By Nicholas Kajoba
For several months now, Christine Mutyaba, a zero-grazing farmer in Nakaseke district, has been building up her herd from two cows at the beginning of this year to 10 cows now.
“I bought these cows from dealers who get them from mainly western Uganda,” she says.
Mutyaba explains that the average cost of each cow is sh5m. However, after two or three months, she started getting challenges with the cows.
“Some of them failed to adapt to the zero-grazing system. Others came with ticks that spread to other cows,” she says.
Because she was not informed about the pregnancy of the cows, she did not provide the requisite care.
“When I called in a veterinary officer, I was told that they would not be able to deliver,” she says.
Big loss it is. Many zero-grazing farmers are facing the same challenges that Mutyaba is encountering.
So, when last Tuesday the National Genetics Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) released 100 bulls to selected farmers across the country, this marked one of the first steps to helping farmers access good genetics.
“Farmers out there are yearning for better genetics to improve their farms. You have to make sure that these technologies here, for example, the bulls reach the farmers who need them,” Dr Bright Rwamirama, the State Minister in charge of Animal Husbandry, said.
NAGRC is the government body responsible for breeding and genetics collection.
Rwamirama was inaugurating the new board, at their offices, in Entebbe before officiating at the handover of 100 high-quality bulls to farmers across the country.
“Even after distributing these bulls to farmers, you must make sure that they have not just enough feeds but that they are of quality,” he said.
Rwamirama emphasised that the institution should use its available land to grow quality pastures and avail it to livestock farmers.
NAGRC&DB released 100 superior dairy breeding bulls to farmers who are members of dairy cooperatives countrywide. The bulls were sold to the farmers at subsidized rates.
Dr Peter Beine, the Executive Director of NAGRC, said this is a routine programme of the Centre which is conducted at all its 15 animal genetic resource centres located in different agro-ecological zones countrywide.
“NAGRC&DB by a statutory instrument, the Animal Breeding Act, 2001 has a two-fold mandate: to play a leading role in the commercialisation of animal breeding activities in Uganda; and to carry out development activities that enhance animal genetic improvement and productivity,” he said.
Through its flagship programme – the Community Based Breeding Outreach Programme, NAGRC&DB has played a cardinal role in the 190% increase in milk production in the country in the last five years.
Pig and poultry farmers have also greatly benefitted from the multiplication programmes of these genetics at the NAGRC&DB centres.
“These continuous animal genetic improvement efforts by the Centre are aimed at realising a critical mass of resilient and highly productive dairy and meat animals within the livestock communities across the country,” Dr Beine said.
Beine explained that the current batch of bulls being sold comprise pure Jersey, Ayrshire, Friesian and Simmental breeds.
The pedigree (parentage performance) of each of these bulls indicates exceptional breed traits such as above-average milk production, high milk solids and other important dairy traits like ease of calving, early maturing and longevity in the herd.
Bart Katureebe, one of the beneficiaries of the bulls said that this is going to improve the genetics of his farm.
“The beauty with these bulls is that we clearly know the source of the genetics and we have proper records for the animals,” he said.
Dr Jolly Kabirizi, a zero-grazing farmer, called upon NAGRC to increase the breeding rates in order to save dairy farmers from unscrupulous dairy cattle dealers on the market.
“NAGRC has done well by giving out improved bulls, however, they must also breed dairy cows in order to save farmers from unscrupulous market dealers,” she said.
She explains that because there is demand for good dairy cattle, businessmen out there are making a killing by selling poor quality dairy cows with no records to farmers.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: One of the bulls being reared at NAGRC headquarters in Entebbe.
