Animal Genetic Resources for improved productivity

under harsh environmental conditionsJan Philipsson, Emelie Zonabend, Erling Strandberg

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsla Sweden

James Audho, Julie Ojango, Okeyo MwaiInternational Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Global Workshop,

Uganda, December 2012

Animal Genetic Resources for sustainable use in developing countries

70% of livestock breeds found in developing countries - indigenous breeds in SSA often adapted to harsh conditions

Huge ruminant populations but many animals unproductive

Lack of long term breeding strategies and neglect of the genetic potential of some indigenous breeds

Market forces introduced exotic breeds for short term gains - Indiscriminate ”upgrading” of indigenous breeds

Many valuable indigenous breeds become endangered

The Challenge in use of Animal Genetic Resources in Developing Countries

Must utilize the potential of

the AnGR and increase the

productivity per animal!

Develop relevant Animal Breeding Programs

Meet increasing demands forfood of animal origin on an increasingly competitive market without environmental degradation of land and water

considering the needs for future genetic diversity

TT

The present study involves two endangered indigenous breedswith specifically valuable attributes

Trypanosomosis (sleeping sickness)– one of the most disastrous animal diseases in the tropics with the tsetse fly as vector

Sub-Saharan Africa 60 million heads of cattle exposed to risk 3 million heads lost annually

EthiopiaTrypanosomosis covers 15 % of all arable land and hinders human inhabitation

10 - 14 million heads of cattle exposed to risk

Trypanotolerance of indigenous cattle breeds in tsetse infested areas of Ethiopia

Some breeds show “trypanotolerance”Capacity of an animal to control the development of the

parasites and to limit their pathological effects

HorroAbigar ShekoGurage

Four indigenous breeds in SW Ethiopia investigatedCollaboration with Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research

Farmer interviews – perceptions about diseases

Field investigations by blood analyses for PCV and parasitaemia

On station comparison of breeds for production, diseases and survival

Trypanosomosis - Infection rate

Sheko - superior trypanotolerance in all three studiesbut is an endangered breed – needs to be conserved!

Breeding for Trypanotolerance

Results presented in a PhD thesis and shared at a workshop with all Ethiopian stakeholders

The remaining issue is how to conserve the breed and disseminate genes for trypanotolerance to the broader livestock populations in tsetse infested areas of Ethiopia

MoA taken results onboard for translation of results into practice including a proposal to IFAD for action research

Indigenous breed kept in Kenya and neighbouring countries

Indiscriminately crossed with Dorper for better meat production

Red Maasai population drastically declining – endangered breed

Recurrent severe droughts show higher survival of Red Maasai

How to conserve Red Maasai sheep and increase productivity for food security and better livelihood?

The case of Red Maasai sheep

Imported from South Africa

Composite breed of Dorset and Blackhead Persian breeds

Meat type breed

Not adopted to harsh climatic conditions – problem to survive droughts

Uncontrolled crossbreeding with Red Maasai

The Dorper breed

INDISCRIMINATE CROSSBREEDING

Red Maasai x Dorper crosses

Pilot sheep recording schemein two Maasai village areas

Data on live weights, fertility and health for farmer information and genetic analyses - similar data from two research ranches (Kapiti and Naivasha)

Baseline study on production system, markets and social aspects of sheep production - extra focus on gender issues

Interviews for assessment of breeding objectives

Design of alternative breeding strategies

Outreach workshops for sharing results and forcapacity building

Materials and methods

Recording growth, health and fertilityon Red Maasai, Dorper sheep and their crosses

Ear tagging

Linear Measurements

Defining age

Interviews Weighing

Fertility

Farmers Middlemen

Butchers

Breeding objectivesset by interviewing farmers and middlemen and butchers

Middlemen

Butchers

Farmers

What farmers like in their ewes

Relative percentage of responses

Relative percentage of responses

What farmers want to improve in their ewes

Red Maasai Sheep Constitutes the main female flock

Purebreeding for improvement of maternal and survival traits partly used for crossbreeding to produce slaughter lambs

Dorper SheepUse as terminal ram breed for controlled crossbreeding to produce slaughter lambs

Selection for growth, health and survival

Potential breeding strategy

Outcomes and Implications Closer links between the pastoralists, the local stakeholders, ILRI and SLU in research for development efforts leading to: - Increased interest for improvement of indigenous animal genetic resources as a pathway out of poverty

- Change in animal selection practices within communities

- Enhanced awareness and access to market information and alternative markets by livestock keepers

Sharing of collective partner experiences and building on these to ensure better joint outcomes

Build on the results and achievements to jointly secureresources in order to deliver results to scale (i.e. to otherregions and countries) and inform future action-researchdesigns and plans in the region

Target private partners to support innovative livestockrecording systems and community based breeding programs in developing countries

Broaden the partnership to include other disciplines from either parties

Attract more and facilitate younger SLU scientists´ participation to ensure continuity

Way forward for the collaboration

An example of long-standing fruitful cooperation between SLU and ILRI

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