International Livestock Research Institute
Livestock genetics and breeding
ILRI corporate report highlights 2015–2016
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Livestock genetics and breeding
Application of new breeding Combining improved livestock Investing in African and 
and genomic approaches genetics with interventions in Asian geneticists leverages 
leads to more animals that improved animal management biosciences and biotechnology 
are productive and resilient practices significantly increases for livestock development
to disease and change the incomes and nutritional 
climate security of smallholder farmers
Science into practice
Adapting the results of high-end laboratory research to the needs of smallholder farmers
A new partnership of leading molecular and data scientists from the Roslin Institute, Scotland’s Rural College at the 
University of Edinburgh and ILRI, in the recently established Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, will 
enable the rapid deployment of technologies and tools to improve the productivity of livestock breeds for smallholder 
farmers, while preserving animal resilience and resistance to disease in some of the world’s most fragile environments.
New genomic tools contribute to more effective vaccines for avian flu
As recent disease outbreaks have shown, avian flu can be costly and a serious risk to human health. Using new 
genomic tools, ILRI and partner scientists in China pioneered the development of special chicken lines that advance 
understanding of the genetic basis of disease resistance and that will inform future research in discovering more 
effective vaccines to avian pathogens.
Combining the best cattle breeds with improved animal management practices increases household 
income
Using innovative approaches to assess and recommend combinations of genetics and enhanced management practices 
increased household income by nearly eight times that of traditional breeds and management in Senegal. The findings 
suggest that future interventions to improve the benefits from dairy production should include improving the availability 
of high quality semen, offer animal husbandry training to livestock keepers and make credit available for investment 
in better feed.
Profit (USD)
per cow per annum
Profit from improved breeding and management in Senegal
800
640 The graphic illustrates incomes 
changes of smallholder farmers 
480 in Senegal from employing 
combinations of breeds—Zebu, 
320 Guzerat and Bos taurus—and 
160 management approaches. 
The image was adapted from 
0 Marshall et al. 2016.
Indigenous Zebu Indigenous Zebu by Guzerat Indigenous Zebu by Bos taurus
Poorer Better Poorer Better Poorer Better 
management management management management management management
Breed group and level of animal management
DNA sequencing reveals new understanding of the genetics of climate-smart sheep
Analysis of the DNA sequences from 77 native sheep in China revealed novel insights into their rapid genetic 
adaptation to extreme environments. This offers a valuable resource to enable smarter and faster livestock 
breeding in response to climate change, and confirms the significance of understanding and protecting the 
unique traits of indigenous livestock.
Based on the findings from 
DNA sequencing of 77 sheep 
in China, the image depicts the 
rapid adaption of the animal’s 
genetic makeup in response 
to historic changes in climate 
in the country. (This design, 
provided courtesy of Ms Ze-Hui 
Chen, was adapted from Jang 
2016)
Evidence-based decision-making
Transforming dairy opportunities in Ethiopia by enabling new, streamlined insemination processes 
at scale
New technologies and approaches to the mass artificial insemination of cows were tested in two Ethiopian 
regions by ILRI scientists in 2012, resulting in marked increases in the efficiency of the process. The experiment 
was subsequently scaled out by national partners, with about 600,000 cows inseminated over a four-year 
period in four regions. Initially, conception rates were much lower than those achieved in the research trials. 
Working closely with the authorities, ILRI has recently produced more efficient protocols, identified improved 
technologies and promoted their uptake together with improved husbandry, resulting in a 50% increase in 
conception rates.
Capacity development
Building a critical mass of skilled geneticists to leverage biosciences for livestock development
As part of the capacity development undertaken at the Biosciences eastern and central Africa–ILRI Hub, four 
research fellows and 89 other researchers from across Africa benefited f rom t raining i n t he l atest g enetics 
and genomics tools to enhance their capacity to tackle the challenges of better animal breeding. A range of 
multimedia tools, including the Animal Genetics Training Resource (agtr.ilri.org) also boosted the skills base 
of geneticists, addressing opportunities to improve livestock breeding in tropical regions. This resource has 
recently been adapted in a number of African and European universities to train masters students on issues 
related to animal genetic resources in tropical production systems.
Key research Key partners for the work reported here
Caixia, G. 2015. Establishment of six homozygous MHC-B Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in 
haplotype populations associated with susceptibility to Eastern and Central Africa • Bangladesh Agricultural 
Marek’s disease in Chinese specific pathogen-free BWEL University • Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences 
chickens. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 29:15–25. • Diversity Arrays Technology Ltd • Ethiopian Institute
of Agricultural Research • Ethiopia Ministry of Livestock
Ieda, N. et al. 2015. Characterization of smallholder 
and Fisheries • Farm Input Promotions Africa • Federal
pig breeding practices within a rural commune 
University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria • Green
of North Central Vietnam. Tropical Animal 
Dreams Tech Ltd • Heifer International • International
Health and Production 47(6):1005–1016.
Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas •
Lv, F.H. et al. 2015. Mitogenomic meta-analysis identifies Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles •
two phases of migration in the history of Eastern Eurasian International Institute of Tropical Agriculture • International
sheep. Molecular Biology and Evolution 32(10):2515–2533. Food Policy Research Institute • International Potato
Kiome, R. 2015. A strategic framework for transgenic Center • Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
research and product development in Africa: Report of a Technology • Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research
CGIAR study. ILRI Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. Organization • Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock
and Fisheries • Kenya State Department of Livestock • Land
Marshall, K. et al. 2016. Pig breeds and breeding O’Lakes International Development • Lilongwe University
operations in Nghe An province, Vietnam, of Agriculture and Natural Resources • LUKE-Finland •
with a focus on the smallholder pig sector. ILRI National Animal Production Research Institute, Nigeria •
Research Report 41. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. National Artificial Insemination Centre, Ethiopia • National
Marshall, K. et al. 2016. Better dairy cattle breeds and better Institute of Animal Husbandry, Vietnam • Neighbors
management can improve the livelihoods of the rural poor Initiative Alliance • Nelson Mandela African Institution
in Senegal. ILRI Research Brief 65. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. of Science and Technology • New York University •
PICO-Eastern Africa • Roslin Institute at the University of
Mbuku, S.M. et al. 2015. Optimum crossbreeding systems Edinburgh • Scotland’s Rural College • Swedish University
for goats in low-input livestock production system in of Agricultural Sciences • Tanzania Livestock Research
Kenya. Small Ruminant Research 123(1):55–61. Institute • TechnoServe • Sokoine University of Agriculture
Mingyan, Y. et al. 2016. Cloning of the African indigenous • University of Cape Town • University of Agriculture,
cattle breed Kenyan Boran. Animal Genetics 47(4):510–511. Pakistan • Universidad Nacional Agraria Managua •
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences-BOKU
Okeyo, A.M. et al. 2015. African indigenous cattle: Unique • University of Nicaragua • University of New England,
genetic resources in a rapidly changing world. Asian- Australia • University of Peradeniya • University of
Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 28(7):911–921. Seoul • Wageningen University • Western Highlands
Wondmeneh, E. et al. 2016. Comparison of different Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute, Vietnam.
poultry breeds under station and on-farm conditions 
in Ethiopia. Livestock Science 183:72–77. CGIAR research programs
Yang, J. 2016.Whole-genome sequencing of native Livestock and Fish
sheep provides insights into rapid adaptations to 
extreme environments. Mol Biol Evol. pii: msw129.
Contact
König, E.Z. et al. 2016. Participatory definition of breeding 
objectives for sheep breeds under pastoral systems— Steve Kemp, ILRI Kenya 
the case of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep in Kenya. s.kemp@cgiar.org
Tropical Animal Health and Production 48(1): 9–20.
ILRI thanks all donors and organizations which globally supported its work through their contributions to the CGIAR system
Patron: Professor Peter C Doherty AC, FAA, FRS 
Animal scientist, Nobel Prize Laureate for Physiology or Medicine–1996
Box 30709, Nairobi 00100 Kenya ilri.org Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
Phone  +254 20 422 3000 better lives through livestock Phone +251 11 617 2000 
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Email ilri-kenya@cgiar.org ILRI is a CGIAR research centre Email ilri-ethiopia@cgiar.org 
ILRI has offices in East Africa • South Asia • Southeast and East Asia • Southern Africa • West Africa
ILRI corporate report highlights 2015–2016
This publication is copyrighted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). It is licensed for use under the Creative Commons 
Attribution 4.0 International Licence. December 2016