scholarly journals Genetic Improvement of Local Cattle Breeds in West Africa: A Review of Breeding Programs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2125
Author(s):  
Dominique Ouédraogo ◽  
Albert Soudré ◽  
Bernadette Yougbaré ◽  
Salifou Ouédraogo-Koné ◽  
Bienvenue Zoma-Traoré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Zebu Cattle ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Milk Performance ◽  
Multiple Services ◽  
Farmer Livelihoods ◽  
National Economies

Cattle are one of the most important livestock species in West Africa, providing multiple services to farmers and contributing to national economies. Various breeding strategies have been implemented to enhance their productivity and have improved farmer livelihoods. This review describes cattle breeding experiences across West Africa, spanning the N’Dama breed in Mali, Senegal, and The Gambia to the breeds Azawak Zebu, Fulani Zebu, and taurine Baoulé in Burkina Faso. The main objectives of most breeding programs have been to optimize meat and milk performance of taurine and Zebu cattle as well as trypanotolerance of taurine cattle. In some cases, “closed nucleus” schemes have proven limited and so have evolved into “open nucleus” schemes. Recent community-based breeding programs have shown promise. The major challenges of breeding programs remain defining realistic breeding objectives and securing the involvement of stakeholders. All the strategies reviewed here have been funded externally within development or research projects that are often too short to yield tangible genetic improvement, and whether they will continue beyond those projects is uncertain. This review highlights the need for continuing government support to ensure the sustainability of local cattle breeding programs.

scholarly journals Sustainable Intensification of Beef Production in the Tropics: The Role of Genetically Improving Sexual Precocity of Heifers

Animals ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Gerardo Alves Fernandes Júnior ◽  
Delvan Alves Silva ◽  
Lucio Flavio Macedo Mota ◽  
Thaise Pinto de Melo ◽  
Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Zebu Cattle ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Sexual Precocity ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Selection For

Increasing productivity through continued animal genetic improvement is a crucial part of implementing sustainable livestock intensification programs. In Zebu cattle, the lack of sexual precocity is one of the main obstacles to improving beef production efficiency. Puberty-related traits are complex, but large-scale data sets from different “omics” have provided information on specific genes and biological processes with major effects on the expression of such traits, which can greatly increase animal genetic evaluation. In addition, genetic parameter estimates and genomic predictions involving sexual precocity indicator traits and productive, reproductive, and feed-efficiency related traits highlighted the feasibility and importance of direct selection for anticipating heifer reproductive life. Indeed, the case study of selection for sexual precocity in Nellore breeding programs presented here show that, in 12 years of selection for female early precocity and improved management practices, the phenotypic means of age at first calving showed a strong decreasing trend, changing from nearly 34 to less than 28 months, with a genetic trend of almost −2 days/year. In this period, the percentage of early pregnancy in the herds changed from around 10% to more than 60%, showing that the genetic improvement of heifer’s sexual precocity allows optimizing the productive cycle by reducing the number of unproductive animals in the herd. It has a direct impact on sustainability by better use of resources. Genomic selection breeding programs accounting for genotype by environment interaction represent promising tools for accelerating genetic progress for sexual precocity in tropical beef cattle.

scholarly journals Livestock Keepers’ Attitudes: Keystone of Effective Community-Based Breeding Programs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2499
Author(s):  
Bienvenue Zoma-Traoré ◽  
Lorenz Probst ◽  
Salifou Ouédraogo-Koné ◽  
Albert Soudré ◽  
Dominique Ouédraogo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Cattle Breed ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Zebu Cattle ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Taurine Breed ◽  
Effective Community ◽  
Breed Improvement

Livestock keepers in southwestern Burkina Faso hold the local Lobi taurine breed, local Zebu cattle, and their crosses. Some communities in the region have begun to implement community-based cattle breeding programs (CBBPs), which involve animal tagging and recording and, potentially, also bull sharing. Based on the hypothesis that the participation of livestock keepers in CBBPs depends on their attitudes towards these programs, we used questionnaires to survey the attitudes of 125 farmers towards cattle breeding strategies and tools. Results were analyzed using principal component analysis. Farmers showed a highly positive attitude towards maintaining the features of their preferred cattle breed, but their attitudes varied substantially towards crossbreeding for breed improvement. Farmers generally agreed that performance was more important than animal appearance, and most of them were willing to cooperate with breeders’ associations but were skeptical about sharing their bulls with other farmers. The majority was reluctant to record performance data, which may be due to a capacity deficit and their confidence in being able to select the best animals based purely on phenotype. Our analysis suggests that breeders’ associations, as a key component of CBBPs, should lay down clear rules and obligations for their members from the outset. Timely consideration of farmers’ attitudes towards different breeding tools may improve their uptake and guarantee the sustainability of CBBPs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of breeding bulls based on quality of offspring considering crossing options

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-463
Author(s):  
M. V. Abramova ◽  
S. V. Zyryanova
Keyword(s):  
High Reliability ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Holstein Breed ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Dairy Cattle Breeding ◽  
Holstein Bulls

Breeding takes the main place in the complex of measures for intensification of dairy cattle breeding. A characteristic feature of breeding work is identification of the most valuable genotypes and their further use in cattle population. The Holstein breed is considered one of the most highly productive breeds, in many countries of the world it is used for the genetic improvement of local breeds. In this regard, a comparative assessment of methods for determining the breeding value of bulls of different genotypes obtained by interbreeding is relevant. The results of assessment of genetic superiority of the used breeding bulls in terms of milk productivity of daughters for the first lactation through interannual deviations of the homogeneous peers are presented, the best producers in all the studied herds are identified, it is established which breeds the best and worst breeding bulls belong to. The research revealed that 18% of bulls had genetic superiority at controlled farms (9% - Holstein breed, 6% - Yaroslavl crossbreeding bulls, 3% - Mikhailovsky type’s bulls), a negative value - 24% including 9% - Yaroslavl crossbreeding bulls, 9% - Mikhailovsky type’s bulls and 6% - Holstein bulls. A comparative evaluation of the two methods showed a high reliable positive correlation between results of Mikhailovsky type bulls and Yaroslavl crossbreeding bulls equal to 0.82 and 0.56, respectively, which indicates a high reliability of the method of genetic superiority index, which can be used to evaluate bulls during crossbreeding. It is possible to increase the genetic potential of herds by excluding producers with a negative genetic index. The obtained results are recommended to be used when mating bulls and for development of breeding programs for individual herds or entire population

scholarly journals Biofuel plant species and the contribution of genetic improvement

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (spe) ◽  
pp. 16-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Antônio dos Santos Dias
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Environmental Security ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Improvement Programs

The paper analyses the puzzle of the food-energy-environmental security interaction, to which biofuels are part of the solution. It presents and discusses the contribution of genetic improvement to biofuels, with regard to the production of raw materials (oil and ethanol-producing plant species) and designs perspectives, opportunities, risks and challenges, with a special focus on the Brazilian scene. Bioethanol is a consolidated biofuel owing largely to the sugarcane breeding programs. These programs released 111 sugarcane cultivars and were responsible for a 20.8 % gain in productivity of bioethanol (in m³ ha-1) between 2000 and 2009. The program of Brazilian biodiesel production, initiated in 2005, had an annual growth rate of 10 % and the country is already the world's fourth largest producer. However, the contribution of breeding to biodiesel production is still modest, due to the lack of specific improvement programs for oil.

scholarly journals The Current and Future Uses of Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture

Ceiba ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-81
Author(s):  
Alison L. Van Eenennaam
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Genetic Modifications ◽  
Genomic Tools

Biotechnologies have been an integral part of improvements in animal genetics, nutrition and health over the past century. Many biotechnologies have become fundamental components of efficient livestock production systems. The genetic improvements that have been enabled by biotechnologies have dramatically decreased the environmental footprint of animal protein production in many parts of the world, and continued innovation is required to address the projected increase in demand for animal products in the future. Breeding programs increasingly utilize a combination of advanced reproductive technologies and genomic tools to accelerate the rate of genetic gain by manipulating components of the breeder’s equation. The use of these biotechnologies and breeding methods has met with little public opposition. In contrast, the use of modern biotechnologies, defined as those that employ the use of in vitro nucleic acid techniques, have been highly controversial, especially those involving the use of genetic engineering. This modern biotechnology distinction is somewhat arbitrary as there are a number of biotechnologies that involve the use of in vitro processes, and many result in genetic modifications that are indistinguishable from the naturally-occurring variation that is the driver of both traditional breeding programs and evolution. A number of useful traits including disease resistance and animal welfare traits have been successfully introduced into various livestock species using both genetic engineering and gene editing techniques. Ultimately these techniques complement the genetic improvement that can be accomplished using traditional selection techniques and, if judged acceptable, offer an opportunity to synergistically accelerate genetic improvement in food animal species.

ARE TODAY’S DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING PROGRAMS SUITABLE FOR TOMORROW’S PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS?

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. McALLISTER
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Genetic Trend ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Holstein Breed ◽  
Dairy Cattle Breeding ◽  
National Production

In the last decade the dairy cattle population has declined to a level of 1.9 million cows in 1978 with about 56% of these cows bred AI and nearly 20% of the population enrolled in a supervised milk recording program. The decline in cow numbers has been accompanied by an increase in herd size and production per cow. The current breeding program of the dairy industry is a composite of breeding decisions made by AI organizations, breeders who produce young bulls for sampling and all dairymen who choose the sires and dams of their replacement heifers. Estimates of genetic trend from 1958–1975 for milk production in the national milk recorded herd range from 21 to 55 kg per year for the four dairy breeds with Holsteins being 41 kg per year. Both differential use of superior proven sires and improved genetic merit of young bulls entering AI studs contribute to this genetic improvement. Various national production and marketing alternatives were examined. Selection is a major breeding tool in establishing a breeding program to meet national production requirements for milk and milk products once the selection goal is defined. AI and young sire sampling programs will continue to be the primary vehicle for genetic improvement through selection regardless of the selection goal. The current resources of milk-recorded cows bred AI is not being fully utilized to achieve maximum genetic progress possible from young sire sampling indicate that the number of young bulls sampled annually in the Holstein breed could be tripled with the existing milk-recorded and AI bred dairy cow population. Expanded milk recording and AI breeding levels could increase the potential for even further genetic improvement. The potential impact of selection for other traits, crossbreeding and the use of embryo transfer of future breeding programs is highlighted.

Phenotypic characterization of maize landraces from Sahel and Coastal West Africa reveals marked diversity and potential for genetic improvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Nelimor ◽  
Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽  
Simon P. A. Nguetta ◽  
Antonia Y. Tetteh ◽  
Ana Luísa Garcia-Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Maize Landraces
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document