Animal Genetic Resources in Zimbabwe: Governance, management and policy implementation Bothwell Makodza Division of Livestock Production and Development P.O.Box CY2505 Causeway Harare Zimbabwe E-mail: bmakodza@gmail.com 14-15 April 2013 Invited Presentation at the inception workshop of the Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) from 14th-15th April 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d ivoire
Summary of Presentation I. Background to Zimbabwe s Agriculture II. Livestock Sector & Breeds III. Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) Status IV. Key Stakeholders in AnGR V. AnGR Governance VI. Constraints and Opportunities in AnGR 2
I. Background Agriculture contributes between 15 and 20 percent of Zimbabwe s Gross Domestic Product. Agriculture also provides the bulk of the nation s food requirements in a normal rainfall year. Agriculture contributes 60 percent of the raw materials for industry and 45 percent of foreign exchange earnings. Livestock production contributes about 25 percent of value of agricultural output in all farming sectors. About 85 percent of the 39 million hectares land area in Zimbabwe is agricultural land. 3
I. Background [continued] 5 Natural Farming Regions /Agro ecological Zones based on soil types, rainfall patterns and altitude. Region I - >1000mm; Specialized & Diversified Farming Region II A 750-1000mm;Intensive Farming Region IIB 750-1000mm; Intensive Farming Region III 650-800mm; Semi Intensive Farming Region IV 450-650mm; Semi-Extensive Farming Region V Extensive Farming 4
II. Livestock Sector: Livestock numbers by species (as of Livestock Census 2012) Province Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs Donkeys Manicaland 586 619 100 462 634 742 41 630 39 200 Mash Central 514 966 38 977 227 751 53 905 7 654 Mash East 540 440 29 500 154 502 24 881 7 052 Mash West 739 442 126 398 85 546 69 871 4 245 Mat North 574 918 71 453 805 884 26 661 80 160 Mat South 556 619 31 709 445 827 14 492 33 349 Masvingo 1 039 013 16 341 289 180 20 994 61 974 Midlands 689 175 87 365 429 418 5 657 138 161 Grand Total 5 241 192 502 205 3 072 850 258 091 364 795 Source: MAMID, Zimbabwe 5
Beef Breeds 6
Chicken Breeds 7
Pig Breeds 8
Sheep Breeds 9
III. Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) Governance 1980:Zimbabwe Herd Book is established by an Act of Parliament. 2000/01: Characterisation of indigenous livestock breeds in terms of physical characteristics and production traits including a description of the production environment under which AnGR perform (beef cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) 2000/01: Zimbabwe Farm AnGR Survey on six species (cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs and donkeys). 2004: Country Report on The State of The World s Animal Genetic Resources. Collaboration: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), University of Porto (donkeys) and the Irene Animal Improvement in South Africa. On-going: Nucleus herds and flocks have been maintained in situ on government research stations and individual farms 10
III. AnGR [continued] Zimbabwe is endowed with diverse breeds of all species indigenous and exotic. Smallholder farmers are the major owners of livestock in Zimbabwe (68 percent of all cattle, 99 percent of all goats, 84 percent of all sheep, 60 percent of all pigs and almost all donkeys). Every rural household owns poultry. Pedigree Livestock - stud animals are the seed stock of the livestock industry and basis of stud breeding (largely commercial). Livestock production depends on three pillars: genetics, health and husbandry. 11
III. AnGR - National Priorities for Conservation and Utilization of AnGR i. Livestock Breeding Policy ii. Nucleus Herd iii. Conservation iv. Community Based Management of AnGR v. Human Resources Development vi. Information Management System (IMS) for AnGR Conservation and Use vii. Awareness of importance of indigenous animals viii. Molecular Genetic Characterisation of AnGR ix. Herd Health Management 12
III. AnGR Cattle and Sheep Zimbabwe Herd Book 2012 Registrations Breed No Breeders No Head Breed No Breeders No Head Ayrshire 1 7 Limousin 2 34 Beefmaster 4 296 Mashona 1 153 Blonde d'aquitaine 1 28 Nguni 2 170 Bonsmara 2 73 Simbra 5 221 Boran 3 641 Santa 2 132 Brahman 22 2684 Simmental 5 507 Drought Master 1 95 Senepol 1 97 Dorper 2 460 Sussex 2 107 Hereford 1 103 Tuli 10 1564 Holstein 1 71 Total 64 7372 Source: Zimbabwe Herd Book, Zimbabwe 13
III. AnGR Public-Private Partnership Initiatives The Zimbabwe Herd Book purchased some modern equipment for livestock recording and data processing. Visits to all stud-breeders to check on animals, identification, records and assisting new breeders. Resuscitation of breed societies, e.g. through promotion of new breeders and getting dairy back on line. Assisting Livestock Identification Trust (LIT) to be more proficient with software on farm data capture Data editing pedigrees especially imported animals, ensuring use of country of origin id. Genetic evaluations e.g. getting data ready for breed runs and promoting use and understanding of these important genetic tools to both stud/seed stock. Development of policies such as assistance to seed stock industry, registry for all imported livestock, including semen and embryos, and promotion of export of genetics to the region.. 14
IV. Key Stakeholders in AnGR Public: Min of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and its departments and parastatals e.g. Pig Industry Board (PIB) and the Agricultural Research Trust Private: Breed societies Non-Governmental Organizations Farmer Groups and Associations: Commercial Farmers Union, National Association of Dairy Farmers; Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union; Zimbabwe Farmers Union Universities: University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Africa University (AU), Midlands State University (MSU), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) Councils: Livestock and Meat Advisory Council; Veterinary Surgeons of Zimbabwe 15
V. Legislation Acts Registration of Pedigree Farm Livestock Act [Chapter 19:11] Agricultural Products Acts [Chapter 18:22] Agricultural Research Act [Chapter 18:05] Animal Health Act [Chapter 19:01] Dairy Act [Chapter 18:08] Pig Industry Act [Chapter 18:15] Scientific Experimentation on Animals Act [Chapter19:12] Stock Trespass Act [Chapter 19:14] Veterinary Surgeons Act [Chapter 27:15] 16
VI. Constraints in AnGR Cattle: Current carcass grading system discriminates against small breeds, which discourages the production of some indigenous breeds. Cattle: Absence of matching appropriate AnGR to specific environments or production systems leads to inefficient utilization of AnGR, particularly for exotic breeds. Indigenous pigs: Breeding in the smallholder sector is commonly unstructured with rampant inbreeding, in individual herds. Donkeys: Unstructured breeding of donkeys in the smallholder sector. All species: Information management system for breed conservation is still not enough. Financial constraints of ex situ conservation. 17
VII. Opportunities in AnGR Revision of current carcass grading system. Setting up of performance recording schemes covering all farming sectors.. Capacity for the management, conservation and utilisation of AnGR. Promoting formation of farmer associations and indigenous breed societies. Bringing on board more breeders Developing policy incentives for sustainable use of indigenous AnGR Training in AnGR. Molecular genetic characterisation, valuation of breeds and evaluation of risks. 18
Thank you! 19