animal genetic resources for improved productivity under harsh environmental conditions, prof. jan...
DESCRIPTION
Indigenous livestock breeds are well adapted to tropical and harsh environments, but usually rather unproductive. Therefore, crossbreeding with exotic breeds has been practiced, and often found to be successful in the first generation, but with disastrous results later on. Therefore, there is a great need for developing breeding strategies for specific populations of indigenous livestock, both in order to conserve genes necessary for survival under harsh environments, and for genetic improvement of productivity. The objective of this project is to explore the opportunities for genetic improvement of primarily two livestock populations considered of specific importance for food security in Eastern Africa, due to their resilience as regards adverse climatic stress or ability to withstand specific disease challenges in the tropics. In the first case, focus will be on the Red Maasai sheep and its crosses in Kenya and Tanzania. This breed has shown a high degree of resistance to gastrointestinal parasites and ability to withstand drought. However, there is no breeding strategy in place and this project will adopt a value chain approach with the farmers and retailers to establish appropriate breeding objectives and selection practices. We will furthermore study production systems, animal usage, survival, production, et cetera, using various interview methods and also further develop an already created production recording system. In the second study we have focused on comparing four Ethiopian cattle breeds with respect to trypanotolerance and productivity and found that one breed, the Sheko, is clearly superior. We will carry out a workshop with researchers, extension officers and farmers on how to amplify the genes for trypanotolerance into the cattle populations kept in tsetse infested areas.TRANSCRIPT
Animal Genetic Resources for improved productivity under harsh environmental conditions
- a UD40 supported project in Eastern Africa
J. Philipsson, E. Zonabend, J. Stein, T. Mirkena, B. Malmfors, A. Näsholm and E. Strandberg
Dept. of Animal Breeding and Genetics, SLU
J. Ojango, W. Ayalew, W. Mulato, J. Audho, T. Dessie, E. Rege, O. Mwai International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya/Ethiopia
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
Organization
Human Resources
Genetics Production system
Feeds and veterinary
services
Meet increasing demands for food of animal origin on an increasingly competitive market without environmental
degradation of land and water
considering the needs for future genetic diversity
T
The present study involves two endangered indigenous breeds with specifically valuable attributes
Institutional framework Kenya Tanzania Uganda
Livestock breeding policy Draft available Draft in
progress Available
Livestock recording and genetic evaluation
Recording and genetic
evaluation of some dairy and
beef breeds
Limited recording at
research farms
Limited recording at
research farms
Study of Infrastructure to support the use of AnGR in Eastern Africa
Shortage of human capacity trained in animal breeding in all countries
Lack of integration of livestock development activities and of farmers involvement in livestock recording in all countries
Very few breeding programs in place in SSA
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
Ethiopia Trypanosomosis 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
Horro Abigar Sheko Gurage
Four indigenous breeds in SW Ethiopia investigated PhD project in collaboration between EIAR, ILRI and SLU
Farmer interviews – perceptions about diseases
Field investigations by blood analyses for PCV and parasitaemia in the habitat of each breed
On station comparison of breeds for production, diseases and survival with the same tsetse challenge
Trypanosomosis - Infection rate
Sheko - superior trypanotolerance in all three studies but is an endangered breed – needs to be conserved!
0
20
40
60
80
100
Abigar Gurage Horro Sheko
Infe
ctio
n ra
te (%
)
Percieved by livestock keepers
Detected in home areas
Detected on station
Breeding for Trypanotolerance in Ethiopia
Results presented in a PhD thesis and shared at a workshop with all Ethiopian stakeholders
How to conserve the Sheko breed and disseminate its genes for trypanotolerance to the broader livestock populations in tsetse- infested areas of Ethiopia is presently studied – simulation of alternative strategies
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
Recurrent severe droughts show higher survival of Red Maasai
Indiscriminately crossed with Dorper for better meat production
Dorper not well adapted
The case of Red Maasai sheep
INDISCRIMINATE CROSSBREEDING
Red Maasai x Dorper crosses
Indigenous breed kept in Kenya and neighbouring countries
Recurrent severe droughts show higher survival of Red Maasai
Indiscriminately crossed with Dorper for better meat production
Dorper not well adapted
Red Maasai population drastically declining – endangered breed
AIM: How to conserve Red Maasai sheep and increase productivity for improved food security?
The case of Red Maasai sheep
Pilot sheep recording scheme in 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 and markets as well as social, cultural and gender aspects of sheep production
Interviews for assessment of breeding objectives
Design of alternative breeding strategies
Outreach workshops for sharing results and for capacity building
Materials and methods
Recording growth, health and fertility on Red Maasai, Dorper sheep and their crosses
Linear Measurements
Weighing
Interviews
Defining age Reproduction Ear tagging
Weighing
Farmers Middlemen
Butchers
Breeding objectives set by interviewing farmers and middlemen and butchers
Middlemen
Butchers
Farmers
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Growth and Bodysize
Condition Milk production Mothering abilityand
Reproduction
Drought andDisease
resistance
DorperRed MaasaiCross
What farmers like in their ewes
Relative percentage of responses
Red Maasai Sheep Constitutes the main female flock Purebreeding for improvement of maternal and survival traits Partly for controlled crossbreeding to produce slaughter lambs Dorper Sheep Terminal ram breed for controlled crossbreeding with Red Maasai to produce slaughter lambs
Selection for growth, health and survival
Potential breeding strategy
Conclusions of Red Maasai project Hardiness of Red Maasai sheep and growth rate/body size of Dorper sheep preferred by livestock keepers Milk production surprisingly important due to heavy losses of cattle during serious droughts 2008-2009 in the region Great need for increased production for food security and export of lamb carcasses Women greatly involved and dependent on sheep production Great interest among livestock keepers in organized selection based on sheep recording
Outcomes and Implications Closer links between livestock keepers, local stakeholders, ILRI and SLU in research for development efforts leading to: - Increased interest for improvement of indigenous livestock genetic resources for improved food security and 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
An example of long-standing fruitful cooperation between SLU and ILRI
enhanced by the UD40 project
Resources of UD, Sida, EIAR, SLU, and ILRI for conducting these studies are highly appreciated