Options for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of research capacity for livestock genetics in, and for, sub-Saharan Africa

SummaryAnimal breeding for increased productivity over the past 50 to 60 years has been very successful in terms of increasing growth rate, milk yield and egg production in most livestock producing regions of the world (Rauwet al., 1998). However, this success has not registered that well in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Ironically, just like most developing regions, SSA is faced with the challenge to increase rapidly the agricultural productivity to help feed their growing human populations without depleting the natural resource base (Rege, 2005). Genetic improvement of livestock depends on access to genetic variation and effective methods for exploiting this variation (Rege, 2005). This is where human capacity and infrastructure for decision-support systems in animal breeding are required. This paper provides a synthesis of views from a cross-section of livestock production experts working in SSA. These views were collated through an e-conference which was held from 8th March to 20th April 2011. The e-conference discussed future research and development (R&amp;amp;D) needs for animal breeding and genetics in SSA and how they can be met. The e-conference attracted 43 participants from 17 countries. Results from the e-conference demonstrated that the R&amp;amp;D institutions and infrastructure in SSA vary widely in terms of both the physical and human capacity. Equally varied is the level of utilization of these institutions. In terms of training in Animal Breeding and Genetics, although most universities/colleges have programmes in Animal Science and teach animal breeding and genetics, there are very few practicing animal breeders. Lack of mentorship programmes and collaboration, and in some cases lack of appropriate jobs, continue to contribute to this ‘leaking pipeline’ phenomenon. The following is a summary of the consensus stemming from the conference on how the efficiency and effectiveness of livestock genetic improvement in SSA could be enhanced. First, the need to augment the approach that promotes animal breeding and genetics as part of a wider agriculture and rural development system, second, collaboration both within Africa and with those in the Diaspora should be further tapped into and utilized as a source of capacity for R&amp;amp;D and third, initiative of sharing resources and research platforms such as pooling data for genetic analysis from across institutions, and even across countries, should be encouraged in case where this is advantageous to do so.</jats:p

Genome-wide analysis reveals the ancient and recent admixture history of East African Shorthorn Zebu from Western Kenya

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Cattle genome-wide analysis reveals genetic signatures in trypanotolerant N'Dama

Abstract Background Indigenous cattle in Africa have adapted to various local environments to acquire superior phenotypes that enhance their survival under harsh conditions. While many studies investigated the adaptation of overall African cattle, genetic characteristics of each breed have been poorly studied. Results We performed the comparative genome-wide analysis to assess evidence for subspeciation within species at the genetic level in trypanotolerant N’Dama cattle. We analysed genetic variation patterns in N’Dama from the genomes of 101 cattle breeds including 48 samples of five indigenous African cattle breeds and 53 samples of various commercial breeds. Analysis of SNP variances between cattle breeds using wMI, XP-CLR, and XP-EHH detected genes containing N’Dama-specific genetic variants and their potential associations. Functional annotation analysis revealed that these genes are associated with ossification, neurological and immune system. Particularly, the genes involved in bone formation indicate that local adaptation of N’Dama may engage in skeletal growth as well as immune systems. Conclusions Our results imply that N’Dama might have acquired distinct genotypes associated with growth and regulation of regional diseases including trypanosomiasis. Moreover, this study offers significant insights into identifying genetic signatures for natural and artificial selection of diverse African cattle breeds

A close lood at a rare African breed-the Kuri cattle of Lake Cha Basin: origin, distribution, production and adaptive characteristics

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Голос Верхней Туры. 2014. № 02

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of heterosis on the lactation curve components of Girolando cattle obtained by fitting different mathematical models. Data consisted of 258,891 test day milk yield records of the first lactation from 37,965 cows of Minas Gerais State (Brazil) between 1998 and 2014. Those cows were from the Holstein breed (H), Gyr breed (G) and six genetic cross-breedings of Holstein Gyr, (1/4H, 3/4G (1/4H); 3/8H, 5/8G (3/8H); 1/2H, 1/ 2G (1/2H), 5/8H, 3/8G (5/8H); 3/4H, 1/4G (3/4H); 7/8H, 1/8G (7/8H)), which is officially named as Girolando breed in Brazil. The Wood’s linear model (WDlin), Wood’s non-linear model (WDnlin), Wilmink’s model (WL) and Ali and Schaeffer’s model (ASH) were used for estimating the peak milk yield (PY), time to peak yield (PT), 305-day milk yield (TMY) and four different persistency measures (P, P2:1, P3:1 and P3:2). Regardless of the fitted model, the highest estimates of PY and TMY were for the H group. The heterosis effect was significant (p < .001) for TMY and all components of the lactation curve, except for P2:1. Girolando cattle presented a heterosis effect of 12.30% and 13.03% for PY and TMY, respectively. The magnitude of heterosis effect was larger for PT (24.18%), whereas the different persistency measures presented the smallest magnitude of heterosis values. The producers may use the different genetic groups to benefit from the heterosis mainly for the time to peak, peak yield and 305-day milk yield