New research will help improve sustainability of African livestock

Published Dec 30, 2020

Tridge summary

A team of international scientists, including the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), have discovered new genetic traits in African cattle through sequencing the genomes of 172 indigenous African cattle. The findings include characteristics that enhance tolerance to heat and drought, inflammation control, tick resistance, and disease resistance, particularly against trypanosomiasis. This research could be used to breed a more sustainable and productive generation of African cattle. The study also highlights the adaptive evolution of African livestock, with the introduction of Asian cattle breeds improving livestock production in Africa's diverse and challenging environments. These findings are crucial for developing more efficient and sustainable animal breeds, especially in Africa where cattle are a vital source of income, protein, and micronutrients for the poor.

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Original content

The discovery of new genetic traits in African cattle will improve the production and sustainability of these animals, according to international media. According to information from Portalveterinaria.com, an international group of African, Asian and European scientists announced that the sequencing of genomes of 172 indigenous African cattle from 16 main cattle breeds has generated a set of genetic markers and information associated with tolerance to the heat and drought, the ability to control inflammation and tick infestations, and resistance to diseases such as trypanosomiasis. The research has been developed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, the Seoul National University, the Rural Development Agency in South Korea, the University of Khartoum , the Center for Tropical Livestock Health and Genetics in Scotland, the University of Uppsala in Sweden and the University of Nottingham in Great Britain. The results were ...

Source: MXContexto