Improvement of Livestock Productivity through an Integrated Application of Technologies, Animal Production and Health (APH), Joint FAO/IAEA Programme

You are in :
Home
Animal Production and Health (APH)
News

Improvement of Livestock Productivity through an Integrated Application of Technologies

Application of AI in Niger Improvement of livestock production has been undertaken in many African countries with support from local funds as well as from external donors. Although Artificial Insemination (AI) has been applied for cattle breeding for a long time in Africa as a means of accelerated genetic improvement of the indigenous stock, the overall productivity of this sector has continued to be low. Some of the factors that contribute to this include inadequate management practices, poor nutrition, occurrence of reproductive disorders, systemic diseases and parasites.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has taken a keen interest to support efforts to improve livestock production through national and regional Technical Co-operation projects. In the recent past two successive regional projects were implemented under the framework of the AFRA programme. The first was entitled “Development and field evaluation of animal feed supplementation packages” (AFRA Project II-17; RAF/5/041) and had two main components: (a) the development and dissemination of cost-effective and sustainable feed supplementation packages which are based on locally available feed resources; and (b) establishment of the Self-coating Radioimmunoassay (ScRIA) technique for measuring progesterone in the milk and blood of ruminants. A bull from the AI centre in Algeria The second was entitled “Increasing and improving milk and meat production” (AFRA Project III-2; RAF/5/046) and has the objectives of: (a) assessing and improving AI programmes for small-scale dairy farmers; (b) establishing sustainable early non-pregnancy diagnosis (N-PD) and related services; and (c) harmonizing managerial and field practices within the region. This project will terminate in 2004.

Some of the issues, among others, which have been identified through the above projects as being responsible for low productivity of cattle in Africa include:

Inadequate follow-up of offspring arising from AI (e.g. poor calf management leading to retarded growth or even death, and failure to record the performance of improved genotypes);
Lack of appropriate selection criteria for breeding stock for improved productivity;
Inadequate management practices coupled with poor nutrition and absence of disease control measures;
Lack of regular programmes for training and continued education for extension workers and farmers.

It is clear that a need exists to go beyond the areas dealt with in previous projects, and to focus on the next generation of improved offspring that are being produced through the on-going activities. Project RAF5054 proposes to address these issues, to ensure that the genetically improved calves that are being born are properly managed, fed and utilized in order to derive the optimum benefits for increasing milk and meat production in the African region.

It is also evident that most livestock improvement programmes in the region have been initiated and implemented without due consideration for cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment. In most Member States there is lack of a monitoring and evaluation system in place as an integral part of project implementation for making objective assessment of the benefits and impact. These aspects will be incorporated from the inception of the new project.

Overall Development Objective

To use an integrated approach while deploying available appropriate technologies to bring about sustainable improvement of livestock production among AFRA Member States. This will contribute to food security and poverty reduction, especially among small-holder farmers.

Specific objectives

To institute appropriate practices for the management, nutrition and health care of genetically improved stock;
To use modern reproductive techniques to bring about sustainable increases in productivity;
To train, educate and sensitize farmers, extension workers and other stakeholders in appropriate improved management and feeding practices;
To develop and facilitate the application of appropriate selection criteria for genetically improved stock;
To use an appropriate individual animal identification and recording system;
To institute procedures for the follow-up on performance of progeny produced under genetic improvement programmes;
To establish a monitoring and evaluation system and carry out cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment.

Mode of Implementation

Each Member State has appointed a Project Coordinator and must identify multidisciplinary Management Committee, comprising representatives from National livestock AI and extension services as well as other stakeholders. The Coordinator and Committee will define specific project objectives and work plans as identified in the issues and specific objectives mentioned above.
The improved technologies to be integrated into a package of practices will include:

AI and progesterone measurement using RIA for diagnosis of non-pregnancy;
Ultrasonography for diagnosis and treatment of infertility and reproductive disorders;
Metabolic and mineral profiles for assessment of nutritional adequacy;
Feed supplementation strategies for overcoming inadequacies.

Training and sensitization of farmers and extension workers on the following will also be incorporated:

Interpretation and use of breeding parameters in selection of breeding stock;
Improved recording schemes for assessing genetic progress and benefits.

The above activities will be subjected to thorough cost–benefit analysis and their overall impact to the livestock sector will be assessed in the Member States.
The identified issues will be dealt with as described below:

Metabolic profiles of cows determined during the drying off period (pre partum) and post partum in order to establish dynamics of energy requirements and mineral balance. In case of observed inefficiencies strategic supplementation will be undertaken.
Body Condition Score (BCS) of cows determined at calving and thereafter to estimate the adequacy of nutritional levels for the animal’s potential for milk production, and to improve reproductive efficiency.
RIA for measuring milk progesterone levels after calving to establish the return to normal cyclicity and the best time to breed the animal. This will be used as a tool to reduce the observed long interval from calving to the first insemination and thereby reduce the long inter-calving intervals, leading to increased income to the farmer.
Ultrasonography to diagnose and solve infertility problems, as a non-invasive tool. The equipment can also be used as a complementary tool to RIA for accurate pregnancy diagnosis.

Expected Outputs and Outcomes

An efficient recording and follow up system, leading to improved management. This will support farmers in decision making and thereby increase their income.
Adequately trained staff, capable of using the established selection criteria to build up populations of properly selected breeding stock.
Appropriate follow up of the offspring, leading to their increased survivability and proper growth, enabling the expected high productivity to be achieved.
Appropriate feeding strategies, enabling the achievement of shorter calving intervals and optimum productivity.
Properly selected stock of the highest merit, which can be put to further use by the national AI Centres and Breed Associations (co-operatives of livestock breeders).
Nucleus breeding farms, as sources of improved stock to other farmers.
Adequately trained and sensitized farmers and extension workers, to bring about improved management on farms.
Cost-effectiveness, resulting in reduction of wastage of resources and time, and thereby increasing farmer’s incomes and ensuring food security.

Role of Nuclear Technology

Reproduction: RIA for progesterone using ¹²⁵I - for non-pregnancy diagnosis, monitoring and evaluation of selected nutritional and management strategies for their impact on reproductive efficiency.

The project will build on the already established facilities for RIA laboratories and trained manpower in the use of the technology in a proportion of the countries. Baseline data has also been established regarding some existing reproductive problems in livestock in the region. In other countries, facilities for RIA must be established through joint support from the IAEA and local authorities. A table outlining which countries have or need to establish a RIA facility is in Annex III.

Nutrition: analyses on feed ingredients, their metabolites and excretory products using ¹⁵N, ¹⁴C, and ³²P – for identifying nutritional constraints, evaluating available feed resources and instituting appropriate feed supplementation strategies.
Facilities and expertise for nutritional analyses were established through a previous AFRA project and exist in most Member States. This project will therefore draw upon the facilities, personnel and expertise already available through collaborative partnerships. Some modest improvement of laboratories will also be undertaken in the new project.

Participating Countries

List of participating countries [pdf, 41 kb]