Issues and challenges in improving dairy genetics for smallholders. Badi Besbes, Animal Production and Health Division, FAO

Transcription

1 Issues and challenges in improving dairy genetics for smallholders Badi Besbes, Animal Production and Health Division, FAO

2 Content Setting the scene: few figures on dairy genetics Characteristics of Small-Holder Dairy Production System (SHDPS), in d ing countries Bovine Genetic Resources encountered (BoGR) in SHDPS, in d ing countries Genetic Improvement Practices and Programmes Requirements for success Concluding remarks

3 Milk production (million tonnes) in 1980 and Developed countries Developing countries (FAO, SOFA 2009)

4 Growth in production: animal numbers and yields ( ) Average annual growth (%) Numbers Yield Numbers Yield Numbers Yield Numbers Yield Numbers Yield Pig Poultry Cattle Milk Eggs -2.0 East and Southeast Asia Latin America and the Caribbean South Asia Near East and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa FAO, SOFA 2009

5 Characteristics of SDPS, in d ng countries Majority of milk comes from SDPS Low-medium input mixed systems (livestock integrated with subsistence/cash crop) Milk for sale as main output, but also wide range of non production services (asset accumulation and insurance, nutrient recycling and fuel (manure), traction) Small herd size: 2/3 cows mostly crossbred, but also n.d. local, no breeding bulls Major constrains: poor nutrition and management disease problems; e.g. ECF, FMD limited access to market, goods and services weak institutions

6 Bovine genetic resources in devl ng countries Mainly local or indigenous breeds Multiple functions Well adapted, resistant (e.g. trypanotolerant cattle) Not well characterized Not very productive replaced by superior exotic breeds and their crossbreds Advanced characterization studies to help decision making E.g. Study in East Africa (B&MGF) Antagonism Production local Adaptation / Fitness regional transboundary International transboundary

7 Genetic improvement practices and programs Crossbreeding Indiscriminant crossbreeding through semen import Structured crossbreeding or upgrading programs Creation non controlled of crossbred population Straightbreeding Classical selection scheme Genomic selection Reducing costs of performance recording

8 Indiscriminant crossbreeding through semen import Reasons of germplasm import (bilateral) cooperation projects Development projects funded and implemented by NGOs Political decisions No prior studies of the production systems of the target beneficiaries nor the type of germplasm required Choice of breeds & bulls Influenced by the donor, persuasion of salesman and price Technical criteria, if any, based on milk production index Lack of awareness of fitness index, tests for genetic defects? No E&M due to absence of AI&PR system

9 Structured crossbreeding or upgrading programs Continuous crossbreeding process has been difficult to sustain Kenyan smallholder dairy system, based on crossbred (European breeds x zebu). Limited supply of replacement heifers (F1) Creation of composite breeds or upgrading using exotic bulls is most common approach Mpwapwa composite cattle breed in Tanzania (Tanganyika Zebu cows x variety of bulls (Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Ayrshire, Jersey, Boran). Today, kept only in government station (300 animals) Sunandini cattle breed in India, developed by ISPK now named KLDB. Local non descript cows crossed with Brown Swiss bulls. Later Jersey, American Brown Swiss and Holstein bulls used Import of a low number of bulls and use for many years, leading likely to inbreeding Creation non controlled of crossbred population between 1/2 and 3/4 Holstein by use of local bulls which are crossbred Emerging category (E.g. India)

10 Classical selection scheme - progeny test Bull sire year n X Bull dam Progeny test year n+2 service year n+6 young male calf X year n+5 Selection on EBV Genetic evaluation daughters with 1 lactation daughters born

11 Classical selection scheme - progeny test Slow! Requires performance recording expensive! Efficient, only if high selection intensity if selection only on production, degradation of fitness!

12 Alternative: genomic selection 54,000 markers! service year n+2 Bull sire year n Genomic evaluation X young male calf Bull dam

13 Genomic selection Generation interval divided by 2 Genetic gain x 2 Still need performance recording! Need a Reference Population to estimate the effect of each allele (segment of chromosome) of each marker (SNP) Large RP for indigenous breeds

14 How to decrease cost of performance recording? Major cost: milk recording technicians motivate farmers to record production themselves use less demanding milk recording protocol e.g., one milk recording once every two months particular case of very small herds: rely on AI technicians collect production of the cow(s) at the time of AI or PD or any other visit to the farm

15 Simpler milk recording protocols Calving date Drying date A2 A8 «via AI» AI AI PD AI of another cow

16 How to decrease cost of performance recording? To make it more efficient: directly enter the data in computer + collect other information at the same time: fertility (AI done, pregnancy diagnosis) previous calving date (and progeny identification), calving ease phenotypic characteristics of the cow or the progeny any health related event

17 Data collection: take advantage of new technologyg Record on smartphones with specialized software to avoid typing /consistency errors: use drop-down menus

18 Requirements for success Policy environment providing space to operate Farmer involvement from the start Continuous learning and adaptation of intervention Institutional arrangements for sustainability Right genotypes for the target environment Available markets as pull Capacity and technology to deliver across all levels of system Championing teams passionate and perseverant

19 Concluding Remarks Almost every country has had a livestock breeding program of one form or another; performance of these programs has been variable, but very few have been successful over long term In most cases, scaling up tipping point thresholds has not been achieved The system and infrastructure for disseminating superior germplasm were generally missing Institutional issues have been at the centre of failures of programs Modern technology offers a panel of new tools to make possible sustainable selection of local breeds through more cost efficient performance recording, broader progeny testing and genomic selection

20 Thank you