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Dairy Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Tool Box for advisers and planners |
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Step D |
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Are public investments in breeding services required? |
Strategies for pure breeding as well as cross breeding for higher milk yields by A.I. and natural breeding are well known and a continuous project.
The preferred level of exotic to indigenous genes depend on climatic conditions and level of management. Purebred exotic dairy cattle can perform well even under hot climatic conditions at low altitudes provided they are fed low fiber rations, housed in well ventilated buildings, kept free of diseases and managed correctly. The altitude above sea level can be used as rule of tomb: purebreds are OK above 1000 m, fifty percent exotic between 500 and 1000 m above sea level and pure indigenous below 500 m, and that a dry climate is a healthy cattle climate. Maintaining a specific level of crossbreds can be solved by criss-crossing, using bulls of either pure bos indicus or pure bos Taurus, according to what direction is desired.
Exotic cattle, especially their crosses with indigenous breeds, are the preferred dairy cattle in all intensive systems where health services are available. In the early days of dairy development, purebred exotic cattle were imported at high costs and often with a high mortality rate. Modern technologies with artificial insemination and even embryo transfer, have made import of purebred exotic cattle unnecessary. Purchase of crossbred cattle from another province or district is occasionally possible in countries where dairy development has taken place in different parts and the early starters have accumulated surplus stock of breeding females.
Import of crossbred cattle from another country is extremely costly and unsuitable. Purchase from another province or district is expensive, but has nevertheless been important, especially during stages of introduction.
Crossbreeding is accepted as a quick way to improvements even some indigenous breeds have unexploited potential for genetically improvements through pure-breeding. (e.g. Sahiwal).
Crossbreeding using Artificial Insemination (A.I.), on local cattle is the preferred method as it is the cheapest way (Baltenweck 2000) and holds a large potential.
Therefore, it is a favored solution where holdings are too small to keep bulls, farmers lack the funds to purchase grade cows, breeding diseases are widespread and where farmers are inclined to intensify production.
A.I. with fresh semen requires lower initial investments than deep-freezing technology and is suitable to cover limited geographical areas.
However, in most cases, A.I. using deep frozen technology is the cheapest and most efficient method as it enables large bull stations, long-term storage and distribution over long distances. Main bottleneck has been to secure steady supply of liquid nitrogen.
Purebred bulls – “village bulls” – were in the past the only method and still potential in remote areas without access to A.I. Complications are with sexually transferable diseases and in-breeding. “Bull keepers associations” could be supported with credit.
Purebred bulls – “village bulls” – were in the past the only method and still potential in remote areas without access to A.I. Complications are with sexually transferable diseases and in-breeding. “Bull keepers associations” could be supported with credit.
Main interventions regarding breed improvement
- support to the actual breeding work like promotion of cattle breeders associations, cattle registration, milk recording, bull mother selection, progeny testing, cattle shows and competitions,
- establishment of bull stations, supply of breeding bulls for AI stations as well as for natural breeding, semen production and storage, use of liquid nitrogen deep freezing, A.I. equipment, distribution systems, training of inseminators and of farmers in heat detection,
- support to health coverage and control of sexual transmitted diseases.
Provision of such facilities for breeding has in most developing countries been a public responsibility, but now being increasingly privatized. However, the public can still support such interventions through research, training, tax exemptions, ploughing back tax revenues of various kind.
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Tool C9.2 |
Requirements for veterinary services, artificial insemination and advisory services
(1) Chacko, C.T. & F. Schneider. Breeding services for small dairy farmers-sharing the Indian experience. 2005.
(2) Walshe, M. et al. ”Dairy development in Sub-Saharan Africa”. In: World Bank Technical Paper, no 135. p. 33, 1991
(3) De Haan et al 2001. ”Livestock in Poverty focused development”. In: Livestock in development, 1999, p. 64-65 URL: http://www.theidlgroup.com/downloads/livestock.pdf - search=%22livestock%20in%20poverty%20foc
(4) WB. Livestock development. 2001, p. 38, 46, 52 |
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Tool C9.3 |
Cost of breeding programme (exotic breeds)
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Tool C10.3 |
Cost of cross breeding programme
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Tool C10.5 |
Ways of organising breeding services
(1) Chacko, C.T. & F. Schneider. Breeding services for small dairy farmers-sharing the Indian experience, 2005 |
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Tool C11.3 |
Cost of registration and selection for breeding programme (local breeds)
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Tool C11.4 |
Bull service systems
(1) Chacko, C.T. & F. Schneider. Breeding services for small dairy farmers-sharing the Indian experience, 2005 |
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