Developing optimized cattle breeding schemes

							Developing optimized cattle
    breeding schemes

    Ulrike Janβen-Tapken
             and
         Emily Ouma
Outline
   Background
   Study Objectives
   Research Sites
   Methods
   Preliminary Results
Background
   The demand for milk and meat from livestock in
   Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase.
   ► Need to improve livestock productivity.

   The existing breeding structure is influenced by
   infrastructural and environmental constraints as well as by
   non-market and socio cultural functions of livestock.

   One of the most important disease constraints on livestock
   productivity is: Trypanosomosis.

   Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for Trypanosomosis tolerance
   have been identified in a N’Dama x Boran F2 population.
Background
   In developing countries, livestock assumes multiple functions
   in the household livelihood system and are closely
   associated with the social fabric and welfare of rural
   households.
   ► Consequently, important functions of livestock are
       embedded in traits not traded in the market.
   Breed improvement programs should focus on traits that
   guarantee multifunctionality, flexibility and resilience in order
   to deal with variable environmental conditions.
   This study fills this gap by emphasising on development of
   demand driven breeding programs.
   Emphasis on evaluation of possibility to implement modern
   technology such as Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) or
   Introgression (MAI)
Study Objectives
   Identify and estimate farmer preferences for cattle traits.
   Identify factors driving the preference structure.
    – Production systems (crop-livestock, pastoralist)
    – Farmer characteristics (education, age, sex, etc.)
    – Farm characteristics (size, infrastructure, etc.)
    – Access to production services (AI, veterinarian service,
      market)
   Evaluate the current breeding practices of cattle keepers.
   Design sustainable breeding programs on the basis of
   producer preferences in pastoral and crop-livestock systems
   of selected sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Study Objectives
   Investigate pathways by which cattle keepers can access
   improved genotypes (CBM?).
   Investigate barriers to access improved genotypes.
   Emphasis on the trait: Trypanotolerance
    – Use of identified genes (QTL) from completed genome
      scan projects on N’Dama x Boran F2 populations for
      Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) and Introgression (MAI)
   Investigate barriers for the uptake of improved genetic
   techniques by farmers and Artificial Insemination (AI)
   organizations.
   Analyze the necessary requirements for the uptake of
   improved genetic techniques.
   Predict the impact of breeding programs on livelihoods,
   differentiated by dissemination sources.
Research Sites


                 Ethiopia




                 Kenya
Study Sites
Study Sites
Methods
   An ILRI-ETH Workshop has been conducted in Kenya to
   discuss the project’s aims with scientists in relevant fields
   (Nov 2003).
   The study sites have been chosen after reviews, GIS
   mappings and personal communication with local scientists
   based on the distribution of cattle and tsetse flies (vector for
   Trypanosomosis) taking into account the prevailing
   production systems.
   Focus group discussions have been carried out between
   February and March 2004 using Participatory Rural Appraisal
   (PRA) techniques with the following objectives:
    – Determine farmers’ needs and preferences for keeping
      cattle and their breeding and development objectives
      across a range of production systems in Eastern Africa.
    – Identify existing cattle production systems to be used in
      targeting research areas for the choice experiment
      survey.
Farmer focus group discussions in selected
sites in Kenya and Ethiopia
Methods
   Household level survey, involving questionnaire and choice
   experiment instruments will be carried out.
    – Choice experiment will be used to elicit economic values
      of cattle traits.
    – Econometric modelling to estimate economic values of
      cattle traits and determine preference structures.

   Simulation programs will be used to
    – Adapt developed breeding programs to environmental
      conditions.
    – Evaluate breeding programs for sustainability.
    – Assess potentiality of CBM approach to disseminate
      improved genotypes.
Preliminary Results
    Identification and review of cattle production systems in the
    study sites:
     – Crop-livestock systems
                          (Ghibe Valley, Narok highlands, Busia)
     – Pastoralist systems (Narok lowlands, Kajiado)
     – Agro-Pastoralist systems (Kajiado)
    Identification of cattle keeping objectives:
     – Milk (Kenya, Ethiopia)
     – Meat (Kenya)
     – Traction (Ethiopia)
     – Income or saving and insurance (Ethiopia, Kenya)
     – Blood (Kenya-Narok)
Preliminary Results
    Important cattle traits in study sites
     – Adaptability to Trypanosomosis
     – Reproductive performance
     – Milk production
     – Good temperament
     – Fitness to traction
     – Fertility
     – Good body condition
     – Rapid weight gain
    Identification of farmer’s demands for genetic material:
     – Dual purpose cattle (milk and meat or milk and traction)
     – Trypanosomosis tolerance
Preliminary Results
    Identification of cattle breeding practices in the study sites:
     – Bull-service from own or neighbouring herds (inbreeding
       not prevented)
     – Very limited AI-service which emphasises on upgrading
       for milk-production
     – Random mating (Ghibe Valley)
     – Limited bull-selection (Kenya)
    Identification of constraints to cattle production in the study
    areas (by farmers):
     – Animal diseases
     – Lack of effective drugs and animal health advice /
       veterinary service
     – Inaccessibility of breeding services (AI, Bull-service)
     – Lack of markets for cattle and their products
     – Water scarcity
     – Wildlife predation
Preliminary Results
    Identification of constraints for the application of
    highly advanced breeding programs under the local
    environmental conditions:
    – Lack of record keeping / consistent marking of livestock
      (feed-back)
    – Large herd sizes in pastoral systems with frequent
      movement
    – Uncontrolled mating practises because of community
      grazing system
    – Lack of AI service / AI equipment
    – Infrastructure (roads, communication systems,
      veterinarian service, AI-service)
Thank you for your attention!