Tanzania dairy genetics project: Identifying appropriate germplasm for smallholder dairy farmers

Tanzania dairy genetics project:

Identifying appropriate

germplasm for smallholder dairy

farmers

Dennis Mujibi (ILRI)

Inception workshop of the AgriTT project: Evaluation of

breed composition,

productivity and fitness for

smallholder dairy cattle in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam,

10-11 June 2014

Problem Statement

Several past & current dairy improvement programs have an integrated approach (i.e. Market development - MoreMilkIT; improving management and Feeding - EADD)

There is often no genetic strategy Most farmers want high producing animals

thus continuously upgrade to higher exotic levels even where it is undesirable to do so.

Problem Statement

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Average Test Day Milk Production in Major breeds

YIELD

Breed Types

Yie

ld (

Ltr

)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Harsh Poor Good

Production environmentYi

eld

(l)

Indigenous

X-bred

Exotic

Ideal: Designer genetics fit to specific smallholder production systems

Objectives

Characterization of current dairy cattle genotypes in use & the determination of the most appropriate genotypes for smallholder dairy farmers in Rungwe and Lushoto

Understanding of what dairy technologies are most desired (lacking) by smallholder dairy farmers in Rungwe and Lushoto

Approach

Apply emerging NGS technologies to determine breed composition of dairy animals

Correlate breed-type with performance data obtained through participatory appraisal, in-situ

Listen to farmers…continuously and incorporate their concerns and views in design of on-going interventions

Project Study Sites

Selection Criteria On-going ‘Maziwa

Zaidi’ Activities Emerging Dairy

industries with high potential

Range of breed types

Data requirements Reproductive Performance Breeding and Bull use pattern Bio-samples and genotyping Survival and mortality data Milk yield, Sanitation and Quality data Animal health/infertility data Cost benefit analysis/Productivity Analysis Dairy technology gaps and knowledge

systems

Activities Tissue and hair sampling: to be carried out

during ear tagging Longitudinal survey: Visit farmers every 2

months for 1 year Performance recording: To be completed by

farmer and enumerator during longitudinal study Focus group discussion: At least 2 focus group

discussions ICT technologies to record farmer Knowledge,

views and concerns

Data flow and processing

Phenotypic data on animals from

project farmsGenomic data on

animals from project farmsConnectivity via web

and application platforms

Feedback to support management

decisions

Individual

farmers

RelationalDatabase

Computing Server

Data capture, visualization and feedback platform*

Analytical platform*

Capacity Development Genetic diversity studies* Cost benefit analysis* Performance evaluation – 2 students Programming: development of decision

support and data visualization tools – 1 student

Programming: development of data collection and farmer feedback systems – 1 student

Relational database development – 1 student Analytical platform development – 2 students

Performance recording is key to identification of appropriate genotypes

Field Activities

DGEA

Animal Selection/Feedback

Cow Selection In-calf or calved down within the last 3

months Breed diversity Minimal relationship between cows

At least 2 focus group discussions to provide feedback (Possible) Provision of extension materials

on specific topics through Audio