Transforming Ruminant Farming Together
This program sets up special herds: a main group with chosen female sheep and goats, plus excellent male sheep or goats. A group of local community members choose and oversee these animals, paying attention to their best qualities. We track progress using measurements, sometimes with special computer tools."
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Positive or neutral impact
Positive or neutral impact
This technology enhances the income and food security of small-scale farmers by improving the productivity and resilience of small ruminants. It reduces disease prevalence, fosters rural economic growth, and enhances climate resilience, while also supporting sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation.
To integrate this technology into your project, follow these steps and prerequisites:
familly income increase
Open source / open access
Country | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|
Burkina Faso | –Not tested | Adopted |
Cameroon | –Not tested | Adopted |
Ethiopia | –Not tested | Adopted |
Kenya | –Not tested | Adopted |
Mali | –Not tested | Adopted |
Nigeria | –Not tested | Adopted |
Senegal | –Not tested | Adopted |
South Sudan | –Not tested | Adopted |
Tanzania | –Not tested | Adopted |
Uganda | –Not tested | Adopted |
Zimbabwe | –Not tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | ||||
Humid |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
Identify Target Sites: Determine where the breeding program will be implemented, considering factors like climate and community involvement.
Characterize Breeding Stock: Assess existing goats and sheep, focusing on traits like size, coat color, and temperament.
Define Breeding Objectives: Collaborate with the community to set clear goals based on livelihood strategies and economic opportunities.
Establish Recording Systems: Implement a system to record data related to breeding, including animal traits and performance.
Select Elite Animals for Mating: Choose superior male and female animals based on desirable traits and community-set criteria.
Monitor Herd Health and Performance: Keep track of the selected animals' health, housing, and feeding. Record their performance regularly.
Implement Mating Plan: Allow selected males to mate with females from the base herd according to the management committee's guidelines.
Engage Specialists (if needed): Seek the expertise of animal scientists for tasks like breed characterization and data analysis.
Maintain Data Records: Continuously update and maintain records using specialized software for accurate measurements.
Ensure Compliance with Breeding Criteria: Regularly review the breeding stock to ensure they continue to meet the community's set criteria.
Encourage Community Involvement: Foster community ownership and involvement, which may include practices like castration of males not meeting breeding criteria.
Promote Market Linkages: Strengthen institutional relations, local cooperatives, and market connections for program sustainability and profitability.
Last updated on 22 May 2024