Presented by M. Agaba, T. Dessie, J. Djomika, G. Gebreyessus, F. Meutcheye and S.Osama at the ILRI BioSciences Day, Nairobi, 27 November 2013

1. Unzipping the Goat Helix
Harnessing genetic diversity to improve goat productivity in Africa
M. Agaba, T. Dessie, J. Djomika, G. Gebreyessus, F. Meutcheye, S.Osama
ILRI BioSciences Day, Nairobi, 27 November 2013

2. Goat Opportunity: its significance
CAT
SHE
GOA
BUF

3. Goat Opportunity: its significance

4. The constraints
• Weak institutional arrangements to exploit goat
potential.
• Unutilized Diversity to accelerate goats’ performance.
• Inadequate capacity at al levels, especially expertise
in breeding.

5. Objectives
• Characterize the genetic architecture of
goat populations in Cameroon and
Ethiopia with view to identifying DNA
signature of adaptation.
• Establish institutional and community
arrangements that maximize the value
derived from goat production.
• Demonstrate the Utility of DNA tools in
boosting productivity of goats under
small holder farming systems goat
productivity.
• To build expertise of the next generation
scientists/practitioners.

6. Methods: Innovation Platform
Solid Evidence, Suitable Technologies, Sound Policy
abattoir
Media
IRAD
Goat traders
Gene sink
(drive gene flow)
PADPR
ACEFA
Farmer groups
Gene Bank
NGOs
enabling
Model to be cascaded Locally

7. Methods: Innovation Platform
Solid Evidence, Suitable Technologies, Sound Policy
Production
aspects
Constraints and challenges
Performances -
Growth delay ( stunted animals)
Low resistance to diseases
Low productivity
How and where to get improved animals?
Husbandry/
management
-
Heat detection and management
General reproduction management to
avoid consanguinity
Breeding buck management
Need of fences to avoid animal’s rambling
Formulation of supplementary feed
-
Few opportunities (market)
Wide variation of prices
Marketing
-

8. Methods: Gene discovery
How do the goat genomes
stand on the diverse
African eco-geography?
What the DNA
attributes underlie
adaptation?
How can we use DNA
tools to accelerate
goat performance?

9. Methods: Gene discovery
Developing DNA testing for use in small holder systems

10. Methods: Gene discovery
Discovery and utilisation of high fecundity genes in African Goats
GBS of Superdoes and controls on
MiSeq. Genome which scan for possible
novel goat fecundity loci
Develop and validate a MAS
DNA assay for high
fecundity to test Bucks
We
R
here
Collet tissue specimen from 100 - 200 does
with 3+ kids on more than 2 times from
CAMEROON plus 100 does with 1 kid at a
time for more than 3 times
Mutation Detection in
Fecundity candidate genes

11. Goats are Super-organisms
10,000,000,000,000,001 genomes
IN
OUT
WATER
Methane
GRASS
TWIGS
SALT
LEAVES
MILK
Rumen
Microbiome
MEAT
POOH
Exploring the rumen microbiome is essential

12. Conclusions and discussion points
• IP is a useful mechanism to engage “policy”
making, and technowledgy uptake.
• Goats present a unique opportunity through
which to realize the aspirations of
young, old, in different agroecological zones.
• It is feasible to use DNA tools to impact
performance in the near term with the
right trait e.g. reproductive efficiency
• Goats (ruminants) are superoganisms, therefore studying rumen biota
is essential.

13. Where to from now?
Keep working
• Demonstrate utility of DNA science in breeding –
small holders’ MAS.
• Deepen exploration of Goat rumen microbiome
function and diversity.
• Broaden geographical scope of to include goat
population in Sudan and Tanzania.
• Strengthen interaction with the Relevant CRPs, and
with NMAIST, NARS in SUDAN, Cameroon, Ethiopia
and Tanzania.

14. Ahsante Sana
Acknowledgements
Supported by the
Government of Sweden

15. better lives through livestock
ilri.org
The presentation has a Creative Commons licence. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is given to ILRI.