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Research Article - Research and Reports on Genetics (2019) Volume 3, Issue 2
Effect of interaction between economic driving force, value chain intervention, communal crisis and uncontrolled breeding on genetic resource abundance of the Nigerian savannah muturu cattle.
The study was conducted to assess the genetic resources abundance of the savannah muturu cattle in Nigeria. The study was carried out in five Local Government Areas of Benue State, known to rear savannah muturu cattle in Nigeria. Information was obtained from Muturu farmers and farmers known to rear Muturu breed. Data collected were analysed using SPSS statistical software. The result shows that inbreeding, indiscriminate cross breeding, communal crisis, low prices and pricing ,occasional demands and lack of value chain intervention and value addition were major factors affecting the genetic resource abundance of the Nigerian savannah muturu cattle. The results also revealed that lack of economic driving force or motivation, lack of value chain intervention, communal crisis, were the challenges that hindered the expansion of the Muturu herd sizes among rural farmers. Analysis of body weight and body linear measurement revealed that the genetic resources of the savannah muturu cattle had been diluted through crossbreeding with the zebu cattle. The small herd sizes maintained among rural farmers had undergone extensive inbreeding. There were losses of morphological colour characteristics of multiple black and white colour patches of equal dimensions and distribution over the entire body to colour restrictions of white, brown white and multiple colour patches of unequal dimensions and distributions over the entire body. Other herds still has animals that maintain the multiple colours patches of white and black of equal dimensions and distribution over the entire body. It was noted that the genetic resource abundance of the savannah muturu cattle among rural farmers is been eroded by these challenges mentioned above. There is need to introduce feed supplementation by use of crop residues and kitchen waste as fattening strategies, castration of unwanted bulls, reduction of inbreeding and crossbreeding with the Bunaji cattle breed, target mass production to festive periods and processing of finished Muturu animals to be slaughtered for retail sales. Identify specific value chain points along the production cycle,to improve Muturu cattle performance and value as a motivation to encourage rural farmers to expand their Muturu herds. It was evident that savannah muturu cattle is on it journey to extinction unless value addition services and value chain intervention methods are applied to encourage and attract more farmers into production of the breed in other to enhance it sustain use “the best conservation strategy”
Author(s): Gwaza DS, Yahaya A