Unlocking livestock development potential through science, influence and capacity

development ILRI APM, Addis Ababa, 15-17 May 2013

Genetic improvement of Sheep under changing

environmental conditions

This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Lisence May 2013

Ojango J.M.K, Audho J. O., Marete A.G., Zonabend E., Philipsson J., and Okeyo A.M.

Opportunities • High export demand for sheep products-unmet • Unpredictable changes in climatic conditions • Great genetic variability in existing sheep

populations • Emerging ICT platforms for information

processing and exchange • A new generation of players and actors

What can livestock keepers do Who else can contribute What can breeding do

National and international research

scientists

Non-governmental organizations

Government extension agents

Private and public institutions

Market actors

Policy makers

Outcomes • Improved access to markets for sheep

products • Increased capacity of communities to

best manage their sheep populations • Improved livelihoods and household

incomes

Delivering Science

Production systems and existing sheep

breeds characterized

Continuous data capture and genetic

evaluation undertaken

Community based breeding programs

designed and technically supported 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Growth and Bodysize

Condition Milk production Mothering abilityand

Reproduction

Drought andDisease

resistance

Dorper

Red Maasai

Cross

What farmers like in their ewes

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Growth and Bodysize

Condition Milk production Mothering abilityand Reproduction

Drought andDisease

resistance

What farmers want to improve in their ewes

Influencing Decisions

Providing the evidence for selection and

management of breeding programs

Dissemination of improved genetics at

scale

Scoping and support for new products

and markets (eg milk)

Design and implementation of breeding programs

Develop breeding Objectives

Characterize Diversity and develop database

platforms

Map livestock populations

Map and link actors

Developing Capacity

ICT capacity of national research stations

requires strengthening

Awareness and understanding of potential in

sheep for income generation by livestock

keepers needs to be enhanced

Market players must provide inputs