I.S. Kosgey

Economic values for traits of meat sheep in medium to high production potential areas of the tropics

Abstract Breeding objectives were developed for meat sheep in smallholder production circumstances in the tropics. The traits considered were litter size, lambing frequency, pre-weaning, and post-weaning lamb survival to 12 months, ewe survival, lamb live weight at 12-month, mature ewe live weight, consumable meat, kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake. Three evaluation situations were considered: (i) base with constant number of ewes, (ii) fixed feed resource and (iii) setting feed costs to zero. Sensitivity analysis of economic values to price levels of inputs and meat production was carried out. The fixed feed resource situation appropriately describes smallholder production circumstances. In the base situation, meat production accounted for about 88% of revenue and manure the remaining 12%. Variable costs represented about 95% of the total cost. For the fixed feed resource situation, economic values (US

Analysis of production objectives and breeding practices of dairy goats in Kenya

per ewe per year) were 12.94 for litter size, 10.18 for lambing frequency, 0.19 for pre-weaning lamb survival, 0.24 for post-weaning lamb survival, 0.36 for ewe survival, 1.02 for 12-month lamb live weight, 0.14 for mature ewe live weight, 0.51 for consumable meat, 0.08 for kg of manure DM sold (per ewe per year) and −0.04 for residual DM feed intake. Litter size and lambing frequency were the most important traits in a breeding objective for smallholder production. Relative to the base situation, setting feed costs to zero had similar results as the situation with restricted feed resource but resulted in larger differences. Sensitivity analysis of economic weights to changes in prices and production circumstances indicated that future economic values for traits might change dependent on levels of output and prices. The exceptions, with regard to changes in meat price are kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake, and with regard to feed costs are consumable meat and kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year. Economic values for 12-month lamb live weight, mature ewe live weight, consumable meat, kg of manure DM sold per ewe per year and residual DM feed intake were not sensitive to changes in management and marketing circumstances. Caution is recommended when the breeding objectives presented here are applied not to disadvantage smallholders in poor climatic years, when farmers are at their most vulnerable situation.

Institutional and organizational frameworks for dairy and beef cattle recording in Kenya: a review and opportunities for improvement

Production objectives and breeding practices of smallholder households participating in dairy goat breeding projects were analysed in relation to their ability to bring about sustainable genetic improvement in the dairy goat flocks in Kenya. A stratified survey involving 311 goat keepers in 4 project sites was used. This employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods to get a holistic view of dairy goats, and take into account the full array of contributions of dairy goats to the smallholder households. Milk production and sales of breeding stock were high priority functions for the objective to create a financial buffer. The breeding objective traits that farmers perceived as being of primary importance were milk yield, growth rate, body size, fertility and disease tolerance. There were logical trade-offs in the choice of these traits by farmers. Female dairy goats were mainly culled due to old age, poor fertility, small body size and poor health. Farmers did not place a large significance on unsatisfactory milk performance when culling female goats, mainly due to the very small production size and the high demand existing for breeding animals. Factors affecting milk yield and flock size presented satisfied a P < 0.1 significance level. The performance levels of dairy goats were mainly influenced by breeding strategies and the resource availability at the farm level. The optimisation of genotype x environment interactions remains the biggest challenge given the objectives set by the farmer.

Breeding goals for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat. I. Model development and application to smallholder production systems

Para facilitar la mejora del ganado en los paises en desarrollo, son importantes tanto los registros de las poblaciones animales como de sus diferentes niveles de productividad. Sin embargo, en estos paises, el registro del ganado presenta un enorme desafio. Este trabajo presenta un resumen de la evolucion historica y el escenario actual en los registros relativos al ganado bovino de produccion carnica y lechera en Kenia, donde un sistema de registro esta en marcha desde 1963, a pesar de que el potencial productivo de la mayoria de los animales de dicho pais sigue siendo desconocido. El trabajo pone en contexto la situacion del registro animal relacionado con el potencial para su desarrollo futuro, tanto en produccion lechera como carnica dentro del pais. A pesar del enorme potencial existente, tan solo un bajo numero de registros animales han sido tomados, debido a la enorme cantidad de desafios existentes, los cuales incluyen los limitados fondos, la falta de incentivos para registrar, escasa retroalimentacion de los registros, una fragmentada estructura organizativa, una deficiente infraestructura, poco personal calificado, y la falta de politicas de apoyo. Se estan debatiendo estrategias para superar todas las dificultades existentes y lograr una utilizacion sostenible de las poblaciones de ganado existentes. El hecho de vincular los registros con las personas que proporcionan una serie de servicios basicos podria mejorar la recopilacion de datos, su procesamiento y que, a su vez, existiera una retroalimentacion de informacion hacia los productores de ganado. La calidad de los servicios de extension proporcionados se debe mejorar con objeto de apoyar de forma integral la produccion animal. Las recientes regulaciones internacionales sobre la trazabilidad de productos de origen animal vendidos en diferentes paises hacen pensar que, a menos que Kenia ponga en marcha un solido programa de registro animal, el pais sera excluido de los mercados en lo relativo a sus pr

Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford beef cattle breeds in Kenya

A deterministic model was developed and applied to evaluate biological and economic variables that characterize smallholder production systems utilizing the Kenya Dual Purpose goat (KDPG) in Kenya. The systems were defined as: smallholder low-potential (SLP), smallholder medium-potential (SMP) and smallholder high-potential (SHP). The model was able to predict revenues and costs to the system. Revenues were from sale of milk, surplus yearlings and cull-for-age animals, while costs included those incurred for feeds, husbandry, marketing and fixed asset (fixed costs). Of the total outputs, revenue from meat and milk accounted for about 55% and 45%, respectively, in SMP and 39% and 61% in SHP. Total costs comprised mainly variable costs (98%), with husbandry costs being the highest in both SMP and SLP. The total profit per doe per year was KSh 315.48 in SMP, KSh −1352.75 in SLP and KSh −80.22 in SHP. Results suggest that the utilization of the KDPG goat in Kenya is more profitable in the smallholder medium-potential production system. The implication for the application of the model to smallholder production systems in Kenya is discussed.Objectifs d’élevage pour les chèvres de races mixtes au Kenya I. Développement d’un modèle et application aux systèmes de production de petits éleveursRésumé – Un modèle déterministe a été développé et appliqué afin d’évaluer les variables biologiques et économiques qui caractérisent les systèmes de production de petits éleveurs en utilisant les chèvres de races mixtes kenyanes (KDPG) au Kenya. Les systèmes ont été définis comme étant : petit éleveur à faible potentiel (SLP), petit éleveur à potentiel moyen (SMP) et petit éleveur à potentiel élevé (SHP). Le modèle a réussi à prédire des revenus et des coûts pour le système. Les revenus sont venus de la vente de lait, des chèvres de l’année en excédent et des animaux éliminés en raison de leur âge tandis que les coûts ont inclus ceux encourus pour l’alimentation de moulées, l’élevage, le marketing et les immobilisations (coûts fixes). Sur les rendements totaux, le revenu provenant de la viande et du lait respectivement a rendu compte d’environ 55% et 45% respectivement pour les SMP et 39% et 61% pour les SHP. Les coûts totaux ont principalement consisté en coûts variables (98%), les coûts d’élevage étant les plus élevés pour à la fois les SMp et les SLP. Le profit total par femelle par année a été de 315.48 KSh pour les SMP, de 1352.75 KSh pour les SLP et de 80.22 KSh pour les SHP. Les résultats suggèrent que l’utilisation de chèvres KDPG au Kenya est plus profitable dans le système de production de petits éleveurs à potentiel moyen. L’implication de l’application du modèle aux systèmes de production de petits éleveurs au Kenya fait l’objet d’une discussion.Objetivos de reproducción y crianza para cabras de doble propósito de Kenia I. Desarrollo y aplicación del modelo para sistemas de producción de pequeños granjerosResumen – Se desarrolló y aplicó un modelo determinista para evaluar las variables biológicas y económicas que caracterizan a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros que utilizan a la cabra de doble propósito de Kenia (CDPK) en Kenia. Los sistemas fueron definidos como: sistema de bajo potencial de pequeño granjero (BPPG), de potencial medio de pequeño granjero (PMPG), y de alto potencial de pequeño granjero (APPG). El modelo fue capaz de predecir los ingresos y costes del sistema. Los ingresos provenían de la venta de leche, del excedente de cabritillas de 1–2 años de edad y de animales sacrificados por motivo de su edad, mientras que los costes incluían aquellos debido a alimentos, a cultivo y crianza de los animales, a marketing, y a bienes fijos (costes fijos). De las producciones totales, los ingresos debido a la carne y la leche equivalían aproximadamente a un 55% y 45% respectivamente en los sistemas de PMPG, y a un 39% y 61% en los sistemas APPG. Los costes totales comprendían principalmente costes variables (98%), con los costes debido al cultivo y crianza de animales siendo los más altos tanto en sistemas PMPG como en PBPG. El beneficio total por cabra hembra y por año fue, en términos de chelines kenianos (KSh), de 315.48 en PMPG, −1352.75 en PBPG y −80.22 en PAPG. Los resultados sugieren que la utilización de la cabra CDPK en Kenia es más provechosa en el sistema de producción de potencial medio de pequeños granjeros. Se discute también la implicación para la aplicación del modelo a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros.

Economic contribution and viability of dairy goats: implications for a breeding programme

This study estimated genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford cattle in Kenya. Traits considered were birth weight (BW, kg), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) and weaning weight (WW, kg); calving interval (CI, days) and age at first calving (AFC, days). Direct heritability estimates for growth traits were 0.36 and 0.21; 0.25 and 0.10; 0.23 and 0.13 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Maternal heritability estimates were 0.11 and 0.01; 0.18 and 0.00; 0.17 and 0.17 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Direct-maternal genetic correlations ranged between −0.46 and 1.00; −0.51 and −1.00; −0.47 and −0.39 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Genetic correlations ranged from −0.99 to unity and −1.00 to unity for growth and fertility traits respectively. Prospects for improvement of growth and fertility traits exist.

Identification systems and selection criteria for small ruminants among pastoralist communities in northern Kenya: prospects for a breeding programme

To augment the incomes of smallholder farmers in Kenya and consequently improve their nutrition and income, many development organisations and policy makers are increasingly promoting dairy goat farming. Among the key organisations supporting the initiative is Heifer Project International—Kenya (HPIK). However, the economic contribution and viability of dairy goats under the HPIK project have not been studied so far. The aim of the present study was to determine the contribution of dairy goats to household income and the performance of the dairy goat enterprise using gross and net margins from dairy goat farming as an indicator of economic viability. A survey covering 71 farmers was carried out in the Coast, Nyanza, and the Rift Valley provinces of Kenya using a set of pre-tested structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Results showed that, on average, the dairy goat enterprise contributed, correspondingly, about 15.2% and 4.8% to the total livestock and overall household income and was viable. Differences in gross and net margins across agroecological zones were attributed to milk prices. Despite the existence of non-viable enterprises in two of the provinces, the few present suggest the possibility of obtaining reliable incomes from the enterprise. Redoubling of effort or re-orientation of production to match the local and external requirements would, however, be necessary. Costs and revenues were similar across the agroecological zones. Farmers with positive gross margins had better milk and stock sales and vice versa. The success of a dairy goat enterprise is attributed to location and good management. Besides, farmers’ awareness of the market demands within and outside the community is important in establishing production goals and may be crucial to achieving a positive gross margin.

Successes and failures of small ruminant breeding programmes in the tropics: a review

Data on animal identification systems and selection criteria for sheep and goats were collected from the Rendille and Gabra communities in northern Kenya. These were then analysed through computation of indices, which represented a weighted average of all rankings of a particular trait or identification system. The three most important records kept were castration (index = 0.224), dates of birth (0.188) and entries into the flock (0.185). Identification was done through ear notching (0.409), branding (0.248), and coat colour of the animals (0.150). Characteristics with index ≥0.200 were considered more important and included big body size (Rendille, 0.260; Gabra, 0.251) and milk yield (Rendille, 0.206) for the buck’s dam. Big body size (Rendille, 0.264; Gabra, 0.245) and offspring quality (Rendille, 0.252; Gabra, 0.265) were considered important attributes for the buck’s sire. Important qualities for the ram’s dam were big body size (Rendille, 0.246; Gabra, 0.216), offspring quality (Rendille, 0.200; Gabra, 0.235), fat deposition (0.233) among the Rendille and drought tolerance (0.246) among the Gabra. For the rams’ sire, big body size (Rendille, 0.235; Gabra, 0.233), offspring quality (Rendille, 0.200; Gabra, 0.235) and fat deposition (Rendille, 0.203; Gabra, 0.220) were considered important. The results from this study imply that pedigree and performance recording have been practiced through own intricate knowledge and that pastoralists have deliberate selection criteria. This information is the cornerstone in the establishment of appropriate breeding programmes in the slowly changing pastoral systems.