Indigenous veld goats (IVG) are found in all parts of Southern Africa, with at least four established ecotypes ^[1][17]. They are known for their excellent ability to walk long distances for forage and water and to graze and browse on a wide variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses ^[2][5]; their high fertility and long breeding seasons; their excellent herding ability; and their ability to protect themselves from predators with their horns ^[3][18]. IVG ecotypes include the Mbuzi (Nguni-type), Xhosa-Lob Ear, and Speckled (Skilder), which originate from South Africa, and the Kunene ecotypes originating from Namibia. The description of Southern Africa’s indigenous goat ecotypes can be found in ^[3][18]. The history of the Xhosa-Lob Ear has shown that this ecotype, along with the robust dapple-colored male goat, was used to develop the Boer Goat by breeders in the Eastern Cape, which resulted in the Buffelsfontein Boer Goat Stud ^[3][18]. A study by ^[4][19] indicated that the Xhosa-Lob Ear was also used in the development of the commercial Kalahari Red. Similar to other indigenous goats, these goats are resistant to most diseases and have the ability to survive drought with no supplementary feeding ^[5][20]

The Speckled ecotype, also known as the Skilder, has a high resistance to heat and sunlight. A study by ^[3][18] highlighted that Skilders are equivalent to or superior to some South African goat breeds in terms of production. In the study of ^[1][17], it was illustrated that IVGs (Speckled and Xhosa-Lob Ear) have a similar potential for meat production under similar production conditions as the Boer Goat. The IVG bucks appeared to be particularly suited for meat production, having a higher meat yield that is leaner and with lower subcutaneous and intramuscular fat than Boer Goats.

A study on the growth performance of indigenous goats under village systems and improved management systems was conducted ^[6][21]. The study showed that when farmers practice control over reproduction, health, nutrition, and husbandry, goat production improves. Good management and record keeping are mandatory when it comes to the improvement of indigenous goats. A recent study by ^[7][22] established that, although the indigenous village ecotypes have lower growth performance, their growth performance is relatively comparable when they are raised in an intensive production system. The study further showed that the village goats that were raised in intensive production systems performed better than those raised in extensive production systems. This shows that the production of the indigenous village goats can be improved with an improved production system. Most farmers suggested that crossbreeding with commercial goats improved the growth performance of the indigenous ecotypes. However, ^[7][22] indicated that management alone is able to improve the performance of indigenous goats.

2. Adaptation of Indigenous Goat to Local Environments

Goats were among the first animals to be domesticated and have displayed extraordinary adaptability and usefulness ^[8][42]. During domestication, an animal undergoes a dramatic shift in physiological and behavioral stress as it transitions from a high-density and disease-prone environment to one created by humans ^[9][43]. Candidate genes for selection during goat domestication have been found through studies ^[10][44]; however, they change over time with the domestication process, evolution, and adaptation ^[11][45]. These transitions have made these animals strive and adapt to different agro-ecological regions, and they have developed traits that enable them to survive and produce. Farming systems in South Africa are characterized by hot, dry, and cold conditions with limited feed, lack of water supply, and high disease prevalence ^[12][46]. However, these indigenous breeds and goat ecotypes have naturally adapted to these harsh environments ^[13][14][12,47]. Studies have indicated that goats respond better to environmental heat stress than other livestock animals ^[15][16][48,49]. They can cope better, even when farmed with other livestock species ^[17][1]. Due to various morphological, phenotypic, and largely genetic traits, they can adapt to any environmental condition ^[18][50]. Physical characteristics such as coat color and texture, long legs, and lobby ears provide goats with unique abilities to survive in different climatic conditions and influence their performance in various stocks ^[19][51]. Their physical attributes also allow them to be tolerant to diseases, have excellent thermoregulation capacity, and to survive on low-quality forage and during water shortages ^[13][20][12,52]. They have the ability to absorb water from their feces in the rectum and to concentrate their urine as a way to retain water back in their body for survival ^[21][53]. Their horns are an important adaptive element for self-defense against predators and to assist them when they have to compete for food and water with other animals and during mating ^[22][33]. These adaptive features, including reproductive and productive traits, are linked to natural and artificial selection. Directional natural and artificial selection events have left footprints across the genome known as signatures of selection, which influence adaptation ^[10][44]. These signatures can now be unraveled to understand the mechanisms of adaptation and production in different environments. Due to the ever-changing conditions caused by climate change, it is important to characterize and conserve these animals.

3. Conservation Strategies for Goats

For many years, conservation biologists have used population genetics to apprehend threats to endangered species ^[23][54], with the most popular markers used being microsatellites. Array-based techniques using SNPs are the most used technology that can genotype numbers of animals with thousands of SNPs, and the genotype information can be used to differentiate between populations, demographic, and structure analysis, and to identify selection signatures ^{[24][25][26][27]}[24,30,55,56]. Whole-genome sequencing technologies are also available to discover new SNPs and to unravel the functions of the variants in the genome ^[28][57]. By incorporating genomic technologies, conservation genetics is broadening the scope of its studies by overcoming many conservation-related limitations ^[29][58]. Many conservation-related concerns that have previously been difficult to solve can now be resolved thanks to the simple ability of genetic markers to improve the efficiency and precision of estimating numerous crucial conservation parameters ^[30][16]. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established that over a third of domesticated farm animals are either extinct or facing the threat of extinction ^[31][59] and that these farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) need to be conserved, especially considering the increase in population growth in the Southern African region ^[32][60]. Currently, the Southern African region is facing the challenge of preserving distinctive farm animals that have the potential to contribute to future livestock development while simultaneously trying to upsurge the productivity of the livestock sector ^[33][61]. Therefore, it is important to focus the conservation of FAnGR on smallholder farmers because over 90% of animal keepers in Southern Africa are classified as smallholders. Additionally, approximately 75% of farm animals are kept by rural communities ^[34][62]. These animals have to meet the primary needs of the rural communities, where they represent a source of food and finance, whereas the second primary need is socio-economic and social events ^[33][61]. The first step to setting conservation priorities for the FAnGR is to identify breeds that contribute greatly to global genetic diversity ^[35][63]. The breeds must be able to meet future demand and development as well as cultural, social, and religious roles ^[36][37][64,65]. The priority for FAnGR is to conserve breeds that are under threat of extinction ^[38][66]. Setting priorities for FAnGR through genetic diversity enables the breed’s ability to adapt to different environmental challenges, meet the market’s supply and demand, have increased production through selection, and respond to disease resistance ^[39][67]. Studies that have characterized indigenous goats at the production level ^[40][68], genetic level ^[41][42][43][4,9,32], and phenotypic level ^[22][43][32,33] have been conducted. These studies go a long way in terms of assisting in identifying breeds that constitute conservation. The focus should currently be directed towards the conservation of pure indigenous goats, as the current breeding programs and structures are not considered to conserve genetic diversity. Most breeders are more interested in exotic breeds and crossbreds, which put indigenous breeds in great danger ^[27][56]. In response to the FAOs’ Global Plan of Action for the conservation of animal genetic resources, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) established a National Plan for conservation and the sustainable use of FAnGR in 2015 ^[27][56] for the conservation of indigenous animals. The National Plan’s objectives were to promote the conservation of genetic resource diversity in animals and to implement cost-effective breeding programs in order to improve animal genetic resources for sustainable animal production systems as well as to contribute to the conservation and use of agricultural ecosystems and the utilization of animal genetic resources ^[37][65]. Regardless of the presence of the Global Plan of Action and national plans for the management and utilization of genetic resources, there is still an urgent need for the conservation of indigenous goats, especially in rural areas where there is minimal or no controlled breeding ^[27][56]. Recently, it has become even more apparent to conserve indigenous goats, particularly in these current times of unpredictable climate change and global pandemics. The global pandemic that recently occurred could illustrate conditions that justify conservation in particular. During this time, most livelihoods were affected by the lack of food supply, and food security was immediately threatened (https://www.mzansiagritalk.com/archives/7312, accessed on 5 July 2022). Additionally, the heavy rainfalls that took place in parts of South Africa recently resulted in the loss of many animals and potential disease outbreaks to communal and rural farmers. For these reasons, conservation methods, strategies, and plans need to change to conserve animals that will respond to current and future environmental challenges. A potential approach as a conservation method developed for smallholder farms is community-based livestock breeding programs (CBBPs). CBBPs are implemented to improve smallholder farmers’ indigenous knowledge as well as to ensure training, competence, and institutional intervention ^[44][69]. They provide a sustainable option for the conservation of local animal genetic resources (AnGRs) in their natural habitat by utilizing and improving them ^[44][69]. A study in Malawi and Uganda by ^[45][15] was conducted to evaluate the practicality of CBBPs as a possible method for conservation and for the development of indigenous small ruminants using case studies of goat CBBPs. Through the preservation of their existing communal pasturelands and the development of pasture production skills, the program encouraged smallholder farmers by giving them access to small ruminant feed resources ^[45][15]. The implementation of CBBPs contributed by enhancing the overall animal performance, which resulted in higher offtake rates and pricing by the smallholder farmers ^[45][15]. The goat CBBPs in Malawi and Uganda indicated potential in sustaining rural livelihoods and in enhancing the diversity of local goat genetic resources. Goat CBBPs were recently introduced in South Africa by organizations such as the Agricultural Research Council with funding support from the South African government. They had an impeccable influence on the improvement and conservation of indigenous livestock (https://www.mzansiagritalk.com/archives/7312, accessed on 5 July 2022). CBBPs are a good alternative in smallholder production systems with low flock density and little to no financial advantage. Different methods have been applied in livestock conservation, mainly to increase production and performance, e.g., crossbreeding, artificial insemination, and so forth. However, setting priorities is the most effective way to implement a significant conservation approach given that the breeds are ranked according to their conservation importance. A study by ^[46][70] used Weitzman’s approach to determine the genetic contribution and extinction probability of African cattle breeds. The study outlined the marginal diversity and contribution of each breed to the total diversity. They were able to determine the risk of extinction in African cattle and their environmental context. To the breeds that showed a risk of extinction, positive impacts were observed when the conversation was introduced. Furthermore, populations with a smaller population size had an increased extinction probability. However, increased extinction did not affect their diversity contributions. In the study of ^[47][71], the extinction probability was calculated based on the contribution of each breed by looking at the area, total breed size, population trend, economic importance, and distinctiveness. Due to different levels of breed significance, the conservation program was applied to breeds of high value and with excellent characteristics such as high productivity and good-quality meat and milk. However, the study by ^[48][49][72,73] suggested that the degree of extinction alone could constitute conservation due to the unpredictable future due to climate change. It was also emphasized that species that currently make low contributions to the economy might be of good use in the future, and conservation measures must be in place to save genetic resources.

4. The Need to Conserve Indigenous Goat of South Africa

Goat production plays an important role in the livelihoods of small farming communities, and the adaptive traits of indigenous goats are important for climate change and affordable maintenance ^[27][56]. The studies that have been conducted on the genetic diversity, population structure, and adaptation of the indigenous goats of South Africa ^{[22][41][42][50][51][52]}[3,4,9,27,33,75] have indicated healthy and high levels of genetic diversity in studied populations. Although some ^[41][42][53][4,9,28] have indicated a substandard population structure amongst village/ non-descriptive goats, their gene diversity and unique genetic background show healthy genetic diversity and adaptation traits. This constitutes them for conservation. Their genetic resources should be conserved to maintain ecological balance for future generations, as the world’s population is increasing, and so is the consumption of natural resources. The need to conserve resources is growing to ensure future sustainable utilization, biodiversity preservation, and ecological balance ^[54][76]. The conservation of indigenous goats could significantly contribute to high goat production, which is beneficial to the South African economy ^[55][77].

5. Natural Selection of Indigenous Goats

The adaptive and phenotypic responses of goats to their production environments and different climatic conditions have led to variation in allelic and genotypic frequencies, contributing to the breed’s diversity through selection ^[26][55]. Selection imprints selection signatures in the genome and results in high genetic differentiation within and between populations ^[56][78]. Selection signatures are the main driving force of genetic variation and play an important role in understanding the mechanisms of natural selection. Signatures of selection could be defined as the decline, rejection, or change of genetic variation in genomic regions. It is adjacent to causal variants and responds to natural or artificial selective pressures ^[25][48][49][30,72,73]. Humans first influenced selection during domestication and the development of new breeds ^[57][79]. Insights into the biological pathways underlying phenotypic variation can be determined through the identification of genomic regions subjected to selection. Selection signatures are important in the evolutionary history of breeds and can be used in the identification of genes of economic importance that can be used to improve the breeds ^[57][79]. Different methods are available to identify selection signatures in populations. The most popular approaches are thorough estimations of Fst, runs of homozygosity (ROH), XP-EHH (cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity), and haplotype-based within-population iHS (integrated haplotype score) ^[58][59][80,81]. A study by ^[60][82] identified regions of selection signatures that affect variation in coat color, growth, and milk composition in Swiss goats using the CaprineSNP50k BeadChip. Other studies detected selection signatures related to adaptation to hot/dry environments as well as regions linked to production and reproduction ^[58][61][80,83]. A study by ^[62][84] investigated the genetic diversity of the South African indigenous goat population and identified five genes. UHRF2, GLDC, NDST3, CFAP61, and CUBN genes were discovered. It was established that the UHRF2 gene was involved in the regulation of biological processes, including metabolic processes, growth processes, and reproduction, whereas the GLDC, NDST3, CFAP61, and CUBN genes were found to be involved in the pathways that are responsible for disease response, thermoregulation, metabolism, and longevity. This highlights the unique adaptability traits of indigenous goats and their significance when it comes to environmental adaptation through selection. A study on the multiple genomic signatures of selection in goats and sheep indigenous to a hot arid environment was conducted by ^[58][80]. Several genes that indirectly influenced traits for adaptation to hot arid environments were identified. The genes identified enabled adaptations such as thermo-tolerance (melanogenesis), body size and development, energy and digestive metabolism, and nervous and autoimmune responses. These kinds of analyses make it possible to comprehend the worldwide livestock domestication process and the adaptations of breeds, including goats and goat ecotypes. Genes that play a role in the differentiation of breeds can also be identified ^[58][80].