Logix Game: A Structured Recording System for Wildlife Ranching in
South Africa
Extended and adapted from an article published in the WRSA publication: ‘Wildlife Ranching’, Autumn 2013
Japie van der Westhuizen
South African Stud Book and Animal Improvement Association
SA Stud Book background
South Africa has a rich history of animal recording. The focus has mainly been on the
recording of, so called, farm animals (livestock) and was initially aimed at the keeping of
‘Stud Books’ for different breeds. The South African Stud Book and Animal Improvement
Association was founded by a group of stud breeders in 1905 for this purpose. From the
onset the independence of the individual breeders’ societies or groups (in terms of their
respective constitutions) was recognised, but Stud Book is being tasked to oversee the
recording of ownership, keepers and particulars of the animals of their members and to also
see to it that the particular constitutions were being adhered to. As a private, non-profit
association, Stud Book belongs to its members, the breeders’ societies (or groups).
Effectively the members have direct decision powers in the services, budget and fees.
SA Stud Book is registered as a Registering Authority under the Animal Improvement Act,
Act 62 of 1998.
A total of 63 registered animal breeders’ societies are members of SA Stud Book plus an
additional 25 direct entry breeds (breeds without a society), all making use of the services
rendered by Stud Book.
Stud Book services include the following:
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Recording of births, ownership and pedigrees as well as production measurements
and any other animal particulars.
Scientific and Technical services.
Genetic evaluation, analyses and breeding advice.
Population evaluation, reports and advice.
All data handling, namely: data capture, validation, editing, processing and
generating of reports.
Maintenance of the central Logix database, including expansion and new
developments unique to the need of users, direct web access, electronic data
exchange (farm software and other centralised databases).
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International accreditation through ICAR (International Committee for Animal
Recording).
Liaison and cooperation with other research institutions, locally, regionally and
abroad.
Stud Book is known to fulfil its obligations by a personnel complement with the necessary
skills and background in the fields of animal breeding and genetics, animal recording, data
base management, computer system maintenance and development, technology transfer,
education and training (also at post graduate level) and technical field services. The animal
science based personnel core consists of five PhD, four MSc/MTech, three BSc (Agric), one
BSc and four Agric Tech. The association also employ five full time programmers.
Rationale for recording ranched wildlife
Not only due to the commercialisation of wildlife, but also for many other important
reasons, the recording of individual animals, ownership (and locality), pedigree (if known),
physical characteristics, measurements or scored traits, animal events (such as births, time
and locality of handling, blood, tissue or semen samples, DNA evaluation, measurements
and weights, transfers of ownerships, matings, etc.) and other species specific needs, are all
main considerations for any commercial enterprise. This is therefore as important for game
management as for breeding or farming with any other farm animal.
The mere recording of lineage (parentage linked to origin) and ownership (also locality) have
many advantages, namely:
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Calculation of species (breed) structures where prominence and influence of
breeders, lines and origins can be quantified.
General demographics can be quantified.
Bottlenecks in the breeding structure can be identified and addressed.
Average and specific genetic relationships can be calculated and used for inbreeding
calculations and the prevention of matings that can lead to inbreeding depression.
The real advantages, however, are to extend recording functions to include additional
information of economic value that will be beneficial to wildlife ranchers, can contribute
to identifying superior breeding stock and can assist in research and a wider
understanding of the particular species.
For these purpose recordings on Logix, a centralised generally accessible database, is
essential as each animal’s particulars with regards to the following will be known and can be
used in a wider context of actions related to profit:
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Any event of significance in the animal’s life, such as:
o Mating particulars,
o Births / giving birth,
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o Treatment of any kind,
o Change of ownership or locality.
o Deaths / termination
Any laboratory results.
Collection of biological samples of the animal, by whom and location stored (such as
hair, body tissue, blood or extracted DNA at a bio bank or laboratory).
Any measurements or observations, like:
o Weight,
o Body measurements, especially linked to economic value such as horn length
and circumference or other properties,
o Descriptions (like colour, constitution, deviations),
o Condition (eg. teeth, general health, etc.).
Visual depiction, such as digital photographs and video clips.
The extension of recordings will have an immediate effect on:
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The viability of directed breeding.
Accurate assessments of phenotypic properties of the whole population.
Linkages and quantification of traits and properties to specific lines or progeny
groups.
Quantifying and listing of general health and disease occurrence and treatment.
Research and the utilisation of the genetic base for traits and properties of economic
importance.
Linking differences among animals in the population with variation on the DNA
(molecular) level and development of tools useful for wildlife breeding and
maintaining biodiversity.
Extension of reports useful to breeders, multipliers, auctioneers, buyers, researchers
organised wildlife organisations and others.
Developing and implementing a system where the genetic merit for traits of
economic importance of each animal can be calculated. These processes include the
phenotypic (measured) values in combination with molecular (genomic) information.
Developing and implementation of sensible selection and breeding plans for more
rapid achievement of breeding goals, including colour variants, fitness (fertility and
survivability) and other traits of economic importance (such as horn properties or
other body characteristics).
Practical considerations.
It all starts with the unique identification of each animal within the population (species). The
seed stock (stud) sector in the livestock industry has developed a comprehensive system
where each breeder has a unique HDM (Herd Designation Mark). It assists in unique
identification of each animal based on the herd it was born in. A typical unique identification
will then be:
Species/Breed [3] + (Country [3]) + Sex [1] + HDM [4] + Birth Year [4] + Sequence within birth year [4]
Physically the identification the animal has to carry only consists of the HDM + birth year
(only two characters) and a sequence number.
The unique identification is furthermore logically linked to any other identification such as
RFID/Micro chip, common name, tag, or any other means of identification.
Once this has been established, the rest can follow. In the first place a proper inventory
needs to be established and the data base populated with all relevant information. The
following figure depicts the pathways of data submission, uptake, calculations and
reporting:
Figure 1: Pathways for data submission, uptake, calculation and reporting for wildlife.
Each breeder (owner) has a choice to use the means best suited to his needs when
information is submitted. The method of choice usually is direct entries via the internet or
by making use of PC based software.
The power of knowledge in interactive reports.
The real value will only be derived once the majority of the animals in a population are
being recorded. The Logix system provides for interactive reporting based on user defined
searches, designs and even the possibility of benchmarking. Even in the case of sales
catalogues, the information is validated against the recorded information on the system.
The next figures serve as examples and depict typical reports currently available to livestock
breeders that could also have relevance (with a few modifications) to wildlife.
Figure 2: Example of a three generation pedigree with additional information already available to livestock breeders that
can be utilised by game breeders.
Figure 3: Example of female age distribution, fertility and benchmark with the rest of the population.
Figure 4: Example of a List of Imported Animals that will immediately impact on game breeding.
Figure 5: Example of the progeny of a bull in different herds, an example where game breeders and potential buyers will
benefit immediately by using the information on the Logix database.
Figure 6: An example of one of the system generated (and validated) sales catalogues also available for Game breeders.
Figure 7: Example of a comparison between the traits and characteristics of cows and bulls in a herd, giving an
immediate insight of the breeding value (genetic merit) of all the animals in a herd.
Figure 8: Example of inbreeding reporting in a herd, assisting individual or groups of breeders in making breeding
decisions.
Linking all activities in one system.
The key to integration is ease of use with accessibility also as a top priority. The game
farmer is occupied in a number of activities. Most of these centre on the wellbeing,
soundness and desirability of his product. Any system should therefore be aimed at assisting
him in these goals.
Logix, the system offered by SA Stud Book, has been successful in offering a complete
animal recording and improvement system for livestock farmers (and a few others such as
Alpacas and three dog breeds) where reproduction, production, efficiency, health,
nutritional needs, product quality, functional and culling properties, references to DNA (and
other) laboratories and bio banks, linear scores and measured type traits, physical
description, photos, genetic merit (breeding values), inbreeding coefficients, show (and
other competitions) awards and other characteristics and traits are recorded.
The next very logical step is therefore to use this very well established and tested system
for the wildlife industry. The same principles of co-ownership and needs-driven future
developments also applies making the system flexible but still truly based on all the
scientific principles of animal improvement.
In all cases the individual breeder or group has an own choice of service providers such as
DNA laboratories, bio banks, diagnostic services, animal nutritionists, veterinarians,
technical advisors or any other service providers. The owner or manager, however, has a
single point of entry and reports are also taking all the different aspects into consideration
giving a holistic view to assist in making the correct management decisions. Figure 9 is an
attempt to illustrate these possibilities for the game farmer.
One very big advantage of using a centralised system is that duplication will be avoided for
tracing biological samples in any bio bank. These samples only need to be taken once, with
the possibility of exchange of extracted DNA amongst the role players. Any of the relevant
institutions, as well as other service providers, will be able to access relevant information
(with the consent of the owner) via the web.
Figure 9: Illustration of the access to and exchange of information between the Logix database and all possible role
players in the commercial game industry.
Staying on top of your game.
Game farmers have access to the latest technologies. The choice for using some of them
should be governed by a vision of maintaining an edge to ensure sustainable profit. By
simply combining current activities and pooling information whilst at the same time
becoming part of a wider network of scientific knowledge and innovation, this goal can be
achieved.
Logix Game now offers game farmers access to the latest in animal recording and
improvement. Not only in terms of desirable genetic changes but also in management
decisions that maximises the possibilities for success in game ranching and breeding.
For more information,
[email protected].
contact
Japie
van
der
Westhuizen
at
082 331 9923;