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