Genetic Improvement Programmes for Indigenous Livestock Breeds in Nigeria: Policy and Management Perspectives

This study examines genetic improvement programmes for indigenous Nigerian livestock breeds from policy and management perspectives, assessing the effectiveness of national breeding programmes and identifying opportunities for improvement. Nigeria's indigenous livestock breeds, including Bunaji cattle, Red Sokoto goats, Yankasa sheep, and Nigerian dwarf poultry ecotypes, carry important adaptive traits for tropical conditions but generally fall short in production metrics compared to improved exotic breeds. Designing effective genetic improvement programmes that enhance productivity while preserving adaptive traits requires both policy coherence and management expertise. This study reviews national livestock genetic improvement policies, NAPRI breeding programme records, state ADP crossbreeding initiatives, and private sector breeding operations through document analysis and interviews with 30 livestock breeding policy professionals, researchers, and private breeders. Programme design adequacy, resource allocation, genetic progress achieved, and sustainability of improvement programmes are assessed. Findings reveal significant fragmentation in genetic improvement efforts across government agencies, universities, and private sector, with limited coordination resulting in duplication and missed scale opportunities. Crossbreeding programmes show significant production improvements in cattle (40 to 65 percent milk yield increase in F1 crosses) but face challenges in maintaining adaptive traits beyond F1 generation. Breed registration and recording systems are inadequate to support systematic selection. The study recommends a National Livestock Genetic Improvement Coordination Framework and recommends prioritised indigenous breed characterisation as a prerequisite for rational improvement programme design.

Keywords: genetic improvement, indigenous breeds, Nigeria, livestock policy, crossbreeding.