Abstract
Maintaining diversity of small ruminant genetic resources is instrumental for sustainable agricultural production. Community-based livestock breeding programs (CBBPs) have emerged as a potential approach to implement breeding programs in smallholder farms. This study assesses the viability of CBBPs as a potential approach for conservation and improvement of indigenous small ruminants, using case studies of goat CBBPs in Malawi and Uganda. Data were collected using focus group discussions, personal interviews, and direct observations. The program promotes and empowers smallholders to have access to small ruminant feed resources through protection of existing communal pasturelands, capacity building in pasture production, and conservation of crop residues and crop by-products. Implementation of the CBBP enhances the contributions through improved animal growth performance, kids’ survival, and twinning rates leading to increased offtake rates and better prices. The existence of permanently established supporting organizations and other stakeholders provides sustainable institutional support instrumental for the establishment and growth of CBBPs. However, establishment of functional community-based institutions (producer cooperatives) and investments in institutional/policy reforms to safeguard fair trading, access to common resources by small ruminant keepers, and adoption of the CBBP model into national livestock development programs are some of the key milestones that can guarantee sustainability.
Highlights
Small ruminants are essential for sustainable agricultural production systems, future food and nutrition security, and poverty reduction in developing countries [1]
Demographic Characteristics of Households in the Community-based livestock breeding programs (CBBPs) Scaling Up Sites in Malawi and Uganda
During focus group discussions (FGDs) the farmers reiterated that goat nutrition is enhanced through supplementation with crop residues and crop by-products on top of feeds from natural pastures and browse
Summary
Small ruminants (sheep and goats) are essential for sustainable agricultural production systems, future food and nutrition security, and poverty reduction in developing countries [1]. In situ conservation is usually recommended for species and breeds that have a significant contribution to current and future food and agricultural production This allows the breeds to (1) continue to improve in the context of changes in production conditions and offers greater opportunities for research, (2) facilitates breed evolution and adaptation to the environment and gives insight into breed characterization, (3) helps maintain indigenous knowledge for the sustainable utilization and management of breeds in rural areas, and (4) allows the breed to maintain its socio-economic and cultural roles and its contributions to environmental management [4]
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