Community‐based livestock breeding programmes: essentials and examples

Abstract

Breeding programmes described as community-based (CBBP) typically relate to low-input systems with farmers having a common interest to improve and share their genetic resources. CBBPs are more frequent with keepers of small ruminants, in particular smallholders of local breeds, than with cattle, pigs or chickens with which farmers may have easier access to alternative programmes. Constraints that limit the adoption of conventional breeding technologies in low-input systems cover a range of organizational and technical aspects. The analysis of 8 CBBPs located in countries of Latin-America, Africa and Asia highlights the importance of bottom-up approaches and involvement of local institutions in the planning and implementation stages. The analysis also reveals a high dependence of these programmes on organizational, technical and financial support. Completely self-sustained CBBPs seem to be difficult to realize. There is a need to implement and document formal socio-economic evaluations of CBBPs to provide governments and other development agencies with the information necessary for creating sustainable CBBPs at larger scales.

The indigenous Somba cattle of the hilly Atacora region in North-West Benin: threats and opportunities for its sustainable use

“…Felius et al (2014) go further to argue that the management of a breed depends on the combined effort of breeders and the breeding organization. But as evidenced by lessons learned from many case studies, the success of conservation initiatives in delivering benefits to local people depends on the creation of effective local institutions (Dossa et al 2009;FAO 2009;Mueller et al 2015). We argue that the Somba cattle farmers surveyed in this study will develop and implement the required local institutions toward the conservation and sustainable use of this native breed if they are given the necessary support needed for.…”

“…Considering the current poor management practices observed among surveyed farmers, we argue that prior to the development of any selection scheme, improvement programs should first focus on feeding, healthcare and reproduction management aspects and on the design of a simple recording system tailored to farmers socioeconomic circumstances, for instance, to their low literacy. According to Mueller et al (2015), to be sustainable the recording system should be linked to activities that are for immediate value to the farmers. Then, as recording and management practices improve, a central breeding nucleus scheme could be recommended because it usually results in higher genetic gain and profit than dispersed schemes (Mueller et al 2015).…”

“…According to Mueller et al (2015), to be sustainable the recording system should be linked to activities that are for immediate value to the farmers. Then, as recording and management practices improve, a central breeding nucleus scheme could be recommended because it usually results in higher genetic gain and profit than dispersed schemes (Mueller et al 2015). Now, while the conservation of local breeds requires appropriate national policies, governmental institutions in Benin still show little awareness of the genetic and sociocultural values of local cattle breeds and their current policies undermine their conservation.…”

Quantitative genetics, spread of genes and genetic improvement: papers in honour of John James

“…This paper stimulated myriad detailed investigations of the implications of such schemes and led to many practical applications across a range of livestock, especially in the developing world (as highlighted by Mueller et al . ()) in this special issue.…”

Implementation of a cashmere goat breeding program amongst nomads in Southern Iran

“…Therefore, in more advanced stages of the program, the selected adult buck would be used changing the nucleus doe group and the young buck would be used in another herd in a circular mating fashion amongst farmers. Thus, as the program progresses, it may develop into a so called "community based breeding program" in which participants cooperate to improve their common genetic resources (Mueller et al, 2015). The proposed breeding system is open to further participants who agree to follow three key management practices (1) separate nucleus females from general herd females during mating, (2) record performance and paternal descent of nucleus progeny and (3) maintain nucleus male progeny intact, but castrate all general herd male progeny.…”