Certification of rams and bucks from Community and breeding programs

Abstract

This report attempts to assess the implementation of the sires’ certification in the framework of Community based breeding programs of small ruminants in Ethiopia. The existing sire certification system was appraised and areas that need to be strengthened are suggested. Currently, the existing certification scheme is based on the genetic worth (Estimated breeding value-EBV) of the sire and other technical requirements for certification including physical examination, semen assessment, mating ability and vaccination against prevalent infectious diseases. To strengthen certification procedures, authors suggest: • The estimation of EBVs should be strengthened by including the accuracy of the EBV in the ranking process, revising the inclusion of six-month weight in the certification process and doing genomic test at early age contributing to the accuracy of estimation based on GEBV; • Physical examination should be improved by checking genetic defects when examining teeth and removing rams showing any degree of these defects. Some leg abnormalities should be taken into consideration, testis size need to be strengthened in the certification process and environmental factors should be taken into consideration when doing the mating ability test; • Vaccine schemes and costs should be revised. Attention should be paid to other abortive pathogens in the project area; • The choice of institutions involved in the certification process should be based on their location (having close working relationship with the CBBPs), capacities and technicity; • The chronology of the certification process should be revised; • The certification procedure should be improved by training few personnel on advanced ways of analysis and associated software. Training on other field examinations such as clinical evaluation (including semen evaluation) should also be taken into consideration; • Depending on the purpose of using rams (AI/natural mating), the certification should indicate this difference; • The certification procedure can be extended to other species for CBBPs such as swine and cattle; • The need of formation of breed societies to be gradually involved in the implementation of certification.