Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
T. Getachew
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
T. Mirkena
Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, FAO, PO Box 5536, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
G. Duguma
School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University, PO Box 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia
S. Gizaw
Livestock Genetics Research Program, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
M. Wurzinger
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1180, Vienna, Austria
J. Soelkner
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1180, Vienna, Austria
O. Mwai
Livestock Genetics Research Program, ILRI, PO Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya
T. Dessie
Livestock Genetics Research Program, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A. Abebe
Animal Sciences Case Team, Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
Z. Abate
Animal Sciences Case Team, Bonga Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 101, Bonga, Ethiopia
T. Jembere
Animal Sciences Case Team, Bako Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 21, Bako, Ethiopia
M. Rekik
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
R.N.B. Lobo
Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Caixa Postal 71, CEP 62010-970, Sobral, CE, Brazil
J.M. Mwacharo
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Z.G. Terfa
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
G.T. Kassie
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
J.P. Mueller
National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), Bariloche, Argentina
B. Rischkowsky
Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Systems Program (RALSP), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) for small ruminants have been suggested as alternatives to centralised, government-controlled breeding schemes which have been implemented in many developing countries. An innovative methodological framework on how to design, implement and sustain CBBPs was tested in three sites in Ethiopia: Bonga, Horro and Menz. In these CBBPs, the main selection trait identified through participatory approaches was 6-month weight in all three sites. In Horro and Bonga, where resources such as feed and water permitted larger litter sizes, twinning rate was included. Ten-year (2009 to 2018) performance data from the breeding programs were analysed using Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method (AI-REML). Additionally, the socioeconomic impact of CBBPs was assessed. Results indicated that 6-month weight increased over the years in all breeds. In Bonga, the average increase was 0.21 ± 0.018 kg/year, followed by 0.18 ± 0.007 and 0.11 ± 0.003 kg/year in Horro and Menz, respectively. This was quite substantial in an on-farm situation. The birth weight of lambs did not improve over the years in Bonga and Horro sheep but significant increases occurred in Menz. Considering that there was no direct selection on birth weight in the community flock, the increased weights observed in Menz could be due to correlated responses, but this was not the case in Bonga and Horro. The genetic trend for prolificacy over the years in both Bonga and Horro flocks was positive and significant (P < 0.01). This increase in litter size, combined with the increased 6-month body weight, increased income by 20% and farm-level meat consumption from slaughter of one sheep per year to three. The results show that CBBPs are technically feasible, result in measurable genetic gains in performance traits and impact the livelihoods of farmers.
