Alternative-Based Breeding Schemes for Designing Genetic Improvement of Indigenous Goats in the Western Lowlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Without well-designed national animal genetic improvement schemes, achieving and monitoring genetic gains is difficult. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare designs of alternative-based breeding schemes for genetic improvement of western lowland Arab goats. In the current study, four schemes for the village-based were designed and evaluated for sustainable and operationally feasible breeding programs. The results indicated that monetary genetic gains for the central nucleus scheme were higher than the village-based schemes. Among the central nucleus-based, scheme-5 gave the highest genetic progress in monetary terms (31.27/doe/year). Scheme-1 produced high genetic improvement and was the most efficient of all other village schemes. The trait of more significant genetic gain for the six-month weight (6MW) was predicted from central nucleus scheme-5, and scheme-1 was the highest among the village schemes. The results showed that the central nucleus-based plans were fairly superior to the village-based breeding scheme in terms of annual genetic response and profit. However, the central scheme was not appreciable under smallholder breeders’ management practices since it requires high investments. Given this limitation, a cooperative village scheme linked with a central nucleus scheme is the best option for fast genetic gains and profits. Nonetheless, to upgrade the entire Arab goat flocks which are kept under small-scale farmers’ conditions, scheme-1 could be used as an alternative option.