Abegaz, S.

Gizaw, Solomon

Abegaz, Solomon

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SMALL RUMINANT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA Solomon Abegaz and Solomon GizawEthiopian Institute of Agricultural Research LIVES Project, ILRIEIAR/ATA/ICARDA Workshop on small ruminant breeding programs in EthiopiaDebre Birhan, 17-18 December, 2015Outline• Introduction• Production system and population• Supply of Small ruminants• Performance of indigenous sheep and goats• Research and development activities • Thoughts on breeding research strategies• The way forward• Conclusion • Low-input low-output systems are common• Recent developments require  production to be market oriented• Indigenous breeds are naturally selected for adaptation• There is a need to look into their ability to meet market requirements profitably• Efficiency of production need also to be addressed to make production not only profitable but also environmentally acceptable • Efficient animals produce less pollutant gas (GHGs)  per unit productIntroductionProduction system and population• Three major production systems exist• Mixed crop livestock• Pastoral• Agro pastoral(Peri-urban and urban type also exist)• Livestock are kept under extensive type of management• Sheep and goats are important components  in all systems • More than 50 million sheep and goats• 14 traditional breeds, 9 breeds of sheep• 11 (12) traditional breeds, 8 breeds of goats • Off-take 35% for sheep and 38% for goats• More than 17 million sheep and goats• Available for home consumption• Available for market• Home consumption estimates  from case studies 14% of off-take for sheep and 8 -15 % for goats• All types of animals are available for market• Age, sex, condition, size• Young male are dominant• There is no grading though prices may vary Supply of small ruminantsPerformance of the indigenous sheep and goats• Formula to estimate dressing percentage for horro sheepDP=27.42+0.56BW• Carcass of 7.7, 10.4, 13.3 and 14.5 can be obtained from sheep of 20, 25, 30 and 32 kg.    • In most cases domestic and export market requirements are similar in terms of size but breeds may vary• Most local breeds achieve this size at about one year of ageTable 1. Growth performance of some indigenous sheep and goatsSpecies Brd/Pop Age Sex BW (kg)Sheep Horro 12 month Both 24.0BHS 12 month Both 23.8Afar 12 month Both 24.5Menz 12 month Both 17.4Goats SES 2PPI Male 19.77Afar >16 Mo. Male 24.7Arsi-Bale 18 month 19.56Table 2. Body and carcass weight, and dressing percentage of some Ethiopian sheep and goatsSpecies Breed Sex Age BW (kg) CW(kg) DP%Sheep Horro Male Unspec. 19.7 7.5 37.9BHS Male > 1 year 40.5 18.7 46.1Goats Afar Male 16-17 mo 24.7 9.8 39.5CHG Male Unspec. 19.44 8.3 42.5LES Male Unspec. 21.16 9.2 43.7Arsi-Bale Male Unspec. 21.0 9.5 45.4Research and development activities Sheep research and development in Ethiopia date back to the early 1960’s while goat research has started by mid 70’s More research focus on sheep than goats  Research has gone through various stages of transformation Strategy/agenda, approaches, methodologies and organizational structure Breeding programs have shifted from central nucleus schemes, where breeding objectives are set by researchers, to village-based breeding Pure breeding and crossbreeding were the major pathways  Research and development activities contd.. Characterization & conservation of genetic resources Identification, classification and description of sheep and genetic resources began in the 1970’s  Fat-tailed (Arsi-Bale sheep), thin-tailed (Horro sheep) and coarse-woolled sheep (Menz and Tikur sheep) Afar goat A comprehensive characterization followed: Phenotypic characterization of Ethiopian Eritrean Goats-Farm Africa  Genetic characterization of the goats by the early years of the millinum Amhara regional morphological characterization on sheep National morphological and genetic characterization identified 14 sheep breeds Conservation priorities set, for sheep but had no consequences on the national genetic resources conservation programResearch and development activities contd.. Several characterizations followed at district levels District level characterization also led to misclassifications and misnomers Characterization also included: Performance levels of some breeds on-station and on-farm Characterization of production systems Genetic parameter estimation for few sheep breeds (menz, horro, Awassi, Afar, BHS) and one goat breed (Arsi-Bale) Research on conservation may not be intentional, but includes On-station flock maintenance and characterization Community-based breeding programs Genetic improvement programs-sheep Definition of breeding objectives for several breeds – A major research undertaking by MSc projects Central nucleus selective breeding programsBreed Selection criteria Institution Current statusAfarPost-weaning weight gainWerer Agricultural Research CentreInitial program discontinued; reinitiated in 2011BHSPost-weaning weight gainWerer Agricultural Research CentreDiscontinued; flock established by SoRPARI but no selection activity Horro Yearling weightBako Agricultural Research Centre;ContinuingWasheraPre-weaning weight gain and litter sizeAndasa Agricultural Research CentreDiscontinuedMenz Yearling weightDebre BirhanAgricultural Research CentreContinuingCrossbreeding programs Early crossbreeding programs: at CADU with the introduction of several exotic wool sheep breeds (Blue De Maine, Merino, Corriedale and Hampshire) in the late 1960’s  The Menz crossbreeding program started in 1967 using Corriedale, Hampshire and Romney Marsh as sire breeds.  ALL failed due to several factors including designs for dissemination Awassi crossbreeding program: Impact on farming community limited Research on village crossbreeding design showed crossbreeding can be effective if well designed and followed upAdjusted mean birth weights, 120-day (weaning) weights and wool production for different genotypesSummary of ewe production of local and different crossbredsMean liveweights of pure Menz and their crosses  Dorper crossbreeding program: The recent national crossbreeding program, well designed Yet facing similar fate as previous programs Effort to maintain the nationally coordinated program need follow upCommunity-based breeding programs Research on design of community-based programs has been a focus recently A focus of international and national research institutes Detailed characterization of village breeding practices Participatory definition of breeding objectives Alternative village breeding schemes Fragmentation of efforts are observed Approach adopted by the Livestock master PlanGoat breeding and cross-breeding activitiesPeriod Breeds involvedInstitute Objective Type of activity1975/1982 Afar , Central Highland goats, SaanenIAR, Melka Wererand Holleta RS Study the production performance of Afar and highland goats and their crosses with SaanenBreedCharacterization and cross breeding with Sannen1988-1997 Somali, HarargheHighland , Anglo-NubianFARM Africa, AlemayaUniversity,Awassa College ofAgriculture, Ministry of AgricultureImprove the socioeconomicand nutritional status ofwomen and children inthe highlands of EthiopiaProduction ofcrossbred goatsand distributionto women in the highlands of Hararghe and areas surroundingHawassa1992-2015 Arsi-Bale and Boran goatsOromiaAgricultural Research Institute, Adami Tulu RSTo characterize the productionPerformance of Arsi-Bale and BoranGoatsGeneratebaselineinformation onproduction andreproductionperformanceof on-stationGoat improvement research and development Period Breeds involvedInstitute Objective Type of activity1998* Arsi-Bale,Somali andToggenburggoatsAlemayaUniversity;AwassaCollege ofAgriculture;LangstonUniversity,Food security and income generationThrough improvedGoat productionAnd extensionServices involvingwomen’s GroupsTraining ofacademic staff;formation ofwomen’s groupsand distributionof local goats oncredit1998* Somaligoats; Arsi-Bale goats,Anglo-NubiangoatsFARM Africa,MOA andNGOsTo improve familywelfare in small scaleMixed farming systems by improving the productivity of goats managed by women through increased income and milkConsumptionEstablished women groups; feed development; distributed local goats on credit; produced and distributed crossbred goats; trained development agents, establishment ofbuck stationGoat improvement research and development contd.. Goat improvement research and development contd.. Period Breeds involvedInstitute Objective Type of activity2006-2011 Arsi Bale, Abergelle, Somali, Crosses ofBoer goatEthiopianSheepand GoatProductivityImprovementprogramTo sustainably increase the productivity of small ruminants in Ethiopia to improvefood and economicSecurityTraining and enhancingTechnical services;Technology transfer;Genotype improvementand animal healthInterventionsProject Component Activities InstitutesProject 1: Improving productivity of indigenous sheep through selective breeding and improved managementBreeding Establishing and upgrading elite nucleus flocks of Menz sheep ARARIBreeding Development of 50% Awassi x Menz synthetic sheep breed ARARIBreedingDeveloping community-based pure-breeding scheme and model breeding villages for Menz sheepARARIBreeding Establishing and upgrading elite nucleus flocks of Afar sheep EIAR (Werer)BreedingDeveloping community-based pure-breeding scheme and model breeding villages for Afar sheepEIAR (Werer)BreedingAnalysis of community breeding objectives and practices for sheep production in Fentale district (Phase I)ORARIBreedingOn-farm productive and reproductive performance evaluation of sheep in Fentale area  (Phase II)ORARIProject 2: Development of cross-breeding schemes and production packages for Dorper sheepBreedingMaintenance, multiplication and distribution of purebred Dorper and 50% Dorper X local sheepARARIBreedingMaintenance, multiplication and distribution of purebred Dorper and 50% Dorper X AfarEIAR (Werer)Breeding Evaluation of village Dorper crossbreeding schemes EIAR (Werer)BreedingEvaluation of the performance of 25% and 37.5% Dorper x Afar/BHS crossbred sheepEIAR (Werer)BreedingMaintenance, multiplication and distribution of purebred Dorper and 50% Dorper x BHS sheepSoRPARIEvaluation of the performance of 25% and 37.5% Dorper x Current research on sheep breeding (National system)Thoughts on breeding research strategies Focusing breeding research along the value chain Research on small ruminant development strategies Research on breeding strategy and design of breeding programs Effective organization of small ruminant improvement researchThe way forward• Market oriented production is on the making • Significant improvement in the slaughter and reproducing generation is required• Reproducing generation: improved survival and reproduction.• Slaughter generation : improved survival and growth • Hasten the period of marketing • Creep feeding• Stratified production  to move animals shortly after weaning to finishing• Leguminous hay that can be produced in environmentally friendly way• Genetic improvement for productivity and efficiencyThe way forward contd…•Sufficient within breed genetic and phenotypic variation for productivity•Easily measurable linear characters  can be considered in selection•Efficiency –use of Kleiber ratio, sheep tail thickness, and tail inner diameter.•Niche areas crossbreeding can be considered e.g. Afar X Dorpercomparable performance to Dorper•The overall improvement contributes to sustainable utilization and conservation

Small ruminant research and development in Ethiopia

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Small ruminant research and development in Ethiopia

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