Focusing on livestock for sustainable African AgriFood systems

Identifying modifiers for Frizzle feather gene expression in the FUNAAB-ALPHA local chicken

The frizzle-feathered chicken is crucial for smallholder farmers in Nigeria for income, and as a protein source for rural households. Despite being suited to the African climate and relatively resistant to disease, frizzle-feathered chicken are associated with low productivity and little effort has been made to conserve this local breed.

A successful collaboration between Kellie Watson at The Roslin Institute and Matthew Wheto, from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is helping to preserve the unique genetic stock of this vital poultry species through detailed phenotyping and also improving productivity by determining the causes of high mortality during hatching.

The partnership established strong collaborative ties and amassed a wealth of information on feathering patterns, and what genetic modifiers are linked to reproductive success or embryo mortality, positioning the project as a leading initiative in securing the genetic future of the frizzle-feathered chicken in Nigeria and beyond.

Future opportunities:

• Completing genome wide association analysis to strengthen project findings
• Improving the productivity of other poultry species in Africa using similar methodologies

Development of genomic resources for Muturu cattle at risk of extinction in Nigeria

This project, led by Oluyinka Opoola at the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetic and Health (CTLGH), University of Edinburgh and Matthew Wheto, The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), aimed to safeguard Nigeria’s Muturu cattle, a breed facing extinction but prized for its large frame and suitability for beef production.

Efforts to conserve and diversify the Muturu population face obstacles, including a preference for on-farm mating, resulting in inbreeding. Research on the breed’s physical and genetic traits has been limited.

To address these challenges, the project focused on two key areas: animal tagging for identification and conservation; and genetic diversity assessment to understand the breed’s genetic profile.

In early 2023, the project engaged farmers on improving breeding practices to boost the survival and productivity of the breed. Tail hair samples from 500 cattle in Southwest Nigeria were genotyped at Neogen’s Dairy School in the UK. The resulting data enables farmers to make informed decisions on future breeding strategy to ensure sustainable conservation and increased productivity.

WELL-COW: Tackling tick-borne disease in smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania with low-cost animal sensing

Tick-borne disease is a major animal health and welfare concern across Sub-Saharan Africa. Without early detection, the impacts on herd mortality, productivity and farm income are severe.

This collaboration, led by Dr. Carol-Anne Duthie at SRUC and Zabron Cuthibert Nziku from the Tanzanian Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), investigated the use of affordable sensing systems to determine their potential for disease detection and market integration.

To do this, the team conducted face-to-face surveys and focus groups, creating ties with over 400 smallholder farmers and supply chain stakeholders in two distinct agro-ecological zones. The zones were selected for their milk production capabilities and differences in infrastructure and climate.

This approach gathered both quantitative and qualitative data on demographics, farming challenges, and receptiveness to the technology, demonstrating the feasibility and economic benefits of sensor technology.

The team’s efforts have laid the groundwork for the development of the sensors and strategic routes to market, showcasing the innovation’s potential to transform disease management in dairy farming.

Future opportunities:

• Advancing the WELL-COW system design with key stakeholders
• Expanding the commercial strategy and exploitation plan