Adaptation and Returns from Improved Indigenous Small Ruminants in Climatically Challenged Smallholder Systems of Kenya

Abstract

Improved climate-resilient strains of indigenous sheep and goats were introduced in the Nyando basin of western Kenya in 2013. This study evaluated the performance of the breeds five years after their first introduction, and their contribution to household revenues. Red Maasai and Red Maasai x Dorper sheep and Galla goats introduced in Nyando adapted to the environment and retained performance levels exhibited in their original environments. They have been widely adopted by the farmers and are used for upgrading local breeds through crossbreeding, yielding offspring that are 50% heavier than local breeds at one year of age. Costs for producing the small ruminants tend to increase with land size owned, mainly due to higher costs for managing the health of more livestock. The costs of producing goats are significantly higher than for sheep. Revenues accrued from goat milk contribute to 10% of the revenue from goats. The introduced breeds provided a significant productivity lift in the local livestock population, resulting in higher returns to the smallholder farmers. For long-term sustainability of the productivity gains, a community-based selective mating program using reference sire flocks with an overall goal of good growth, adaptability, and milk production should be adopted.

A Review on Indigenous Goats of East Africa: A Case for Conservation and Management

“…This review assessed the status of indigenous goats in East Africa. These goats are important livestock in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP), economic stability, and social and cultural welfare of the countries [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The ability of these breeds to produce and reproduce in unfavorable environments and their low-cost production [ 25 , 29 , 30 ] make them valuable genetic resources in these countries’ rural, arid, and semi-arid regions.…”

“…The majority of goats in East Africa are made up of indigenous breeds, accounting for approximately 95% of the goat population, and they are mostly bred by smallholder rural households and pastoral communities [ 25 ]. These indigenous breeds play a key role in improving the livelihoods of smallholder rural communities, by providing sustainable food, ensuring the community has enough income to cater for their needs, and being an important investment for this target population [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The resilience of these goats, which is shown by their ability to survive in challenging environmental conditions such as valleys and rocky and mountainous regions, is attributed to their distinctive conformation and adaptive traits, allowing them to survive in such environments [ 25 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasite in Four Goat Breeds Slaughtered in Two Major Abattoirs in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

“…Goats and other farm animals are valuable because there is a high demand for nutrient-dense animal protein [2]. Due to their lower purchase price, improved fecundity, profusion, availability, and ease of domestication, goats, as small ruminants, have few benefits over large animals [3,4].…”

Assessing the population structure and genetic variability of Kenyan native goats under extensive production system

“…To improve their performance, the breeds are commonly exposed to indiscriminate crossbreeding with international breeds 13 . However, this practice may affect the adaptive features of these native goats thus leading to extinction or the dilution of their adaptive characteristics 19 , 20 . To prevent this from happening and ensure the preservation of their valuable traits, it is crucial to establish a sustainable breeding program that will effectively safeguard and manage these traits 14 , 21 .…”