Senegal Dairy Genetics:  
Comparing traditional and new 
breeds of dairy animals 
Karen Marshall, Stanly Tebug, Jarmo J uga, Miika Tapio and Ayao Missohou 
The Senegal Dairy Genetics project is examining the trade-offs 
between costs and benefits of raising different breeds of cattle 
in low-input dairy production systems in Senegal.   
 
The Zebu Gobra is a traditional breed 
raised by Senegalese livestock keepers 
for centuries.  It has low milk yield, but is 
well adapted to the harsh environmental 
conditions of Senegal 
.  
Zebu Gobra cattle and their owner 
grinding millet which will be mixed 
with milk for the family meal 
Newly introduced breeds – such as the Holstein 
Friesian, Montbéliard and Guzerat - are crossed 
with the traditional Senegalese breeds. The 
crosses have better milk yields, but require 
additional inputs in terms of health-care, feeding 
and housing to survive and produce. 
Young crossbred dairy cattle 
receiving supplementary feed 
Use of the most appropriate breeds will result in more 
productive and profitable dairy enterprises,    
 
leading to improved food and nutrition security,     
enhanced livelihoods and environmental sustainability. 
  
This poster is part of the FoodAfrica Programme, financed as a research collaboration 
between the MFA of Finland, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, IFPRI, ILRI, ICRAF, www.mtt.fi/foodafrica 
Bioversity International, University of Helsinki and HAMK University of Applied Sciences