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Institutional and organizational frameworks for dairy and beef cattle recording in Kenya: a review and opportunities for improvement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2011

I.S. Kosgey ,
S.M. Mbuku ,
A.M. Okeyo ,
J. Amimo ,
J. Philipsson  and
J.M. Ojango
I.S. Kosgey
Affiliation:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, 20115 Egerton, Kenya
S.M. Mbuku
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Beef Research Station, P.O. Box 3840, 20100 Nakuru, Kenya
A.M. Okeyo
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
J. Amimo
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
J. Philipsson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
J.M. Ojango*
Affiliation:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, 20115 Egerton, Kenya International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
*
Correspondence to: J.M. Ojango, International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya. email: j.ojango@cgiar.org
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Summary

To facilitate livestock improvement in developing countries, records on animal populations and their various productivity levels are important. However, in these countries, livestock recording presents a huge challenge. This paper presents an outline of the historical developments and the current scenario in dairy and beef recording in Kenya, where a recording scheme has been in place since 1963, yet the productive potential of most animals in the country remains unknown. The paper brings into context the state of recording in relation to the potential for future developments in dairy and beef production within the country. Despite the enormous existing potential, low numbers of livestock records are captured due to multiple challenges, which include limited funding, lack of incentives to record, limited feedback on records, a fragmented organizational structure, poor infrastructure, limited numbers of skilled personnel and lack of supporting policies. Strategies to overcome the challenges and achieve more sustainable utilization of the existing livestock populations are discussed. Linking recording to key service providers within the livestock production sector could enhance data collection, processing and feedback to livestock producers. The quality of extension services provided must be improved in order to holistically support livestock production. Recent international regulations on the traceability of livestock products sold within different countries mean that unless Kenya implements a robust animal recording programme, the country will be locked out of markets for its livestock products.

Résumé

Pour favoriser l'amélioration des animaux d’élevage dans les pays en développement, les registres relatifs aux populations et à leurs différents niveaux de productivité sont importants. Cependant, dans ces pays, le contrôle des performances des animaux d’élevage est un défi de taille. Le document présente les grandes lignes des évolutions historiques et le scénario actuel du contrôle des performances des bovins à viande et laitiers au Kenya. Dans ce pays, un programme d'enregistrement est en place depuis 1963, mais les potentialités productives de la plupart des animaux sont encore inconnues. Le document place dans son contexte l’état des enregistrements par rapport aux potentialités de futurs développements dans la production laitière et de viande du pays. Malgré les énormes potentialités existantes, les enregistrements saisis sur les animaux d’élevage sont limités en raison de plusieurs difficultés comme la faiblesse des financements, le manque de mesures incitatives en leur faveur, l'insuffisance de la remontée d'information relative aux enregistrements, la fragmentation de la structure organisationnelle, la faible qualité des infrastructures, le nombre limité de personnel qualifié et l'absence de politiques de soutien. Les stratégies visant à surmonter ces défis et à atteindre une utilisation durable des populations existantes d'animaux d’élevage font l'objet de débats. Relier le contrôle des performances aux principaux prestataires de services dans le secteur de la production des animaux d’élevage pourrait améliorer la collecte, le traitement et la remontée d'information des données aux éleveurs. La qualité des services de vulgarisation doit être améliorée afin de soutenir la production animale de façon holistique. La récente mise en place de règlements internationaux concernant la traçabilité des produits animaux vendus dans les différents pays aura pour conséquence que les produits animaux du Kenya, ‘à moins que le pays ne mette en œuvre un programme solide de contrôle des performances en élevage, seront exclus des marchés.

Resumen

Para facilitar la mejora del ganado en los países en desarrollo, son importantes tanto los registros de las poblaciones animales como de sus diferentes niveles de productividad. Sin embargo, en estos países, el registro del ganado presenta un enorme desafío. Este trabajo presenta un resumen de la evolución histórica y el escenario actual en los registros relativos al ganado bovino de producción cárnica y lechera en Kenia, donde un sistema de registro está en marcha desde 1963, a pesar de que el potencial productivo de la mayoría de los animales de dicho país sigue siendo desconocido. El trabajo pone en contexto la situación del registro animal relacionado con el potencial para su desarrollo futuro, tanto en producción lechera como cárnica dentro del país. A pesar del enorme potencial existente, tan sólo un bajo número de registros animales han sido tomados, debido a la enorme cantidad de desafíos existentes, los cuales incluyen los limitados fondos, la falta de incentivos para registrar, escasa retroalimentación de los registros, una fragmentada estructura organizativa, una deficiente infraestructura, poco personal calificado, y la falta de políticas de apoyo. Se están debatiendo estrategias para superar todas las dificultades existentes y lograr una utilización sostenible de las poblaciones de ganado existentes. El hecho de vincular los registros con las personas que proporcionan una serie de servicios básicos podría mejorar la recopilación de datos, su procesamiento y que, a su vez, existiera una retroalimentación de información hacia los productores de ganado. La calidad de los servicios de extensión proporcionados se debe mejorar con objeto de apoyar de forma integral la producción animal. Las recientes regulaciones internacionales sobre la trazabilidad de productos de origen animal vendidos en diferentes países hacen pensar que, a menos que Kenia ponga en marcha un sólido programa de registro animal, el país será excluido de los mercados en lo relativo a sus productos de origen animal.

Keywords

livestock recordingorganizationsopportunitiesKenyacontrôle des performances des animaux d’élevageorganisationspossibilitésKenyaregistro animalorganizacionesoportunidadesKenia
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 48 , April 2011 , pp. 1 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2011

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