This presentation was held by Donald R. Kugonza at the interntional seminar 'Livestock Resources for Food Security in the Light of Climate Change' co-hosted by SIANI and SLU Global in Uppsala on the 11th of March 2016.

1. Sustainable Use of Animal Genetic Resources
– Examples from Uganda & Rwanda
Donald R. Kugonza
1Makerere University, College of Agricultural & Env. Sciences,
Kampala, Uganda
Livestock Resources for Food Security in the Light of
Climate Change – International Seminar
March 11, 2016
Ulls Hus, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden

2. Where in The World??

4. the use of components of biological diversity
in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-
term decline of biological diversity,
thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs
and aspirations of present and future generations
(CBD, 1992, Article 2).
Sustainable Use? Which animal is that?

5. Which AnGR??

6. PRODUCTION

7. AnGR Production
Objective of production is for consumption per capita to move from 7.5 kg in
2011 to 16.2 kg in 2017 (Meat Industry Strategy & Inv. Plan).
Sweden: December 2015 was 1 428 398 - a decrease from 2014. Dairy
cows decreased by 2.1 % ( )
Live stock 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 (Est) 2017 (Est)
Growth rate
(2011-2017)
Cattle 1 143 553 1 135 141 1 131 633 1 132 810 1 138 799 1 149 749 1 165 835 2%
Sheep 630 860 635 860 642 860 649 860 656 860 663 860 671 418 6%
Goat 2 532 277 2 732 277 3 032 277 3 432 277 3 932 277 4 132 277 5 119 760 102%
Pigs 716 629 806 629 906 629 1 016 629 1 146 629 1 326 629 1 484 536 107%
Rabbits 828 802 978 802 1 128 802 1 303 802 1 478 802 1 608 802 1 733 015 109%
Poultry 3 890 274 4 790 274 5 790 274 6 890 274 7 990 274 9 090 274 10 677 269 174%

8. Meat consumption (Kg per capita)
Source: FAOSTAT Data
13.1 11.9 11.7 12 11.3 11.7
28
62
67
106
133 131
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2002 2010
Uganda
Kenya
Cyprus
USA

9. Year Ankole Crossbreeds Purebreds Ankole Crossbreeds Purebreds
2014 67% 24 8% 42% 37% 21%
2015 65% 25% 9% 40% 38% 22%
2016 63% 26% 9% 38% 39% 23%
2017 62% 28% 10% 36% 41% 23%
2018 60% 29% 10% 34% 42% 24%
2019 59% 31% 11% 33% 43% 25%
2020 58% 33% 12% 31% 44% 25%
Breed composition of
the national herd
Contribution to annual
milk production

13. Country
Consumed milk per
capita kg/year
Deficit as per
FAO kg/year
Kenya 98.6 90
Tanzania 71.5 115
Rwanda 50 120
Uganda 50 120
Comparative per capita milk consumption levels in East Africa

14. Intervention Achievement(s) Impact of
intervention
GIRINKA Increased milk production
Poor households empowered
High
Vaccine distribution Improved animal health High
Deworming, vaccination & spraying animals Decreased mortality and morbidity High
Conducting the livestock census Livestock population known High
Cultivation of feeds Better milk production High
Facilitating farmers to purchase equipment Improved animal productivity Low
Artificial Insemination (AI) Increased milk production
Decreased disease spread
Increased number of improved animals
Medium
Distribution of Boer bucks Faster growth rate of goats Medium
Distribution of fodder seeds Improved animal nutrition Medium
Construction of Vet pharmacies Decreased animal diseases Medium
Formation of farmer cooperatives Increased teamwork Medium
Provision of small stock to poor hh Improvement in wealth ranking Medium
Training farmers in proper animal feeding More skilled farmers Medium
One cup of milk per child Improved child nutrition Medium
Promotion of zero grazing Decreased disease incidences Medium
Stakeholder Perception on AnGR Productivity Enhancing Interventions

15. THE RESOURCES &
THEIR UTILISATION

16. Purpose Male cattle
(%)
Female cattle
(%)
Exotic cattle
(%)
Meat 37.5 0.0 4.0
Income from sale of animals 41.7 33.4 20.0
Savings 4.2 8.3 0.0
Aesthetics/Beauty 8.3 4.2 0.0
Conservation 8.3 4.2 0.0
Milk 0.0 45.8 76.0
Dowry/cultural uses 0.0 4.2 0.0
Purpose of rearing Ankole cattle – Rwanda

17. Purpose of rearing Ankole cattle – Uganda
Purpose (n=248)
Ranking Index –
Females
Ranking Index –
Males
Milk 0.44 -
Income - cattle sales 0.26 0.42
Beauty 0.10 0.18
Meat 0.10 0.17
Heritage 0.03 0.09
Manure 0.01 0.04
Cultural ceremonies 0.02 0.04
Wealth and savings 0.01 0.02
Stud breeding - 0.02
Prestige 0.01 0.02
Hides 0.00 0.01
Butter 0.02 -
Blood for food 0.00 -

19. 19

20. 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Income from sales Meat for home use Cultural value Milk
Purpose of keeping Ankole cattle
Households
Female
Male
Purpose of keeping Ankole cattle

21. 84
52
8
28
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Livestock Crops Salary Business
Percentageoffarmers
Source of Household income
Source of household income among Rwandan farmers

22. Good Goat Genetics – Why abandon them?
Manzi et al. 2015

23. Good Genetics mean Good weights but more
so -- offspring survival not 100% mortality

24. 0
1000
2000
3000
4000Fish Genetics of Rwanda
Yield (kg) from 3 major lakes
in Jan-Mar 2015
Kamondo et al. 2015

25. Pig Resources

27. Performance of different genotypes
27
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
8 12 16 20 24 28 32 34
Cambrough
Cambr. X L-White
Local Black
Weight (kg)
Age (weeks)

28. 28

29. 29
4: Sensory scores as influenced by diet and breed
Diet Breed S.E.M
MB WB WM CC CL BB
Panel scores
Tenderness 7.0a 7.1b 7.2c 7.0a 7.0b - 0.02
Juiciness 5.8a 5.7a 5.1b 5.0 5.0 - 0.10
Flavour 8.0 8.1 7.9 7.0 7.0 - 0.92
Acceptability 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.4 6.4 - 0.30
Tenderness 6.5a 6.3b 6.5c 6.6a 6.2b - 0.18
Juiciness 5.5a 5.7a 5.4b 5.7a 5.4b - 0.13
Flavour 5.7a 5.7a 5.5b 5.7a 5.6b - 0.02
Acceptability 6.47a 6.42 6.40c 6.4 6.4 - 0.01

30. CONSERVATION

31. WHY SHOULD WE CONSERVE INDIGENOUS BREEDS IN RW & UG
• To sustain livelihoods. Indigenous livestock produce little but fulfil a
wide range of economic, social & cultural uses for Rwandans.
• Preserve diversity for future breeding needs. The breeds not wanted now
could be the breeds needed tomorrow!
• Production of crossbred animals which are desired by most farmers
requires pure breeds, one of them MUST be a local breed.
• To ensure sustainable use of marginal areas for production, because
locally adapted breeds utilise these areas maximally.

32. Species:
INYAMBO cattle
Characteristics:
Weight (Cows):250 – 350 kg
Weight (Bulls): 300 – 400 kg
Conservation site:
Karama Farm in Nyagatare
District
Goal: Selection for faster
growth and Dark brown
colour
Herd Size: 310 cattle
Desired traits: Sweet milk;
Disease tolerance; Tasty
and Low cholesterol meat
The Inyambo, associated with royalty and all

33. Species: INYARWANDA goats
Characteristics: Weight (Does): 26–45
kg; Bucks: 34-51 kg
Conservation site: Karama Centre in
Bugesera District
Goal: Selection for faster growth and
High body weight
Flock Size: 123 goats
Species: INYARWANDA Chickens
Characteristics: Weight (Hens): 1.5 – 1.6 kg
Weight (Cocks): 1.8 – 1.9 kg
Conservation site: Songa Centre, Huye District;
Goal: Determine Productivity Indices
Flock Size: 117 chickens (all categories)

34. In-Vitro Conservation of Rwandan Animal Genetic
Resources - The National Gene Bank

35. MANAGEMENT

36. IGIKUMBA – Communal Dairy Cattle Kraals

37. Milk Yield/day

38. Same farm a variety of genetics – the farmers knows better
AI, the bull (NI) or the embryo (ET) the farmer should choose

39. Sustainable utilisation means multiple uses

40. Successful utilisation of AnGR means having feeds and planning
ahead

41. Sustainable utilisation
Means feed availability

42. Selection of the “desirable” breed is sometimes a
chance game - GIRINKA Program

43. Sustainable utilisation of AnGR
also means integration of
species - fish, rabbits, pigs &
chickens

44. Helping the fish do their job of multiplying –
NILE TILAPIA

45. Cage culture
Cost of Cage Construction (2x2x2m) : $513
Fingerlings Stocking Rate/cage: 2000
Fingerlings Cost/Cycle: $154
Amount Feeds (FCR:1.2) : 2160 kg, Cost: $2215
Labor Cost/yr: $462
Mature fish at harvesting = 1,800/cage/cycle.
With survival of 90%; BW of 500g/fish; & 2 cycles =
1800 kg of table fish.
Value of fish: 1800 kg X $3.85 = $6923.
Total Investment: 3,040,000 Rwf
First Year Benefit: $3,580/cage/year.

46. END OF THE ROAD - Sometimes in managing resources we
are too fast with catastrophic results

47. When the Genetics are not okay……....or not enough……….
Milk processing machines = white elephants

48. Sustainable management sometimes requires technology –
cock exchange, vaccination, simple incubators

49. When the Genetics are somehow
okay
Kayitesi et al. 2016

50. New Poultry Room
Enhanced flooring and ceiling
Built nesting boxes for new hens
Created a fence to implement a run
Brooding Chicks
Prepared and maintained brooder
Collected Supplies
Provided daily care for chicks
Poultry House Improvements
Repaired and expanded the fence
Maintained facilities
Reimplementation of the use foot
bath
Sustainable Use means training future farmers

52. Small Livestock still make the difference in livelihoods among
many households

53. A $1m Dollar Question – The Fleckvieh in Rwanda??

54. You can choose to ride a tiger OR rather a lion, but there
are easier options in AnGR mgt

55. Same lot number does not mean same liquid

56. Even on overcast days, we cannot loose hope on
successful mgt of AnGR in Rw, Ug & indeed Africa

57. Gender issues Environmental issues Policy issues Market issues Farmers organisations
Men are decision
makers on livestock
Spray acaricides affect
the environment
Manufacture of
traditional vet drugs
without chemicals
Presence of fake
livestock inputs on
market
Limited number of
cooperatives
Feeding of livestock is
left to women
No research on
chemicals used in crops
Poultry investment
strategy; platform
formed is not working
Limited market for
livestock products
strengthening
management and
establishment of
farmers cooperatives
Large stock belong to
men
Insecticides kill
pollinator insects
Lack of markets for
farmers produce
Need for platform of
farmers and
veterinarians
Men are the owners of
animals
Chicken waste
management
RPIA is not working
properly with other
organisation
No livestock farmers
association
Cut and carry feeds
belong to women
Climate Change markets for livestock
products still low
Animal market without
regulations
Cross-cutting issues in animal genetic improvement

58. Gender issues
Men are decision makers on livestock
Feeding of livestock is left to women
Large stock belong to men
Men are the owners of animals
Cut and carry feeds is a job for women
Cross-cutting issues in animal genetic improvement

59. What should start happening What must continue happening as
usual
What should continue happening but
differently
What should stop happening
Strict control on drug importation Girinka programme Research in livestock Importation of cows
Assistance to private vets Provision of drugs and AI to Girinka
farmers
Restrict animal movements Keeping mixed species
Start market-oriented farming Providing refresher courses Follow up livestock farmers Doing unrelated responsibilities
Formation of farmer cooperatives Conduct trainings for farmers Synchronisation of cows Grazing in restricted areas
Promotion of specialisation in livestock
keeping
Deliver hormones and vaccines Training arrangements for farmers Use of bulls
Linking farmers to banks One cup of milk per child Girinka Disorganised milk selling
Advocacy in cabinet for the livestock
sector
Zero grazing practice Forage conservation techniques
delivery
Eating uninspected meat
Operationalisation of para-vets Respecting the livestock policy Hygiene of farms Traditional treatment of animals
Sensitize livestock farmers on livestock
policies
AI and timely treatments Farmer visits and advisory services Keeping unproductive animals
Employ sector vets on permanent terms
not contracts
Follow ups on livestock keepers Promotion of small stock rearing by
farmers
Not carrying out vaccination
Start special programs for livestock Training on livestock feeding,
management,forage conservation
Quick service delivery of vets and
services
Untimely delivery of vaccines
Initiate insurance for farmers Disease surveillance Production of liquid nitrogen Not facilitating Vets
Establish stakeholder platforms on
livestock issues
Improving the capacity of Vets Rearing livestock without benefits
Follow up investment strategic plan for
poultry
Increasing awareness on milk markets Disappearance of indigenous cattle
Promote poultry consumption in
Rwanda
Prevention and control of diseases
Study tours on livestock production
Follow ups on livestock movements
Change that is desired by animal productivity improvement actors

60. What should stop happening
Importation of cows
Keeping mixed species
Grazing in restricted areas
Use of bulls
Disorganised milk selling
Eating uninspected meat
Traditional treatment of animals
Keeping unproductive animals
Change that is desired by animal productivity improvement actors

63. Sustainable Use of Animal Genetic
Resources –
Examples from Uganda & Rwanda
Donald R. Kugonza
1Makerere University, Uganda