Brazil helps increase milk production in Nigeria with girolando: From 2 to 15 liters/cow

A collaborative effort between Nigeria's National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Embrapa, and the Brazilian Association of Girolando Breeders is aiming to enhance dairy production in Nigeria by inseminating local cows with semen from the synthetic Brazilian breed girolando. This initiative, part of the Biotechnologies for Sustainable Dairy Production in Africa project, has already seen over 600 cows inseminated, leading to the birth of 250 F1 calves. The long-term goal is to boost milk production from the current average of two liters per day to 10-15 liters by genetically improving local herds. The project also includes genomic analysis of F1 cows, artificial insemination, genome editing, and other biotechnologies, with plans to extend the technology to pastures, feeding, and management. The ultimate goal is to enhance the economic sustainability of small-scale dairy farming in Sub-Saharan Africa, potentially expanding to other African and Middle Eastern countries.