Assessment of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability and Change of the Bostaurus Dairy Genotypes under Diverse Production Environments in Kenya.

Abstract

The study assessed the vulnerability and breeding strategies to climate variability and change (CVC) of the Bostaurusdairy genotypes (DBG) under three diverse production environments (PEDs); Rongai (lowland), Kipkelion (moderate altitude) and Nandi South (highland) districts. The PEDs were selected from lowland to highland to represent varying degree of CVC in Kenya. Farmers perceived the DBGs as vulnerable to impacts of CVC and their susceptibility levels varied with both DBG and PEDs. Findings of this study indicated that all the DBGs were highly vulnerable (3.5-3.92) to high heat stress in Rongai. Among the DBGs, Friesian was the most vulnerable breed to all climatic stress types in the identified PEDs. For instance, vulnerabilities to heat stress in Nandi South and Kipkelion district were high for Friesian (3.72-3.92) compared to Ayrshire (2.07), Guernsey (2.0), Jersey (2.0) and their crosses (2.05-2.08). Vulnerability levels to high feed, water, disease, vector and flooding stresses were high for all DBGs in Rongai and only high for Friesian in Nandi South and Kipkelion.Therefore, attaining sustainable dairy productivity requires identification and utilization of adaptive DBGs to the specific PED.