animal genetic resources for improved productivity under harsh environmental conditions
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Presentation by Jan Philipsson, Emelie Zonabend, Erling Strandberg, James Audho, Julie Ojango and Okeyo Mwai at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Global Workshop, Uganda, December 2012 Uganda, December 2012TRANSCRIPT
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
The presentation has a Creative Commons license. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is given to ILRI.
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