Local Livestock Improvement through Community Breeding Programs

Transforming Ruminant Farming Together

The Local Livestock Improvement through Community Breeding Programs is a sustainable livestock management approach designed to enhance the genetic quality of goats and sheep in local communities. This program focuses on improving key traits such as growth rate, disease resistance, and reproductive performance through community-led breeding initiatives.

Local farmers, supported by animal science experts, select and manage elite breeding stock, ensuring that the program is culturally relevant and locally owned. Data-driven decisions and performance records are used to monitor genetic progress, while expert support ensures best practices in animal health, feeding, and breeding.

The technology aims to increase livestock productivity, strengthen community resilience, and boost local incomes by improving herd quality. With initial support from governments and donors, this program is designed for long-term sustainability and scalability, contributing to improved food security and economic development in rural areas.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•9

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 9/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

It empowers them by allowing them to contribute animals with desirable traits, improving local breeds and enhancing productivity. This increases their income and food security.

The poor: Positive high

By involving local breeders, it strengthens community involvement in sustainable livestock management, promoting shared economic benefits and resilience.

Under 18: Positive high

It offers opportunities for young people to engage in livestock breeding and management, providing skills, employment, and long-term livelihood sustainability.

Women: Positive high

In many regions, women manage small livestock like goats and sheep. This technology improves their economic empowerment and food production roles.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

This technology has demonstrated successful implementation in a wide range of climates. Its flexibility in different climates, including extreme conditions, makes it highly adaptable.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Community-based breeding equips farmers with animals that are more resilient to climate stresses like drought and extreme weather, which makes farmers better prepared for the impacts of climate change.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

By focusing on maintaining local breeds and enhancing their resilience through selective breeding, this approach helps to preserve genetic diversity in livestock populations.

Problem

Poor genetics and diseases: Small ruminants in Africa often suffer from poor genetics and diseases, limiting their productivity. Community-based selection programs aim to improve genetics and enhance disease resistance.
Mixed herd structure: Mixed herd structures, composed of males and females of different ages, complicate the identification and propagation of specific male breeders. This makes tracking genetic progress difficult and fosters inbreeding.
Lack of tracking and recording: Small-scale breeders typically do not keep breeding records, making it challenging to monitor genetic progress and manage mating.
Mixed results from crossbreeding with exotic breeds: Attempts to crossbreed with exotic breeds have not always yielded the expected results due to the lack of adaptation in offspring.
Need for technical skills: Establishing community-based breeding programs requires technical skills to identify elite animals, establish recording and data collection systems, and provide technical support to breeders.

Solution

By implementing structured selection programs, the technology aims to improve the genetic quality of small ruminants, selecting for desirable traits such as disease resistance and productivity.
The technology establishes structured breeding programs that focus on selecting specific male breeders with desired traits, addressing the challenge of mixed herd structures and enabling targeted breeding efforts.
Community-based breeding programs include systems for recording breeding data, facilitating the monitoring of genetic progress and informed decision-making in mating processes.
By focusing on community-based selection of superior animals adapted to local conditions, the technology aims to improve breeding outcomes and overcome challenges associated with crossbreeding with exotic breeds.
The technology provides technical support and training to breeders, equipping them with the necessary skills to identify elite animals, establish recording systems, and manage breeding programs effectively.

Key points to design your project

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:

Identify suitable locations for implementing the breeding program, considering existing livestock populations and community interest.
Evaluate and prioritize breeding stock based on desired traits like disease resistance and productivity.
Establish clear breeding objectives tailored to the diverse livelihood strategies and economic opportunities within target communities.
Implement recording systems to track breeding data and inform mating decisions effectively.
Select elite animals with superior traits for breeding, ensuring proper maintenance for mating purposes.
Provide technical support and training to community members involved in the program to manage it effectively.
Collaborate with agricultural development institutes, seed multiplication companies, and other stakeholders to strengthen institutional relations, local cooperatives, and market connections.

Cost Considerations:

Initial Investment: Establishing the program requires upfront funding for infrastructure, training, and expert support, typically provided by government or donors.
Operational Costs: Ongoing expenses include expert support, data collection, animal health management, and infrastructure maintenance. These are covered initially by donors and public sectors, with the community gradually taking over operational costs through in-kind contributions.
Community Contributions: The community provides support through livestock donations, maintaining breeding records, and covering some operational tasks, ensuring the sustainability of the program in the long term.

This integrated approach will help build a sustainable and effective breeding program that improves livestock productivity and contributes to rural economic growth.

15 %

familly income increase

IP

Open source / open access

Maturity of the idea 7

Semi-controlled environment: prototype

Level of use 9

Common use by intended users, in the real world

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

Goal 2: zero hunger

This technology improves food security by increasing the productivity of livestock, which leads to more consistent and reliable sources of food (meat, milk, etc.).

Goal 5: gender equality

This technology supports women farmers, giving them access to more resilient livestock and enhancing their role in agriculture, thus empowering them economically.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

It creates opportunities for farmers to enhance their livelihoods, engage in markets, and improve their standards of living.

Goal 13: climate action

By producing animals that are more resilient to extreme conditions like drought and heat, it contributes to climate adaptation in vulnerable farming communities.

Goal 1: no poverty

Better livestock breeds mean higher yields, which helps rural farmers increase their economic resilience and reduce poverty.

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.