Update on Livestock and fish genetics
CRP 3.7
component 1.2
ComponentOkeyo MwaiAnimal Health
1.1: (ILRI)
CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish
Planning Meeting
ILRI Nairobi
27-29 September 2011

Objectives
1. To identify breeds/breed combinations that best
match the existing production systems & future
market needs
2. To assess options for improving and delivering the
breeds/ breed combinations identified for given
systems & VCs

Approach
1. Assess existing organizational & institutional constrains constraints
2. Map key actors & systems opportunities
3. Define breeding goals & selection traits for:
- short term (current consumer needs/preferences
- Future markets and VCs
4. Thro simulations assess market & production scenarios and breeding
plan options
5. Build/facilitate partnerships to efficiently deliver breeding services &
related support services (e.g recording/feedback systems)
6. Develop/support organizational frameworks that allow progress
monitoring and feedback systems

Approach cont..
Smart application of Genomic Tools & Assisted Rep. Technologies (ARTs)
1. Transgenics (e.g. the APO1 gene )
2. Genomic hybridization (e.g. yak & cattle)
3. Molecular hybridization (borrowing from the wild through
comparative genomic analyses)
4. Use of sexed semen, in-vitro-fertilization and embryo transfers

Impact pathway
Build on existing
knowledge,
on-going activities &
partnerships
to deliver on new goals
Use new innovation
platforms to focus
on needed
technologies and
partnerships
Promote and advocate for
mainstreaming
institutional/organiz
ational structures &
policies that best
utilize the
technologies

Overall outcome
Improved productivity

Current Activities & Resources
Overall Okeyo. A.M. & S. Kemp
Ethiopia Development of sheep breeding program and recording systems (J.
Ojango/Okeyo, A.M.)
LIVES: (Tadelle Dessie)
Mali PROGEBE: development of breeding plans for endemic small ruminant
breeds (Karen Marshall)
Tanzania EADD*: Recording and feedback systems to support dairy cattle breeding (J.
Ojango)
Vietnam GEF: Characterization of indigenous pig breeds and their wild relatives and
development of decision support tools for their sustainable use (Okeyo,
A.M., H. Jianlin, R. Bett)
Uganda/Ken EADD: Recording and feedback systems to support dairy cattle breeding (J.
ya Ojango)
Kenya/Ugan DGEA: Indentifying appropriate dairy cattle genetics and development of
da business model to deliver them to farmers (D. Mujibi, J. Ojango, I.
Baltenweck, J. Rao)

Current Activities & Resources cont..
Overall Okeyo. A.M. & S. Kemp
Ethiopia Analysing functional genomic markers related to tolerance of Ethiopian
indigenous chicken to abiotic factors (Tadelle Dessie, S. Kemp.)
Mali PROGEBE: development of breeding plans for endemic small ruminant
breeds (Karen Marshall)
Kenya BREAD-The Magic Cow: Introgressing the APO1 gene into cattle through
transgenesis (Yumi & S. Kemp)
Kenya
Kenya ILRI-SLU: Assessment of organizational and institutional structures and
frameworks and recording systems for the Red Maasai sheep in Kenya
(Okeyo, A.M & J. Ojango)
Others AUSAID –Characterization and development of breeding programs for
Guinea pigs in DRC, Tanzania and Cameroon (Okeyo, A.M & J. Ojango)
GEF: Characterization and development of decision support tools for
sustainable use of indigenous goats in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and
indigenous chicken and their wild relatives in Sri Lanka and Vietnam (H.
Jianlin, I. Baltenweck, R. Bett and Okeyo, A.M

2.2 Value Chain Assessment
Staff & Roles
Quantitative geneticists and animal breeders: K. Marshall, J. Ojango, A.
Okeyo (2 more positions to be recruited * (* one based in Ethiopia and one
in Mali??)
Molecular geneticists and Statistical geneticists: D. Tadelle, D. Mujibi
Economist: J. Rao
Reproductive physiologists: 2 recruitments needed* (*to undertake related
assisted reproduction research for cattle in Nairobi lab)

Proposed Intermediate Outcomes
1. Development and adoption of genetically improved fish
strains
2. Better use of indigenous livestock and their crosses
3. Increased use of better information to inform breed choice
decisions for women, poor smallholders, producer
organizations in the target VCs

Proposed Priority Outcomes & Outputs
2012 2013 2014
Outcomes Stakeholders agree on key Host country partners are Some genomic
breeding research gaps and able to use the databases, tools being used
priorities for the target VCs performance recording and to inform
feedback systems breeding
decisions
Research 1. Potential interventions 1. Data bases & feedback 1. Organizational
Outputs relating to breeding plans & systems established for and institutional
services identified for sheep and dairy cattle frameworks
selected VCs breeding programs developed for
delivery of
2. Performance recording and 2. Alternative breeding desired breeds,
feedback systems plans for different including using
established & adapted and markets and selected ART &
for the Small ruminant and production scenarios genomic techs
dairy cattle for smallholder for target VCs
programs in Ethiopia and
Tanzania
3. DNA, tissue etc. bio-banks
established for selected
breeds and wild relatives

Key Partners
Overall SLU-Sweden, BOKU,-Austria, University of Liverpool, Nottingham University,
Roslyn Institute, USDA, University of New England, EMBRAPA, RDA-RSK,
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , ICARDA
Vietnam NIA
Ethiopia EIAR
Mali ECOFIL (IER), CORAF, ECOWAS
Tanzania Sokoine Univ of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research Institute,
ASARECA
India ?
Uganda Makerere Univ., ASARECA, NAGRC
Kenya University of Nairobi, Ministry of Livestock Development, Egerton
University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agric. & Tech, Marine & Fisheries
Research Institutes
Nicaragua ?
Other

Priorities for Resource Mobilization
2012 2013 2014
Research 1. Assessments of potential 1. Genomic tools to
Outputs interventions relating to support breeding and
breeding plans & services for conservation
selected VCs 2. Alternative breeding
plans for different
2. Performance recording and markets and
established & adapted for 1 production scenarios
VCs and ready for use for target VCs
decisions
3. Feedback for genetic
evaluation and monitoring
for small ruminant VC
established

2012 Priorities for
Organizational, Capacity Development and
Communication Activities
 Recruit:
• 2 additional quantitative/statistical geneticist for Ethiopia and Mali VCS
• 1 Reproduction physiologists, 1 genomics scientist for fish and livestock
genomic research (Nairobi), and 1 Production systems expert
 Beef up team to respond to CRP needs
 Identify and develop new partnerships to facilitate implementation and
ensure overall impact of desired genetics and breeding research in the
target VCs
 Capacity building training and workshops for partners on definition of
breeding goals and design of breeding plans and monitoring of
progress
 Develop team level communication strategy to fit the overall CRP 3.7
communication strategy
 Refocus capacity building strategy to ensure sustained delivery of
outputs/outcomes for the target VCs