Breeding programs for smallholder sheep farming systems: I. Evaluation of alternative designs of breeding schemes

Solomon Gizaw Assefa, Barbara Rischkowsky, Anne Valle Zarate, Aynalem Haile, Johan van Arendonk, Ally Okeyo Mwai, Tadelle Dessie. (31/10/2014). Breeding programs for smallholder sheep farming systems: I. Evaluation of alternative designs of breeding schemes. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 131 (5), pp. 341-349.

Abstract

Village- and central nucleus-based schemes were simulated and evaluated for their relative bio-economic efficiencies, using Ethiopia’s Menz sheep as example. The schemes were: village-based 2-tier (Scheme-1) and 1-tier (Scheme-2) cooperative village breeding schemes, dispersed village-based nuclei scheme (Scheme-3), conventional 2-tier central nucleus-based scheme (Scheme-4), and schemes linking a central nucleus and village multiplier nuclei with selection in central nucleus (Scheme-5) or in both central and village nuclei (Scheme-6). Among village-based schemes, Scheme-1 gave the highest genetic progress, while Scheme-2 was economically the most efficient with genetic gain in the breeding objective of Birr 5.6 and a profit of Birr 37.2/ewe/year. The central nucleus schemes were more efficient than the village schemes. Scheme-4 was the most efficient with genetic gain in the breeding objective of Birr 13.5 and a profit of Birr 71.2, but is operationally more difficult as it requires a very large central nucleus. The choice between village and central nucleus-based schemes would depend on local conditions (availability of infrastructure, logistics and technical knowhow and support). Linking central nucleus with village- based nuclei (Scheme-6) would be a feasible option to overcome the operational difficulties of the conventional central nucleus scheme. If a village- based breeding program is envisaged as should be the 1st step in most low-input systems, then Scheme-2 is the most efficient. To scale out to an entire Menz breed level, Scheme-3 would be recommended.

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7322

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12101

Collections

Agricultural Research Knowledge
Agriculture and Livelihood systems

Other URI

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jbg.12101
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263280848_Breeding_programs_for_smallholder_sheep_farming_systems_I_Evaluation_of_alternative_designs_of_breeding_schemes

AGROVOC Keyword(s)

sheep

Subject(s)

smallholder system; breeding programs

Author(s) ORCID(s)

Gizaw Assefa, Solomon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7489-062X
Rischkowsky, Barbara https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0035-471X
Haile, Aynalem https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5914-0487
van Arendonk, Johan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2592-3947
Mwai, Ally Okeyo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2379-7801
Dessie, Tadelle https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1630-0417