Defining Breeding Goals and Breeding Strategies for Improving the Productivity of Cattle Breeds and Buffaloes in African Production Systems

The previous chapter discussed the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin the definition of breeding goalsBreeding goals and strategiesStrategies. In this chapter, some of the peculiar aspects of breeding goalsBreeding goals and strategiesStrategies for the improvement of cattle and buffaloes in AfricaAfrica, in addition to lessons drawn from past cattle improvement projects, are examined. The chapter is broadly presented in four sections. Section 16.1 deals with the concept of breeding goalsBreeding goals in the context of the most dominant production system in Africa and examines evolving trends in breeding goalsBreeding goals that incorporate health and welfare considerations. This is followed by Sect. 16.2 which presents the fundamental role of market situations in the design of breeding goalsBreeding goals and the influence of some regional institutions and policiesPolicies on breedingBreeding programmes. Breeding goalsBreeding goals for beef and dairy cattle production and some lessons from the design of breeding goalsBreeding goals from previous breeding programmes were then outlined. Section 16.3 considers breeding strategiesStrategies aimed at promoting sustainable animal productionAnimal productions systems in African diverse environments. It then delves into the different breeding strategiesStrategies including breed substitutionBreed substitution and cross-breedingCross-breeding, selectionSelections approaches for cattle improvement, nucleus or group breeding schemes, community-based livestockLivestock breeding schemes and unplanned selectionSelections programmes. Section 16.3.2 is focused on emerging molecular and reproductive technologiesReproductive and molecular technologies in breeding strategiesStrategies relevant to genetic improvementGenetic improvements in various cattle and buffalo production systems in Africa. It deep dived into the different technologies as follows: molecular and genomicGenomics technologies for breeding strategiesStrategies, reproductive technologies for African cattle and buffalo breeding strategiesStrategies, nucleus breeding schemes for assisted reproduction in cattle and buffaloes, in vitro fertilization, somatic cell nuclear transfer and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer. The chapter concludes with some final remarks and future perspectives.