Animal breeding strategies in Africa: current issues and the way forward

Wurzinger, María; Mirkena, Tadele; Sölkner, Johann

doi:10.1111/jbg.12116

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Nevertheless, the improvement of cattle breeding in West Africa requires the establishment of sustainable crossbreeding programs and the enhancement of genomic selection including genotype by environment interactions in the indigenous breeds. These will be achieved through the determination of suitable breeds and optimal proportions of admixture, considering social-ecological constraints ( Wollny, 2003 ; Wurzinger et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling Admixture, Inbreeding, and Recent Selection Signatures in West African Indigenous Cattle Populations in Benin

et al. 2021

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The Dwarf Lagune and the Savannah Somba cattle in Benin are typical representatives of the endangered West African indigenous Shorthorn taurine. The Lagune was previously exported to African and European countries and bred as Dahomey cattle, whereas the Somba contributed to the formation of two indigenous hybrids known as Borgou and Pabli cattle. These breeds are affected by demographic, economic, and environmental pressures in local production systems. Considering current and historical genomic data, we applied a formal test of admixture, estimated admixture proportions, and computed genomic inbreeding coefficients to characterize the five breeds. Subsequently, we unraveled the most recent selection signatures using the cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity approach, based on the current and historical genotypes. Results from principal component analyses and high proportion of Lagune ancestry confirm the Lagune origin of the European Dahomey cattle. Moreover, the Dahomey cattle displayed neither indicine nor European taurine (EUT) background, but they shared on average 40% of autozygosity from common ancestors, dated approximately eight generations ago. The Lagune cattle presented inbreeding coefficients larger than 0.13; however, the Somba and the hybrids (Borgou and Pabli) were less inbred (≤0.08). We detected evidence of admixture in the Somba and Lagune cattle, but they exhibited a similar African taurine (AFT) ancestral proportion (≥96%) to historical populations, respectively. A moderate and stable AFT ancestral proportion (62%) was also inferred for less admixed hybrid cattle including the Pabli. In contrast, the current Borgou samples displayed a lower AFT ancestral proportion (47%) than historical samples (63%). Irrespective of the admixture proportions, the hybrid populations displayed more selection signatures related to economic traits (reproduction, growth, and milk) than the taurine. In contrast, the taurine, especially the Somba, presented several regions known to be associated with adaptive traits (immunity and feed efficiency). The identified subregion of bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) class IIb (including DSB and BOLA-DYA) in Somba cattle is interestingly uncommon in other African breeds, suggesting further investigations to understand its association with specific adaptation to endemic diseases in Benin. Overall, our study provides deeper insights into recent evolutionary processes in the Beninese indigenous cattle and their aptitude for conservation and genetic improvement.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling Admixture, Inbreeding, and Recent Selection Signatures in West African Indigenous Cattle Populations in Benin

et al. 2021

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“…Newborn calves weigh about 14–23 kg and remain small for several months. The breed like other breeds in tropics is characterized by low-productivity and low-growth rates but highly adapted to harsh environments (Wurzinger et al 2014 ). In contrast, Bos taurus breeds that are predominantly found in temperate countries have a high-production potential, but poor adaptation to tropical hash environment (Roschinsky et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

Manzi

Rydhmer

Ntawubizi

et al. 2017

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The objective of the study was to compare body weights and growth from birth to 18 months of age of various groups of crossbred cattle born from 1999 to 2007, being crossbreds of Ankole (A) with Brown Swiss (B), Holstein Friesian (F), Jersey (J), and Sahiwal (S). Average weights were 26.5 kg at birth, 161 kg at weaning, and 226 kg at 18 months. Both season and sex significantly affected birth weight (BW), weight at 8 and 18 months (W8 and W18), and average daily gain from weaning to 18 months (ADG18) and, unlike season, sex significantly affected average daily gain to 8 months and weaning age. The general trend was that average daily gain attained a maximum before weaning and thereafter decreased until 18 months. Least square means for AB and AF calves were comparable and significantly differed only for W18 and ADG18. AJ had the lowest BW but was comparable with AS, AJxS, and ASxJ for W8, age-adjusted weaning weight, and W18. Generally, AF was heavier than other breed groups, but the difference was smaller than expected probably because environmental conditions did not allow full expression of genetic potential for growth.

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“…Cross-breeding with other breeds may represent an opportunity to reduce inbreeding and upgrade the indigenous Somba cattle for either the enhancement of their adaptive potential to climate changes or the improvement of their productive performances. Nevertheless, genetic and advanced genomic studies are required to design suitable breeding strategies for local cattle populations including the identification of suitable breeds for cross-breeding and proportion of admixture to meet farmers' interests and environmental requirements (Wollny 2003;Wurzinger et al 2014;Marshall et al 2019). Development of programmes towards improved use and conservation of the indigenous Somba breed should take into account the herd type specificities highlighted in the present study.…”

Section: Entrustment Practice and Sustainable Management Of Somba Cattle Breedmentioning

confidence: 98%

The implications of herd entrustment practice for the sustainable use of cattle genetic resources in the (agro)-pastoral systems of West Africa: A case study from Benin

Vanvanhossou¹,

Koura²,

Dossa³

2021

Pastoralism

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West African (agro)-pastoralists have been increasingly using extra-household labour for the management of their cattle herds. This paper seeks to identify the factors influencing cattle owners’ decision to entrust their animals and to analyse the effects of the entrustment practice on the management and sustainable use of the animal genetic diversity within herds. Two hundred and eleven cattle farmers, including absentee-owners (n = 90) who entrusted their animals to professional herders, and owner-managers (n = 121) who look themselves after their cattle, were randomly selected and surveyed in Boukombe district in northwest Benin, the origin of the West African shorthorn Somba cattle breed. Households' socio-economic data and information on herds’ characteristics and management practices were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The binary logistic regression technique was used to predict the adoption of entrustment by a given farmer in function of his herd’s and household's socio-economic characteristics. Effective population sizes and inbreeding rates for the communal non-entrusted and entrusted Somba populations were estimated and compared. The results revealed that the mode of acquisition of the initial stock, the total livestock units owned and the farmer’s ethnicity were the most important determinants of entrustment. The Somba indigenous cattle breed was threatened in entrusted herds by indiscriminate cross-breeding with Zebus. However, the non-entrusted population appeared to be more exposed to high inbreeding risks. While entrustment represents a good alternative for the efficient use of family labour, adequate strategies are needed to support this practice and encourage herd managers to adopt improved husbandry practices and sound breeding strategies.

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Animal breeding strategies in Africa: current issues and the way forward

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Unraveling Admixture, Inbreeding, and Recent Selection Signatures in West African Indigenous Cattle Populations in Benin

Unraveling Admixture, Inbreeding, and Recent Selection Signatures in West African Indigenous Cattle Populations in Benin

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

The implications of herd entrustment practice for the sustainable use of cattle genetic resources in the (agro)-pastoral systems of West Africa: A case study from Benin

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