**5.5 Novel traits phenotypes that were used in beef and dairy cattle selection strategies in the smaller developing sectors in South Africa**

Genomic selection (GS) was stated to have started in the dairy cattle industry world-wide as phenotypic data and DNA information were made available alongside the use of artificial insemination [41]. The recognition of important or the novel traits associated with sustainability in the dairy industry led to novel traits identification such as feed efficiency (FE), methane emission percentage (%) reduction, heat stress tolerance, claw health, disease resistance and udder health heritability evaluations as shown in the **Table 2** [33].

Novel traits to be used in selection strategies need to be heritable, be of economic importance and should be practically measurable at a cost-efficient level [33].
