Research Papers/Topics in Animal Breeding And Genetics
Molecular Characterization And Some Environmental Factors Influencing Distribution Of The Endangered And Endemic Gulella Taitensis In Taita Hills, Kenya
ABSTRACTGulella taitensis is a land snail of the family Streptaxidae and genus Gulella. It is endemic to Taita hills and categorized as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is threatened by habitat loss and disturbance due to human activities. Two people sampled snails at four sampling plots using standard timed direct search for one hour. Soil samples were collected from four different points within these sampling plots, and its pH, calcium and electrical conductivity obtained using ...
Genetic Evaluation Of Net Feed Efficiency In Indigenous Chicken In Kenya
ABSTRACTIndigenous chicken are a valuable asset and form an integral part of many households in Kenya in terms of food security, economic and social roles. Given their value to the agricultural sector, various interventions are being developed and implemented to realize their potential in the sector. Such interventions involve genetic improvement of production traits which directly translate to increased revenues. However, this is likely to be accompanied with increased inputs, especially fee...
Bio-economic Modelling To Support Genetic Improvement Of Dairy Cattle In Kenya
A deterministic bio-economic model that incorporates risk for pasture-based dairy cattle production in the tropics was developed. Two production circumstances were considered: fixed pasture (FP) and fixed herd size (FH). In each circumstance, efficiencies (both economic and biological) and profit were calculated based on milk marketing on volume, and on volume and butter fat content. Additionally, a profit function was used to estimate risk-rated profit(s) where the i...
Management Of Genetic Diversity In Sahiwal Cattle Breed In Kenya
ABSTRACTThe Sahiwal population in Kenya, which is bred under a closed nucleus, is faced with declining effective population size over the years and rate of inbreeding per generation >1% beyond which it should not exceed for a population to maintain its long-term fitness and viability. This study estimated gene origin statistics, Wright’s F-statistics, current and future rates of inbreeding, coancestry and effective population size and genetic gain in lactation milk yield at predetermined ra...
Genetic Analysis Of Longevity And Performance Traits Of Sahiwal Cattle In Kenya
Genetic and phenotypic parameters for longevity, genetic relationship between longevity and growth, milk yield and fertility traits and rate of inbreeding were estimated for Sahiwal cattle in Kenya. The aim was to assess the genetic diversity and inbreeding depression for performance traits. Data utilized were for cows born between 1972 and 2004 and with milk production records between 1976 and 2008. Measures of longevity related to productive life were: time between ...
Optimising Dairy Cattle Breeding Systems By Incorporating Reproductive Technologies, Protein Yield And Resistance To Mastitis
The objective of this study was to contribute to dairy cattle improvement in Kenya through optimization of breeding systems that incorporate reproductive technologies and milk quality traits in the dairy cattle breeding programme. Specifically, the study: 1) compared response to selection realized in a closed two-tier nucleus breeding system utilizing different reproductive technologies, 2) estimated the economic values for milk protein yield and mastitis resistance, ...
Characterisation Of Production Systems And Development Of Breeding Objectives For Indigenous Chicken In Rwanda
ABSTRACT Poultry production is one of the animal production enterprises with a promising future in Rwanda as 80.1% of all Rwandese raise chickens. Indigenous chickens (IC) are the most numerous and important species of poultry as they are found in most rural households in Rwanda. Currently, IC potential is underutilized due to the lack of well-defined production and breeding practices; the farmer, marketer and consumers’ breed preferences and traits of economic importance are unknown....
Genetic Analysis Of Longevity And Performance Traits Of Sahiwal Cattle In Kenya
ABSTRACTGenetic and phenotypic parameters for longevity, genetic relationship between longevity and growth, milk yield and fertility traits and rate of inbreeding were estimated for Sahiwal cattle in Kenya. The aim was to assess the genetic diversity and inbreeding depression for performance traits. Data utilized were for cows born between 1972 and 2004 and with milk production records between 1976 and 2008. Measures of longevity related to productive life were: time between birth (Long_1) or...
Breeding Goals For Production Systems Utilising Indigenous Chicken In Kenya
ABSTRACTIndigenous chicken are mainly kept in subsistence systems and constitute about 80% ofAfrica’s poultry flock. Currently, there are no well-defined breeding goals and geneticimprovement programmes for the indigenous chicken are rare. The overall aim of this studywas to develop breeding goals for use in production systems utilising the indigenous chicken.The specific objectives were to construct a deterministic bio-economic model for the economicevaluation of production systems ...
Genetic Diversity Of Aphid Species Attacking Amaranth And Nightshades In Different Agro-Ecological Zones Of Kenya And Tanzania
ABSTRACTAphids are the major pests of vegetables leading to a significant yield loss in African indigenous vegetables including amaranth and nightshades. Information on the types of aphids that infest these vegetables and their genetic diversity in Kenya and Tanzania is scanty. This is an important diagnostic component in developing management strategies such as integrated pest management and early detection and control of invasive species. This study used a fragment of the mitochondrial cyto...
Spatial Distribution And Assessment Of Genetic Diversity Of The Kenyan Mount Ain Bongo (Tragelaphus Eurycerus Isaaciy Using Dna Based Molecular Markers
ABSTRACTThe Kenyan mountaiu bongo (Fr(/ge/fI/J/lII,\' curycerus is(1f1ci) is an endangeredTragclnphinc antelope sub-species endemic to Mt. Kenya- Aberdare ecosystems.This antelope has currently been reduced to pockets of small populations in forestpatches (mainly in the Aberdares) exacerbated primarily by habitat fragmentationdue to anthropogenic and disease factors. The conservation and survival of thesespecies needs vital cmpiricul datil 011 critical luctors such as genetic processes thatmi...
Phenotypic Characterization of Local Chickens (Gallus Gallus Domesticus) In Bekwarra Cross River State, Nigeria
This study was conducted in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, to identify and determine some characteristics of local chickens. A total of 530 adult chickens of both sexes and 111 fresh eggs were carefully examined at seven administrative council wards of the local government. About 43.00% of the birds observed were male while 57.00% were females. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed to carry out descriptive statistics on qualitative an...
GROWTH PATTERN, REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND SEASONAL SENSITIVITY OF BOVAN NERA AND ISA BROWN PARENT-STOCK CHICKENS IN IBADAN NIGERIA
ABSTRACTParent stocks (PS) of exotic hybrids have contributed immensely to commercial poultry production in Nigeria. Their continued optimal utilization depends on their performance test. Information on performance indices of PS layer breeds in South-West Nigeria is however limited. The growth, reproductive performance and seasonal sensitivity of Bovan Nera (BN) and Isa Brown (IB) hybrids were evaluated.Secondary data on 24 batches of PS of each of BN and IB kept over a period of 10 years (19...
Comparison of conventional and automated freezing methods on PB2 rooster semen cryopreserved with glycerol and dimethylsulfoxide tris coconut-water extender
Background: Poultry semen cryopreservation remains an easy and promising way of preserving and transferring poultry germplasm. Standardizing and optimizing freezing procedure with natural extender may be a reliable step towards achieving better post-thawed sperm quality. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four different freezing protocols (FP) on frozen rooster semen extended with tris coconut water extender (TCWE). A total of 20 roosters were used and trained for semen co...
SEX IDENTIFICATION OF NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS FRIZZLE FEATHERED AND NAKED NECK CHICKS USING VENT SEXING AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUE
ABSTRACTSex determination of Nigerian indigenous frizzle feathered and naked neck chicks has been a difficult task especially due to the monomorphism and high variation in the feather colour of this indigenous chickens using the feather sexing method. Thus, the vent sexing method is cheap and easy to carry out depending&n...