INITIATIVES IN CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES IN TANZANIA

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1 INITIATIVES IN CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES IN TANZANIA 1.0 INTRODUCTION By A.P.Njombe Director for Livestock Production and Marketing Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Tanzania Tanzania is endowed with enormous natural resources which include land and livestock resource base among others. Out of the total area of 94.5 million hectares, 88.6 million ha is a land mass of which 60 million ha are potential for grazing. Available Animal Genetic Resources in 2012 included 22.8 m cattle, 15.6 m goats, 7.0 m sheep, 60 m chicken and 2.1 m pigs. Out of the 22.8 million head of cattle about 95% are indigenous, while 3% and 2% are improved dairy and beef cattle, respectively, comprised of purebreds and crossbreds. Of the chicken population about 60% are indigenous and the remaining are commercial crosses of broilers and layers. The livestock sector provides livelihood support to a total of 1,745,776 households out of 4,901,837 agricultural households (URT, Agricultural Sample Census, 2007) and is one of the major economic activities in the country, particularly in the rural areas. In 2012 the contribution of livestock was 16% in the Agricultural GDP and 3.7 % of the total GDP of which contribution of meat, dairy and other products was 40, 30 and 30 percentages respectively. The per capita annual consumption of livestock products was estimated at 45 liters of milk, 12 kg of meat, and 75 eggs in ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED IN THE COUNTRY 2.1 Characterization Activities Major initiatives implemented in the country so far have been on characterization of the existing livestock genetic resources in order to develop strategies for their improvement and conservation. The efforts have mainly been on phenotypic characterization, done by Research Institutes and the Agricultural University on limited strains using government and donor funding whenever it is available. The characterization work has led to distinction of the indigenous cattle breeds and strains which are the humped and short horned; Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ), the long horned, small humped Sanga (a cross between Bos taurus (humpless) and Bos indicus (humped)) and crosses between the TSZ and the Sanga. Thirteen breeds and strains were identified. In general the breed Mpwapwa (developed in Tanzania and declared a breed in 1958), Ankole, and the strains Sukuma and Zanzibar zebu were more distinct. The zebu strains Iringa Red, Fipa, April 2013 Page 1

2 Singida white and the Maasai are classified as medium sized TSZ, while the Chagga, the Gogo, Pare, Mbulu and the Tarime belong to the small sized TSZ types. The indigenous goats in Tanzania belong to the Small East African goat and strains described are the Dodoma, Maasai, Kigoma, Newala, Sonjo red and Pare white. Characterization has been done on Maasai, Gogo, Pare white and Sukuma strains. As stated earlier these belong to east African goat except the Malya Blended Goat which is a synthetic breed developed at Malya in Mwanza Region in the 1970 s from a three-way cross between Indigenous goats, Kamorai and Boer breeds. With regard to sheep, phenotypic characterization has revealed that essentially there are three strains of sheep, which are the Red Maasai, the Tanzania Black Head and the Tanzania long tailed sheep. These differ mainly in coat color, size and the shape of the tail, whereby the Red Maasai and the Tanzania Long tailed have coarse woolly hair, while the blackhead has a short hairy coat. Performance characterization has been done on the Red Maasai which has shown to have tolerance in worm infestation. Strains of indigenous chickens identified include Kawaida, Kishingo, Kinyavu, Kuchi and Bukini with the Kawaida having several ecotypes. The strains differ in body size, laying and survival rate. Currently there is a project at the Livestock Research Institute Mpwapwa where different strains of indigenous chickens are kept for the purpose of detailed characterization to establish whether the different strains are genetically different or just ecotypes. However, for the other strains of livestock species identified, it is important to carry out molecular characterization to establish whether they differ genetically. Presently molecular characterization is done at the Sokoine University of agriculture and the capacity of conducting DNA analysis is being built by establishing a biotechnology laboratory at the National Livestock Research Institute (NLRI) Mpwapwa. 2.2 Conservation Activities Regarding the conservation of animal genetic resources, whether in-situ or ex-situ, so far little efforts have been put in conserving the indigenous breeds. Some local breeds have been lost (e.g. Jiddu cattle) or are at risk of being lost (Chagga, Mkalama dun and Mpwapwa). For other species of livestock, the status of local breeds is not known due to lack of a monitoring system. Currently the government through its research institutions is involved only in in-situ conservation programmes of the Mpwapwa cattle and Blended goats. However, existence of some infrastructure such as the National Artificial Insemination Centre (NAIC) makes it possible for ex-situ conservation of semen, ova and embryos. In addition the Livestock research centers and livestock multiplication units existing in the country have started be used as source of breeding stock to support initiation of in-situ conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources April 2013 Page 2

3 within the allied communities. However, there is a need to develop capacities for undertaking both in-situ and ex-situ conservation programs by establishing infrastructure and training of human resources needed for the conservation, management and sustainable utilization of animal genetic resources, including experts in legal issues on patents and international collaboration. In this efforts the government has designated one research farm (Tanzania Livestock Research Institute- West Kilimanjaro) as a centre for gene conservation and one Livestock Multiplication Farm ( Sao Hill) for multiplication of endangered/ rare breeds. The goat strains kept for conservation include the Sonjo red and Pare white. Cattle breed being multiplied is the Mpwapwa and Fipa strains. 2.3 Challenges Facing the Survival of These Genetic Resources Conservation and utilization of genetic resources are constrained by the low genetic potential for production, inadequate documented information on productivity performance, Lack of rights of the people who developed and maintained them, Indiscriminate use and crossing of the resources and non existence of livestock breeders associations and societies. 3.0 POLICIES, LEGISLATIONS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS GOVERNING THE USE OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES. As a signatory to the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity (adopted in 1992), Tanzania is expected to conserve and improve its livestock resources and identify breeds or types that exist within the country and seek help to conserve breeds and herd types that are in danger of extinction. The provisions of the convention have been translated into the relevant policies, legislations and other instruments to facilitate its implementation. The National Livestock Policy of 2006 recognizes that a good quality breed is an important input for increased livestock productivity and that currently most of the national herd is characterized by animals of low genetic potential resulting into low production and productivity. The policy also recognises that there are few animals that posses desirable characteristics such as good mothering ability, high prolificacy and growth rates, hence need for genetic improvement of these animals to increase productivity. The policy instruments commit the government in promoting livestock breeds inventory, characterisation, evaluation and improvement of the livestock genetic potential. In addition the government is committed to strengthen technical support services in animal breeding and promotion for the establishment and strengthening of Breeders Association, Clubs and Breed Societies for sustainable conservation and breeding. To facilitate implementation of the policy in relation to the animal genetic resources and utilization, the following have been done: April 2013 Page 3

4 i) Designation of the National Livestock Research Institute, Mpwapwa as a centre for Farm Animal Genetic Resources, whose function among others include to undertake work on molecular characterization and embryo transfer technology. ii) iii) The enactment of an Identification, Registration and Traceability Act of 2010, as currently, there is no identification, registration and traceability system, which is centrally controlled. This will assist in the recognition of the existing animals for conservation and utilization. Formulation of an Animal Breeding legislation which is now in the final stages of being enacted. The provisions covered in this legislation include: Monitoring breeding activities, particularly, herd recording, progeny and performance testing; Coordination of the procurement and distribution of genetic materials; Monitoring of imports and exports of animal genetic materials in accordance with prescribed regulations; Setting procedures for registration and administration of breeds and breed societies including updating the list of approved breeds, stud books and private participants trading in genetic materials or delivering services impacting on development, management and use of animal genetic resources; iv) The other instruments include the enactment of the Dairy Industry Act of 2004 and the Meat Industry Act of 2006 which provide for the promotion of the development of animals of high genetic potential for dairy and meat production using sustainably the existing animal genetic resources. 4.0 KEY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AnGR Key stakeholders involved in the management of AnGR fall under three groups namely public institutions, service providers both private and public input suppliers, NGOs and livestock producers. Public institutions include: the National Artificial Insemination Centre - NAIC, Zonal Artificial Insemination centres, The Sokoine University of Agriculture, 5 Livestock Research institutes, 5 Livestock Multiplication Units - LMUs. The National Artificial Centre (NAIC) is concerned with the production, storage and distribution of cattle semen while the A I zonal Centres are responsible for storage and distribution of semen and both produce liquid nitrogen for their own use and for distribution to stakeholders. The Sokoine University of Agriculture and the research Institutions are responsible for undertaking research work in genetic improvement and characterization as well as conservation activities. Livestock Multiplication Units have got the responsibility of maintaining and multiplication of improved livestock genetic materials for distribution to farmers. April 2013 Page 4

5 Non Governmental organizations- NGOs such as: Building Resources across communities - BRAC, Heifer project international- HPI and Land O lakes among others are responsible for providing training, inputs and soliciting of markets for the livestock produced by farmers. Service providers such as Bajuta, Farmers Centre, Live Support systems, Madunga investment ltd have roles of providing inputs like semen, AI equipments and consumables. Commercial livestock producers manage improved livestock produced within the country or import improved genetic materials and periodically sell them to farmers and other stakeholders. Individual farmers and Farmer organizations such as Cooperatives and Farmer groups like UWAKAMA Nronga Women Group, TDCU and TAMPRODA, are the main users of the Animal Genetic Resources to whom conservation and sustainable utilization initiatives are of paramount importance. April 2013 Page 5