Improving the Livelihoods of Livestock-keepers in Africa through Management of Indigenous Farm Animal Genetic Resources
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Item Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: Final report of the first annual project workshop, Cotonou, Benin, 11-15 October 2004(Report, 2004-12-29) International Livestock Research InstituteItem Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: 2005/06 Progress report(Report, 2006-09-22) Warui, H.; Kaufmann, B.A.; Hulsebusch, C.Item Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: Benin 2005 annual report(Report, 2005) International Livestock Research InstituteItem Economic valuation of the preferred traits of indigenous Horro cattle in Ethiopia(Presentation, 2006-09) Tesfahun, G.K.Item Report of the workshop on the activities of ILRI-BMZ Hohenheim-Göttingen collaborative project: Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources, 27 September 2005(Report, 2005-09-27) International Livestock Research InstituteItem ILRI-BMZ Project: Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: Third annual review and planning workshop, report, 25-29 September 2006(Report, 2006-10-15) International Livestock Research InstituteItem Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: Kenya 2004/05 progress report(Report, 2006-03-22) Warui, H.; Kaufmann, B.A.; Hulsebusch, C.Item ILRI-BMZ Project: Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: Report of the second annual review and planning workshop, Addis Ababa, 13-17 September 2005(Report, 2005-09-15) International Livestock Research InstituteItem Improving the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources: 2004 Progress Report(Report, 2005-03-15) International Livestock Research InstituteThe goal of the project is to improve the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers through the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous animal genetic resources. The purpose is the empowerment of local communities, through an improvement of their analytical, technical, managerial and organisational skills to sustainably manage AnGR, in order to reduce poverty and food insecurity. Outputs will include: 1) A framework for community-based management (CBM) of AnGR developed, its operational components tested and at least one program established and functional in each project country by the end of the project period; 2) Market opportunities for indigenous livestock quantified and institutional constraints to commercialisation and marketing identified; 3) Producer and consumer preferences for alternative livestock genotypes (and associated products) quantified, and cost-benefit analysis of alternatives conducted and results used to inform policy discussions and development; 4) Policy constraints to conservation and sustainable use of indigenous livestock identified and policy recommendations made to address the constraints and improve opportunities for poor livestock-keepers to derive increased benefits from their livestock; 5) Policy-makers sensitised to community needs and facilitate the formulation and implementation of essential policy instruments, as a result of their participation in projectItem Domestic animal biodiversity conservation: A case study of rural development plans in the European Union(Journal Article, 2003-07) Signorello, G.; Pappalardo, G.In this paper we examine the content of farm animal biodiversity conservation measures currently under implementation in the European Union (EU), as a result of the application of EC Regulations 1257/99 and 1750/99. We surveyed 69 Rural Development Plans (RDPs) set up in EU Member States. Our analysis focuses on six livestock mammalian species: asses, cattle, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep The starting point for our investigation is the Domestic Animals Diversity-Information System (DAD-IS) FAO database which monitors the status of breeds in the world. We compare breeds included in the DAD-IS FAO database with breeds covered by the various RDPs. The analysis highlights that many breeds at risk of extinction according the FAO are not included in the RDPs. The analysis also indicates that the main efforts of the RDPs are devoted to preserving local cattle and sheep breeds. As concerns the financial aspects of livestock biodiversity measures, we note that the payments offered to farmers do not take into account the different probabilities of extinction associated with each breed in each country. Furthermore, we observe that payments do not meet all of the relevant criteria stated in the EEC Regulations. In many cases, we observe that, in spite of the Union's support to farmers, it still remains unprofitable to rear local breeds. These anomalies suggest the need for a revision of the current EU supporting measures related to the conservation of livestock biodiversity. Finally, by using FAO indicators on the current population size of each breed, we estimate the level of expected public expenditure necessary to ensure the upgrading of breeds from their ‘at-risk’ status to a ‘not-at-risk’ status during the period 2000–2006.Item Economic evaluation of smallholder subsistence livestock production: lessons from an Ethiopian goat development program(Journal Article, 2003-07) Ayalew, W.; King, J.M.; Bruns, E.; Rischkowsky, Barbara A.Conventional productivity evaluation criteria are inadequate to evaluate subsistence livestock production, because: (1) they fail to capture non-marketable benefits of the livestock; and (2) the core concept of a single limiting input is inappropriate to subsistence production, as multiple limiting inputs (livestock, labour and land) are involved in the production process. As many of the livestock functions as possible (physical and socio-economic) should be aggregated into monetary values and related to the resources used, irrespective of whether these ‘products’ are marketed, home-consumed or maintained for later use. A broad economic evaluation model involving three complementary flock-level productivity indices was applied to evaluate subsistence goat production in eastern Ethiopian highlands. The results showed that indigenous goat flocks generated significantly higher net benefits under improved than under traditional management, which challenges the prevailing notion in countries like Ethiopia that indigenous livestock do not adequately respond to improvements in the level of management. It is then concluded that the evaluation model not only allows a broad aggregation of benefits from subsistence livestock, but also provides a more realistic platform to propose sound improvement interventions.Item Does breed matter to cattle farmers and buyers?: Evidence from West Africa(Journal Article, 2003-07) Jabbar, M.A.; Diedhiou, M.L.World agriculture is based on a small number of animal species and a decreasing number of breeds within each species. Several breeds of West African shorthorn cattle (*Bos taurus brachyceros)* are now at high risk of extinction due to interbreeding. The West African shorthorn breeds are particularly important resources because of their superior abilities to resist diseases, particularly trypanosomosis, and be productive under high humidity, heat stress, water restriction and with poor quality feed. An analysis of farmers' breeding practices and breed preferences in a sample area in southwest Nigeria confirmed a strong trend away from trypanotolerant breeds, especially Muturu, and identified the traits farmers find least desirable in these breeds relative to zebu (*Bos indicus*) breeds. An analysis of cattle market prices found that buyers have preferences for specific breeds for specific purposes and that though in general price differences due to breed are small, in some cases, buyers pay significantly different prices for certain breeds consistent with their preferences. The best hopes for increased utilization of breeds at risk such as Muturu is likely in other areas of West Africa, for example in southeast Nigeria, where the Muturu is better suited to the farming systems and there is a large market for this breed to provide incentives.Item Valuing genetic resources in peasant economies: the case of ‘hairless’ creole pigs in Yucatan(Journal Article, 2003-07) Scarpa, R.; Drucker, Adam G.; Anderson, S.; Ferraes-Ehuan, N.; Gómez, V.; Risopatron, C.; Rubio-Leonel, O.We report the results of a choice-experiment study to model preferences over a selection of breed traits of ‘creole’ pigs. The study was conducted amongst households of backyard producers and small farmers rearing this local breed in Yucatan, Mexico. Hypothetical choice data were collected to estimate the preference of households over alternative pigs profiles whose attributes distinguish creole pigs from the potentially more productive, yet less adapted exotic breeds currently threatening to severely displace this locally adapted animal genetic resource (AnGR). The observed choices are employed to estimate a series of random utility models whose results are first tested for preference equality between households and small farmers, then endogenous segmentation is allowed within households by means of latent class models. Stated-preference based estimates are found to be of the same magnitude as revealed-preference producers costs. As a consequence the method is deemed to be appropriate for the valuation of non-market functions in production. Estimates conditional on household characteristics are then presented and discussed.Item Using conjoint analysis to estimate farmer's preferences for cattle traits in West Africa(Journal Article, 2003-07) Tano, K.; Faminow, M.; Kamuanga, M.; Swallow, B.M.This paper estimates the preferences of farmers for cattle traits in southern Burkina Faso using conjoint analysis, a survey-based system for measuring preferences for multiple-attribute goods. Here the technique is used in the context of a West African country where literacy is low, where cattle perform multiple functions, where low-input management is the norm, and where cattle are exposed to a number of tropical diseases and other environmental stresses. The results reflect the production practices of the region, suggesting that important traits in developing breed improvement programs should include disease resistance, fitness for traction and reproductive performance. Beef and milk production are less important traits. The study shows the potential usefulness of conjoint analysis for quantifying preferences in less developed countries for livestock and for the wide variety of other multiple-attribute goods. One implication is that conjoint analysis provides a quantitative methodology that helps make diverse livelihood strategies more operational. Distinguishing differences in preferences between groups of respondents in connection with specific agro-ecological zones and production systems can be used to promote conservation-through-use of breeds at risk of extinction.Item An approach to the optimal allocation of conservation funds to minimize loss of genetic diversity between livestock breeds(Journal Article, 2003-07) Simianer, H.; Marti, S.; Gibson, John P.; Hanotte, Olivier H.; Rege, J.E.O.About 30% of all farm animal breeds worldwide are at risk of extinction. To prevent this irreversible erosion of genetic diversity, the limited funds available for conservation need to be allocated in the most efficient way. Applying the diversity concept of Weitzman [Quart. J. Econ. CVII (1992) 363; Quart. J. Econ. CVIII (1993) 157] this paper presents a framework for the allocation of a given budget among a set of breeds such that the expected amount of between-breed diversity conserved is maximized. As a novel methodological contribution, a functional relationship between conservation funds spent in one population and the conservation effect in terms of reduced extinction probability is suggested. Based on arguments from population genetics, three different functions are derived, which may reflect the range of possible functions in typical conservation situations. The methodology is illustrated with an example of 23 African zebu and zenga cattle breeds. The results indicate that conservation funds should be spent on only three to nine of the 23 breeds, depending on the model used. Highest priority is given to breeds, for which the ‘conservation potential’, that is, the product of extinction probability and marginal diversity is maximum, and these are not necessarily the most endangered breeds. The methodology can be extended to the maximization of total utility, which incorporates diversity, as well as other direct use, and special value, characteristics. However, a number of essential input parameters such as extinction probabilities and economic values are lacking and realistic models for developing cost-efficient conservation strategies have to be derived. Given these lacking bits of information become available, the methodology suggested provides a breakthrough towards applicability of diversity-based approaches for decision taking in conservation programs.Item Animal genetic resources and economic development: issues in relation to economic valuation(Journal Article, 2003-07) Rege, J.E.O.; Gibson, John P.The world's domestic animal breeds represent an important resource for economic development and livelihood security. Extensive genetic diversity in these breeds allows the existence of livestock in all but the most extreme environments globally, providing a range of products and functions. Unfortunately, a large number of breeds have been lost and many more are at risk of loss. An important research and development goal is the systematic evaluation of breeds in production systems where they arc typically found, quantitative assessment of the genetic diversity they possess, the definition of relationships amongst breeds and the implementation of programmes for their effective management, including development of policies and strategies for conservation and sustainable utilisation. The key issues of threats to livestock genetic resources, justification for conservation, conservation strategies, priority-setting for conservation are summarised. The potential contribution of economic valuation in ensuring equitable sharing of benefits derived from domestic animal genetic resources (AnGR) is also discussed. Decisions will be required about which breeds are of highest priority, and which conservation or management options represent optimal use of resources for diversity conservation. There is urgent need for the development and application of economic and policy analysis tools to aid rational decision-making in the management of the global domestic AnGR.Item Introduction and overview to the special issue on animal genetic resources(Journal Article, 2003-07) Drucker, Adam G.; Scarpa, R.Item Valuing indigenous cattle breeds in Kenya: An empirical comparison of stated and revealed preference value estimates(Journal Article, 2003-07) Scarpa, R.; Ruto, E.S.K.; Kristjanson, Patricia M.; Radeny, Maren A.O.; Drucker, Adam G.; Rege, J.E.O.In this study we compare revealed and stated-preference approaches to value traits of cattle in Kenya. The premise is that much can be learnt about non-market values of indigenous animal genetic resources (AnGR) from the use of multi-attribute stated-preference methods, if these compare well with revealed-preference results. The objective is to investigate the performance of choice experiments (CEs) in Maasai cattle trading, by conducting an external test of preference consistency. We compare value estimates for cattle attributes from CEs data with those from hedonic analysis of actual transactions by the same population of traders, in the same markets and over the same period. If CEs perform well, they can be used to investigate values of those genetically-determined livestock traits currently not prominent in pastoralists’ populations, but desirable candidates for breeding or conservation programmes (e.g. disease resistance). The results indicate that CE estimates pass the external test and appear to be adequately precise in estimating values for cattle traits that are relevant in market transactions for Maasai traders. Accounting for taste and variance heterogeneity does not change this conclusion. CEs may, therefore, be a promising tool for valuing phenotypic traits expressed by indigenous AnGR.