ABSTRACT 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 birth (Long_1) o...
ABSTRACT Indigenous chicken are mainly kept in subsistence systems and constitute about 80% of Africa’s poultry flock. Currently, there are no well-defined breeding goals and genetic improvement programmes for the indigenous chicken are rare. The overall aim of this study was 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 economic evaluation of production systems ...
ABSTRACT Aphids 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 cyt...
ABSTRACT The Kenyan mountaiu bongo (Fr(/ge/fI/J/lII,' curycerus is(1f1ci) is an endangered Tragclnphinc antelope sub-species endemic to Mt. Kenya- Aberdare ecosystems. This antelope has currently been reduced to pockets of small populations in forest patches (mainly in the Aberdares) exacerbated primarily by habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic and disease factors. The conservation and survival of these species needs vital cmpiricul datil 011 critical luctors such as genetic processes t...
ABSTRACT Parent 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 (...
ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to estimate and study the genetic gain (ΔG) of FUNAAB Alpha broiler chicken that was selected mainly for breast girth at week 0 to week 10, to provide support for genetic improvement. A total of 200 FUNAAB Alpha broiler chicken were sourced for and fed ad libitum. Data were collected at the end of 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th week; birds/strain was selected from both strains. The initial breast gi...