Community-based Breeding Program Research Articles

Growth and milk production performance of Abergelle goats under the community-based breeding program in northern Ethiopia

Growth and milk production performance of Abergelle goats under the community-based breeding program in northern Ethiopia

Farmers’ Perception on Contribution of Community-Based Breeding Program to Sheep Flock Performance and Income of Producers in Hula and Dara Districts, Southern Ethiopia

Community-based breeding programs (CBBP) have been viewed as attractive breeding strategies, resulting in significant improvements in the performance of small ruminants and the income of producers in many parts of the world. As part of these interventions, a community-based breeding program was implemented on Abera sheep mostly reared in the region since 2013. An interview was conducted with 188 sheep producers (91 CBBP members) and 97 non-CBBP members) to know the contribution of CBBP in terms of sheep flock performance improvement and income of sheep producers in the Hula and Dara districts of Sidama region. Focused group discussions with 6–8 individuals in each breeder cooperative were separately made to complement the survey results. CBBP households owned significantly (p<0.05) larger sheep heads (7.28 versus 4.99) than non-CBBP members. CBBP households further had more market participation, sold significantly (p<0.05) higher average sheep (2.4 versus 1.3), and consequently earned significantly (p<0.05) higher annual income (ETB 3877) than non-participating (ETB 2007) households. The majority of CBBP households (85%) observed a better twining rate for their sheep flocks since they joined the breeding program. The average age of 8.63 months of a lambing interval, 7.9 months of ram maturity for breeding, and 10.42 months needed for a ram to achieve market age before implementation of the breeding program were significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 7.31 months, 6.2 months, and 7.69 months, respectively, after sheep producers started a selective breeding program. Low market integration (0.28), sheep mortality (0.21), feed shortage (0.20), low institutional support and coordination (0.17), and managerial problems of the committee (0.13) were major problems with the ranking index in parenthesis. Despite the significant contribution of the breeding program to sheep producers, the current study found weak and unsustainable institutional support for proper breeding ..........

Participatory investigation of goat farmers' breeding practices, trait preference, and selection criteria in Burkina Faso.

The community-based breeding program (CBBP) is an innovative approach recommended for genetic improvement and sustainable use of animal genetic resources in extensive farming systems. Successful implementation of this approach requires an understanding of the characteristics of production systems, breeding objectives, and farmers' trait preference. This study aimed to identify the selection criteria of goat farmers in rural areas of Burkina Faso and their potential implications in establishing CBBP. Following focus group discussions, a well-structured questionnaire was designed and administered to 372 randomly selected goat farmers in two different agro-ecological zones. A list of traits obtained during focus group discussions was provided to farmers individually, and they were asked to rank the ones they preferentially use to select breeding animals. Statistical tests were conducted to compare data between the two agro-ecological zones. The results showed that the average goat flock per household was higher (P < 0.05) in the Sudanian (15.68 ± 13.76), compared to the Sudano-Sahelian area (12.93 ± 13.3). Adult females were the dominant age-sex group in both areas. Reasons for culling, keeping breeding bucks, and castration practice were significantly different (P < 0.05) among agro-ecological zones. The most important common criterion for selection in the two zones was body size, coat color, and growth rate for the bucks and does, while fertility (0.06) parameters including twining ability (0.18), kidding frequency (0.11), and mothering ability (0.15) were furthermore considered for breeding does selection. These findings provide valuable insights for developing CBBPs tailored to goat production in the study areas.

Production systems and breeding practices of Begaria cattle breed as input for a community-based breeding program

This study aimed to describe the production systems and breeding practices of Begaria cattle breeds as a resource for community-based conservation and breeding program. A semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions were employed to identify and describe the breeding practice of the farmer. Three kebeles: Almahal, Fanguso, and Mankush were considered for the study. The data were analyzed using R software. Cattle were kept for a variety of reasons, including milk, breeding, meat, cash, and saving. It was typical throughout the study area to see herd mixing and keeping together (4.7 ± 0.33 herds on average), herd movement during the dry season, and breeding bull sharing (1.9 ± 1.55 shared bulls). During the summer season, cattle rearing in the areas was hindered by feed and water shortages. The breed's major reproduction constraints were abortion (24 %), repeat breeding (19), and calf mortality (14). The primary reason for keeping Begaria cattle was for milk (29 %), cash (26), meat (22), and breeding (0.22). The average age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and milk yield per day of the breed were 41.5 ± 1.63, 16.0 ± 0.43 months, and 3.2 ± 0.12 L respectively. The average age of breeding bull selection was 3 ± 0.1 years, and it was based on several criteria, including their phenotype, growth, and white coat colour. Based on the current findings, it is recommended that a multi-trait selection program be designed with full stakeholder participation.

Valuing the Relative Importance of Goat Farmers Trait Preferences: Implication for Designing Community Based Breeding Program

The success of a breed improvement programme depends on farmers' participation in the identification of breeding objective traits relevant to particular production environments. This study compared and contrasted two methodological approaches weighted rank vs. exploded logit modelin an effort to better understand and value the relative importance of farmers' trait preferences. For this purpose, two districts (Erer and Shinnile), were selected purposively based on their agro-ecologies, goat population size, the relative significance of goats to the livelihood of the communities, and the willingness of the farmers to participate. A survey with 120 farmers (60 from each district) owning goat flocks was carried out to investigate the purpose of keeping goats, breeding buck and doe selection criteria, and goat production constraints. The results found for the purpose of keeping goats, breeding buck and doe selection criteria, and goat production constraints reflected the multiple objectives of the farmers. Milk, income and meat were the most important traits for the purpose of keeping goats; body conformation, fast growth and pedigree were the most important traits for the selection of bucks; milk yield, body conformation and mothering ability were the most important traits for the selection of does; and drought, disease and feed were the most important traits of production constraints in the study areas. The results of this study form the basis for better designing of breeding programs for sustainable utilisation that address farmers’ preferences, speed up genetic progress and conserve indigenous goats, thereby meeting the needs of farmers.

Using the community-based breeding program (CBBP) model as a collaborative platform to develop the African Goat Improvement Network-Image collection protocol (AGIN-ICP) with mobile technology for data collection and management of livestock phenotypes.

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions. Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken. Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day's images, or even an entire sampling trip's images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGIN-ICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection.

Farming practices and breeding objectives identification of farmer in north shoa and south wello zones of Amhara region

The study aims at assessing the production systems and identifying the traits preferred by farmers in the study areas to establish community-based breeding and sustainable utilization programs. The study was conducted in the four purposively selected districts of North Shoa and South Wello zones of Amhara region (Merehabete, Wereillu, Moretena Jiru and Mojaena Wedera). A total of 120(30 farmers from each district) purposively selected farmers participated in their own flock ranking experiment. Furthermore, 216 (i.e., 54 farmers from each district) were interviewed about their goat production systems and trait preferences to be improved. The chi-square test was used to analyze qualitative data, and analysis of variance was used to analyze quantitative data generated by the survey. For the rank data, indexes were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2010. Income was the main objective of goat rearing in all the study areas. Doe has a larger proportion than other flock structures in all the study areas. Mostly, the age of castration was above one year in all the study areas. The breeding buck selection criteria were growth, shape, size, and color. Body size, litter size, and mothering ability were identified as important traits in all study areas. Early selling of fast-buck kids is practiced in all study areas for their immediate cash. This results in the use of poor-performing bucks for breeding and may result in negative selection. To address such issues, it is critical to create and implement a community-based breeding program that takes into account body size, litter size, mothering capacity, puberty age, and longevity.

Characterization of the growth, productivity and physical fiber properties of indigenous cashmere goats in southern Kyrgyzstan

Since 2008, a breeding flock of Kyrgyz indigenous goats has been developed by a Kyrgyz non-government organisation (NGO) in the mountainous region of Osh Province in southern Kyrgyzstan, to preserve, select and distribute improved cashmere goats to villagers to increase their income from selling fine white cashmere. The NGO has trained farmers in 31 villages on better goat management and cashmere harvesting, established and advises 22 villages in a community-based breeding program with the foundation of improved sires and females from the NGO’s nucleus flock. This report provides the initial characterisation of the phenotypic, genetic and socio-economic value of this cashmere landrace. Live weights for females were (mean±s.d., kg): 1-year old, 27.4 ± 3.0 (n = 54); adult 6-years and older, 37.8 ± 4.8 (n = 58); and for males: 1-year old, 28.8 ± 3.2 (n = 40); 3-year old, 55–60 (n = 3). Using measurements (means±s.d.) taken on one-year old goats born between 2017 and 2021, shows cashmere weight (CW) 123 ± 56 g (n = 240), mean fiber diameter (MFD) 14.9 ± 1.2 µm (n = 332) and cashmere length (CL) 30.1 ± 6.7 mm (n = 200). Applying a linear animal model including birth year, birth type and sex we calculated heritabilities and their sampling errors (s.e.) as 0.12 ± 0.12, 0.58 ± 0.16 and 0.50 ± 0.24 for CW, MFD and CL, respectively. Genetic correlations between CW and both MFD and CL resulted rather low (−0.22 ± 0.54 and 0.16 ± 0.57) and between MFD and CL rather high (0.48 ± 0.25). Similarly, phenotypic correlations between CW and both MFD and CL resulted low (0.12 ± 0.07 and 0.22 ± 0.09) and between MFD and CL high (0.49 ± 0.06). Cashmere weight has increased 2.6 g per year (P = 0.017) while cashmere MFD has not decreased significantly (P = 0.066). There has also been no significant increase in cashmere length (P > 0.3). Changes in the average selection index since 2019 indicated additional economic worth of 10% (P = 0.017). Various body dimensional characteristics were measured. Heart girth measurement accounted for 80% of the variance in live weight indicating girth would be a useful field measurement method in remote regions. Given the positive phenotypic correlation between cashmere production and MFD continuing objective measurement of cashmere production and MFD are essential for future improvements in economic benefits for farmers.

Efficiency of the oestrus synchronization with hand mating and artificial insemination on the reproductive performances of Woyto-Guji Goat under community-based breeding program

Efficiency of the oestrus synchronization with hand mating and artificial insemination on the reproductive performances of Woyto-Guji Goat under community-based breeding program

Productive and reproductive performance of Dawuro highland sheep managed under community-based breeding program in Ethiopia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth and reproductive performance of highland Dawuro sheep population managed under a community-based breeding program in Ethiopia. Records used in the study were collected over 6 years (2017-2022). In the current study, 3554 records were considered. Studied traits were birth weight (BWT), 3-month weight (WWT), 6-month weight (SMWT), daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG0-3), daily gains from weaning to 6-month age(ADG3-6), litter size(LS), lambing interval (LI), and annual reproductive rates(ARR). The data were analyzed using general linear models of SAS software. The overall least squares mean (LSM± SE) for BWT, WWT, SMWT, ADG0-3, and ADG3-6 were 2.69±0.02; 14.6±0.49, 22.8±0.22 kg, 128.05±2.27 gram (g), and 71.5±0.23 gram respectively. Site difference exerted significantly on BWT, WWT, and SMWT. The result of WWT and SMWT results of Dawuro sheep were comparable with previously reported known Ethiopian sheep breeds. The overall least squares mean ± standard error of LS, LI and, ARR were 1.67±0.04 lambs, 239±31.91 days, and 2.19±0.06 lambs, respectively. WWT and SMWT traits showed good responses to selection. The general implication of the result to future improvement program was continue selection, strengthening the existing breeder cooperatives, integration of full animal health, feed packages, conservation of prolific flocks, improving the management of animals, expanding the current CBBP to adjacent potential kebele, create market linkage and scaling out the existing best practice to a new sites.

A Community-Based Breeding Program as a Genetic Resource Management Strategy of Indonesian Ongole Cattle

It is essential to manage genetic resources, especially in local livestock breeds, to establish an equilibrium among livestock, humans, and the environment for sustainable development in conservation. Genetic resource management is necessary to overcome challenges to increasing productivity while ensuring environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Attempts to overcome these challenges have led to the threat of genetic erosion through uncontrolled crossbreeding, particularly threatening the hybrid vigor of indigenous breeds, such as Indonesian Ongole cattle. Considering community-based breeding as a viable management strategy for systematic livestock breeding, this study aimed to design a community-based breeding program for Indonesian Ongole cattle. The profile of socio-ecological community and genetic resources were studied using a purposive random sampling technique within an effective population size as a case study; both the respondents and the objects of the study were investigated. The study revealed that indigenous knowledge and livelihood-supported institutions are crucial to genetic resource management practices in cattle breeding. These factors are shown to be strategic priorities when designing community-based breeding programs. This approach to design empowers local cooperatives to operate a community-based breeding program for Indonesian Ongole cattle by standardizing an integrated system for selecting incentive initiatives using big data.

How to succeed in implementing community-based breeding programs: Lessons from the field in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Breeding programs involving either centralized nucleus schemes and/or importation of exotic germplasm for crossbreeding were not successful and sustainable in most Africa countries. Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) are now suggested as alternatives that aim to improve local breeds and concurrently conserve them. Community-based breeding program is unique in that it involves the different actors from the initial phase of design up until implementation of the programs, gives farmers the knowledge, skills and support they need to continue making improvements long into the future and is suitable for low input systems. In Ethiopia, we piloted CBBPs in sheep and goats, and the results show that they are technically feasible to implement, generate genetic gains in breeding goal traits and result in socio-economic impact. In Malawi, CBBPs were piloted in local goats, and results showed substantial gain in production traits of growth and carcass yields. CBBPs are currently being integrated into goat pass-on programs in few NGOs and is out-scaled to local pig production. Impressive results have also been generated from pilot CBBPs in Tanzania. From experiential monitoring and learning, their success depends on the following: 1) identification of the right beneficiaries; 2) clear framework for dissemination of improved genetics and an up/out scaling strategy; 3) institutional arrangements including establishment of breeders' cooperatives to support functionality and sustainability; 4) capacity development of the different actors on animal husbandry, breeding practices, breeding value estimation and sound financial management; 5) easy to use mobile applications for data collection and management; 6) long-term technical support mainly in data management, analysis and feedback of estimated breeding values from committed and accessible technical staff; 7) complementary services including disease prevention and control, proper feeding, and market linkages for improved genotypes and non-selected counterparts; 8) a system for certification of breeding rams/bucks to ensure quality control; 9) periodic program evaluation and impact assessment; and 10) flexibility in the implementation of the programs. Lessons relating to technical, institutional, community dynamics and the innovative approaches followed are discussed.

Going to scale-From community-based to population-wide genetic improvement and commercialized sheep meat supply in Ethiopia.

Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) have shown, at pilot scale, to be effective and beneficial in achieving genetic progress and in improving livelihoods of smallholder communities. In Ethiopia 134 sheep and goat CBBPs were operational producing their own improved rams and bucks. Based on experience the implementation of further programs is possible with appropriate private and public support. A different challenge is the efficient dissemination of the improved genetics produced in current CBBPs to create population-wide economic impact. We present a framework applied to the Ethiopian Washera sheep breed to meet this challenge. We propose the establishment of a genetic improvement structure that supports a meat commercialization model based on the integration of community-based breeding program cooperatives, client communities and complementary services such as fattening enterprises. We calculated that the recently established 28 community-based breeding programs in the Washera breeding tract can provide genetically improved rams to 22% of the four million head. To reach the whole population 152 additional CBBPs are needed. We simulated the genetic improvements obtainable in the current 28 CBBPs assuming realized genetic progress in CBBPs of a similar breed and calculated the expected additional lamb carcass meat production after 10years of selection to be 7 tons and the accumulated discounted benefit 327 thousand USD. These benefits could be increased if the CBBPs are linked to client communities by providing them with improved rams: additional meat production would be 138 tons with a value of 3,088 thousand USD. The total meat production of the existing Washera CBBPs was calculated at 152 tons and the joint meat production of CBBPs if integrated with client communities would be 3,495 tons. A full integration model, which includes enterprises purchasing lambs for fattening, can produce up to 4,255 tons of meat. We conclude that Washera CBBPs cooperatives can benefit from a higher level of organization to produce population-wide genetic improvement and economic benefits. Unlike in the dairy and chicken industries, for low input sheep and goat smallholder systems the proposed commercialization model puts breeder cooperatives at the center of the operation. Cooperatives need to be capacitated and supported to become fully functional business ventures.

Evaluating Flock Dynamics, Offtake-rate, and Farmers’ Perception on Benefits of Community Based Breeding Program in Doyogena District, Central Ethiopia

Evaluating Flock Dynamics, Offtake-rate, and Farmers’ Perception on Benefits of Community Based Breeding Program in Doyogena District, Central Ethiopia

Litter size, litter weight, and lamb survivability of Doyogena sheep managed under community-based breeding program in Ethiopia

Increasing litter size and weight during the marketing time by decreasing mortality among lambs per ewe is the objective of the community-based breeding program (CBBP). This study aims to find out litter size, litter weight per ewe, and preweaning lamb mortality of Doyogena sheep managed under CBBP. The study analyzed the data records of 4530 animals for 8 years from 2013 to 2020. A logistic regression procedure was used to analyze pre-weaning lamb survival rates. Results showed that the overall least-squares means of litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB), and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW) were 1.57 ± 0.02 lambs, 1.50 ± 0.02 lambs, 5.24 ± 0.09 kg, and 24.14 ± 0.69 kg respectively. The incidence of pre-weaning lamb mortality was 4.72%. Year and breeder cooperative vary were observed for pre-weaning lamb losses. Females had lower odds of survival as compared to males. Odds of survival were low for triplets, quadruplets, and low birth weight (≤2 kg) born lambs. The ongoing selection program which aims to improve reproductive and growth performance had a positive influence on the survival rate of lambs. Improvement of the environment in the flock, special care for multiple-born and care for small lambs would lead to further lamb survival improvements.

Phenotypic performance and response to selection for reproductive traits of black bengal Goat (BBG) in a community breeding program

Black Bengal Goat (BBG) is only one goat breed in Bangladesh popularly known for its’ fecundity and carcass quality. The study aimed to investigate the genetic improvement of this goat breed in-situ through a community-based breeding program under a low input production system in three villages namely Gangatia, Borochala, and Pachpai in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district. Data on a total of 657 individuals included with three progressive generations taken during 2009 - 2015 were analyzed for performance evaluation and genetic improvement as a result of two breeding strategies (BS) viz. mating within superior bucks and does, and within superior bucks and existing does and also compared with a control group mated among existing bucks and does. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0 and genetic parameters by VCE 4.2.5. The average age at sexual maturity (ASM), age at first kidding (AFK), services per conception (SPC), litter size (LS), postpartum heat period (PPHP), and kidding interval (KI) were 233.09±2.71d, 383.01±2.61d, 1.13±0.03, 1.90±0.05, 42.41±0.84d and 186.44±0.95d, respectively. Generation and BS had significant effect on all traits, except SPC, except AFK, all other traits differed significantly among the flocks. The heritability estimates of all reproductive traits were medium ranging from 0.32 to 0.57. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among reproductive traits were low to medium (-0.03 to 0.37). The overall responses of up to three generations for ASM, LS, PPHP, and KI were -15.59d, 0.12 no, -6.14d and -7.66d per generation, respectively. It is concluded that community based breeding program with selected superior bucks and does is very rationale under a low input production system, as it improves reproductive performance in progressive generations. However, estimates of heritability and genetic correlations indicate the scope of improvement for reproductive traits with selection and breeding among does and bucks with proven genetic worth. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2019-2021, 44-46: 97-113

Analysis of genetic parameters and genetic trends for early growth and reproductive traits of Doyogena sheep managed under community-based breeding program

This study aims to estimate genetic parameters and genetic trends for early growth and reproductive traits of Doyogena sheep. Data used in the study were collected over 6 years (2013–2018). Studied traits were birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6-month weight (SMWT), average daily gains from birth to weaning (ADG0-3), average daily gains from weaning to 6-month age (ADG3-6), average daily gain from birth to 6-month age (ADG0-6), litter size (LS), lambing interval (LI), age at first lambing (AFL), and annual reproductive rate (ARR). (Co) variance components and genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML). The analyses were carried out using WOMBAT program. Univariate analysis was applied to estimate genetic parameters. Six different animal models were fitted by including or excluding maternal effects. The direct heritability estimates for BWT, WWT, SMWT, ADG0-3, ADG3-6 and ADG0-6 were 0.33 ± 0.06, 0.31 ± 0.06, 0.14 ± 0.06, 0.13 ± 0.04, 0.11 ± 0.07, and 0.02 ± 0.05 respectively. Direct heritability for LS, LI, and AFL were 0.28 ± 0.12, 0.20 ± 0.5, and 0.001 ± 0.3, respectively. The maternal heritability estimates for BWT, WWT, and LS were 0.24 ± 0.12, 0.60 ± 0.07, and 0.24 ± 0.08, respectively. The genetic correlation between BWT with WWT and BWT with SMWT were 0.21 ± 0.07 and 0.21 ± 0.09, respectively. Genetic progress for most of the studied traits has shown promising improvements. Thus, continuation of selection, therefore, suggested for more improvements in the performance of Doyogena sheep. Direct heritability estimates decrease as lamb age increases and selection based on earlier body weight will be more efficient.

Effect of substituting concentrate mixture with dried woybeta (Terminalia brownii Fresen) leaf meal on body weight gain and cost-benefit analysis of yearling Woyto-Guji goats in Konso, Southern Ethiopia

The current experimental work was aimed to evaluate weight gain, linear measurement and economic feasibility of yearling woyto-guji goats supplemented dried woybeta leaf meal (DWLM) as a substitute of concentrate mixture (CM). Twenty intact bucks with an average initial body weight of 19 ± 0.25 kg were selected from Baide community based breeding program (CBBP) and assigned to one of the five treatment feeds in a completely randomized block design as: (T1= Grazing + 300 g CM, T2= Grazing + 75g DWLM + 225 g CM, T3 = Grazing only, T4 = Grazing + 225 g DWLM + 75 g CM and T5= Grazing + 300 g DWLM). All animals were allowed to ad libitum access of water and the experiment was taken for the duration of 90 days. Supplemental feeding of air DWLM in current experiment positively influenced the performance of animals by providing higher feed intake and greater weight gain as compared to control group (T3). The results from ADG were 131.5g, 84.2g, 70.3g, 99.5g and 109.5g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively with T1 and T5 gained significantly (P&lt;0.05) better than all other treatments. The results from DMI were 4.1kg, 3.3kg, 3.0kg, 3.5kg and 3.7kg for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Though goats in T1 performed better than all other treatments, supplementation of air DWLM (T5) was economically dominant and thus is recommended for the initiation of growth of yearling bucks based on the target of the producer. Therefore, it could be concluded that DWLM is a potential feed to replace CM especially during lean periods where other sources may not be readily available and expensive

Breeding practices and trait preferences of goat keepers at Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa: implication for the design of breeding programmes

Identification of breeding practices and trait preferences by livestock keepers for the selection of breeding animals to be parents of the next generations is the crucial step to the successful implementation of community-based breeding program (CBBPs). The study aimed to detect breeding practices and trait preferences by farmers at Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa to determine their relevance in establishing a CBBP. A well-structured questionnaire was designed and administered to 183 randomly selected goat keepers from four villages. Chi-square statistics were used to compare categorical variables among villages. Socio-economic factors and reasons for keeping goats were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the four villages. Methods of controlling mating, reasons for not controlling mating, keeping breeding bucks, source of breeding bucks, reasons for culling, and culling methods were significantly different (P < 0.05) among villages. The most common trait preferences of goat keepers among the surveyed villages were twinning ability, mothering ability, and body size in breeding does, while in breeding bucks were mating ability, growth rate, and body size. The results from this study are useful for designing CBBPs for goat production in the communal areas of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality.

Evaluation of Phenotypic and Morphometric Characteristics in Community Based Breeding Program of Gumer Sheep

Evaluation of Phenotypic and Morphometric Characteristics in Community Based Breeding Program of Gumer Sheep