Evaluation of alternative breeding schemes for milk production in Kenya
- Publication Type
- Contribution to conference
- Authors
- Kahi,A. K.; Nitter,G.
- Year of publication
- 2002
- Published in
- 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Proceedings
- Page (from - to)
- 211-214.
- Conference name
- 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to.... Livestock Livestock Production
- Conference location
- Montpellier, France.
- Conference date
- 19th - 23rd August 2002
Deterministic simulation was used to evaluate alternative breeding schemes for milk production in Kenya. A two-tier open nucleus breeding scheme and a young bull system (YBS) were assumed. Breeding schemes differed in the records available for use as selection criteria as well as in the costs and investments parameters. All schemes realized profits. The difference in profit per cow between the scheme that assumed records on fat yield (FY) were available for use as selection criteria and that, which assumed no records on FY were available, was small. Therefore, under the current production and marketing conditions, a breeding scheme that requires measuring of the fat content seem not to be justified from an economic point of view. There is evidence that a well-organised breeding programme utilizing an open nucleus, a YBS and the smallholder farms as the commercial population could sustain itself.