingly the current unemployment rate is approximately 30%; the poverty rate is approximately 55%; and about 25% of the populous experience an insecure food supply. Agriculture is one sector in which the government aims to increase participation of black people and to assist in revitalizing the rural economy and creating jobs. There are an estimated 7.9 million beef cattle in the commercial sector in South Africa and 5.7 million in the emerging and communal sectors. Furthermore, 52% of the cattle in the commercial sector are cows whereas only 35% are cows in the emerging and communal sectors. In traditional communities of the emerging and communal sectors, cattle are important not only economically but also for their cultural significance. Against this background the need for integrated research efforts is magnified. Some pertinent questions guiding research efforts include: Can breed types used by emerging and communal farmers be characterized? Is the characterization of breed resources sufficient to allow for use of breed complementarity and heterosis? Is enough known about the adaptive ability of breed resources to respond effectively to climate change? Can genetic improvement yield advances in production efficiency similar to those seen in developed countries? Are there unique phenotypes to be considered in South African production systems? Can genomic technologies lift productivity in the emerging and communal sectors where traditional performance recording is virtually non-existent? What can be learned by studying livestock that have survived with lower levels of inputs that are commonplace in the emerging and communal sectors?