Comments on: An Overview of ILRI Genetics Research

By: Elvira

Elvira — Thu, 14 May 2015 15:13:19 +0000

Clearly articulated points, thank you. What are possible future collaborative opportunities through which ILRI’s Animal Health and Genetics agenda would intertwine?

By: Polly Ericksen

Polly Ericksen — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:57:32 +0000

In reply to Okeyo Mwai. thanks Okeyo and also Vish for asking my question! Karen if we are to seriously think about genetic improvements in dryland systems this issue will be key. (see also Lance's point to you and me from the LSE discussions yesterday)

By: Karen Marshall

Karen Marshall — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:05:04 +0000

In reply to Boni Moyo. Hi Boni - To which project are you referring as we have various on this? Karen.

By: Karen Marshall

Karen Marshall — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:03:07 +0000

In reply to Jean.

Hi Jean – we are using a variety of approaches depending on the system, as their is no ‘one-size’ fits all answer. At present performing gene editing is timely, as you need to first identify genetic changes that confer the desired trait, use the gene editing technology in combination with reproductive technologies to produce genetically edited animals, performance test the animals., and then (if all this is successful) multiply the population. However it does have the potential to introduce very important traits, such as disease resistance, and as the technology develops the timeline will shorten. On cost of improved genetics – we have several research projects looking at the cost:benefit of keeping different breed-types in different systems, where the cost of accessing different genetics is included as an input parameter.

By: Karen Marshall

Karen Marshall — Thu, 14 May 2015 06:52:00 +0000

In reply to Boni Moyo.

Hi Boni – Thanks and we very much welcome mechanisms for integration of health, feeds, breeds, and management – looking forward to the round table!

By: Boni Moyo

Boni Moyo — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:20:00 +0000

Hi Karen. Could you say a bit more about the scale at which you are doing the on farm performance monitoring. Is this at a pilot scale with a few farmers or you are now doing the work with a large number of farms to reach the intended impact levels?

By: Boni Moyo

Boni Moyo — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:07:45 +0000

Hi Karen. Thanks for a great presentation. I would like to bring back the discussion we had yesterday following the ASSP presentation about the need to work out mechanisms for integrating the feeds, breeds and health technologies within the wider production system so that it can stay on your agenda too. We (Animal Bios and ASSP) should organise a round table meeting on this soon after the IPM. Just to add on to the Addis group comments this morning. This might work better for “new projects”. Let us purposefully test these mechanisms starting with the ACGG project.

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:12:04 +0000

Excellent presentation on options for genetic improvement. Where do you think you will make the fastest gains – from using the diversity that is already available within the species, possibly in different systems, or from a targeted genetics/genomics approach where you fix the traits of interest in high productivity backgrounds? I also wonder about the affordability of the genetically improved livestock when it will take years to get sufficient to really make a difference in smallholder systems compared to a more low key approach of using superior males to get quick wins as Saskia mentions above. Perhaps you need a combined approach. I see lots of parallels with forage diversity and using similar technical approaches for genetic improvement in forages so I am very interested to see how you progress with gene editing.

By: Lucy Lapar

Lucy Lapar — Wed, 13 May 2015 13:06:21 +0000

Hi Karen, thanks; you make genetics and breeding sound exciting. The concept and approach resonated and would have loved to see some mention of how demand from users in the target production systems are factored in and inform the identification of appropriate breeds. In the case of Vietnam, the strong policy focus to increase the proportion of exotics in the pig herd has indeed created the major jump in productivity, no doubt about that, although there has recently been some recognition of the need to stabilize the share of indigenous breeds in the new livestock strategy. We do observe as well the many failed attempts by government to sustain the adoption of these exotic breeds especially in smallholder systems. So could you please share some insights on where you see the sweet spot is for pig breeding in Vietnam and how our work in L&F could tap into or harness that? Thanks.

By: Karen Marshall

Karen Marshall — Wed, 13 May 2015 12:26:49 +0000

In reply to Joerg Jores. Yes this is a great area for collaboration - lets follow-up!