Africa Introduces Digital Platform to Improve Livestock Breeding

A new digital livestock genetics platform has been launched in Ethiopia to help African countries improve breeding decisions and livestock productivity.

The African Genetic Evaluation Service, known as AGENES, was launched on October 7 at the International Livestock Research Institute in Addis Ababa.

The platform was developed through a partnership between the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health and Scotland’s Rural College.

AGENES uses livestock performance data to produce estimated breeding values, helping farmers and breeders identify animals with desirable genetic traits.

Professor Mizech Chagunda, Director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, said the system can help farmers move beyond selecting animals based only on their physical appearance.

He said better genetic selection could increase milk, meat and egg production, improve farmers’ incomes and support food security.

The initiative will also support the conservation of indigenous livestock breeds, with emphasis on preventing the loss of valuable local genetic resources through indiscriminate breeding.

AGENES is initially being implemented with Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana, with plans to expand to other African countries.

The service is expected to support governments, breed organisations and smallholder farmers involved in livestock breeding and data collection.