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African Animal Breeding Association Inaugural Training

The African Animal Breeding Association (AABNet) Inaugural Training event, designed to build the capacity of young African Animal Breeders on Quantitative Genetics, took place online between 21 Feb – 11 Mar 2022. It attracted 48 participants and eight facilitators from more than 26 counties, and was hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Livestock Innovation and Business (CoELIB Centre, Egerton University).

The event had financial support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Roslin Institute, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the African Dairy Genetic Gains (ADGG) project, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the Centre of Excellence for Livestock, Innovation, and Business (CoELIB, Egerton University).

Over the three weeks, the training covered different topics including livestock systems, poultry systems, population genetics, quantitative genetics, variance components, genomic selection, selection index, breeding strategies, phonemics, pedigree evaluations, breeding program evaluations and projects. Several content delivery modes were used including classroom lectures, hands-on practical lab sessions, and experience sharing.

AABNet is an association of African Animal Breeders registered in Kenya as a pan-African organisation and has members all over the world. AABNet was established in 2020 to focus on the application of tools, technologies, and innovations to drive animal breeding in support of sustainable livestock genetic improvement in Africa.

AABNet seeks to support professionals from the animal breeding industry, academia, government agencies, research organizations, farmers’ organizations, educators, and graduate students in Africa under its core objective of developing capacity in animal breeding (with a particular emphasis on animal quantitative genetics and genomics).

Leading experts contributing to the event included: Prof Sammy Aggrey and Prof Romthane Rekaya, University of Georgia, USA; Prof Mizeck Chagunda, University of Hohenheim, Germany; Prof Enyew Negussie, Natural Resource Institute, Finland; Prof Raphael Mrode, Scottish Rural College, Edinburgh, UK; Dr Victor Olori, Aviagen Global, Edinburgh, UK; Dr Chinyere Ekine-Dzivenu, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya; Dr Isidore Houaga, CTLGH, University of Edinburgh, UK and Dr Tobias O. Okeno, CoELIB Centre, Egerton University, Kenya. The Training was facilitated by Prof Appolinaire Djikeng, CTLGH, University of Edinburgh, UK and Prof Alexander K. Kahi, CoELIB Centre, Egerton University, Kenya.

“The work that we are doing is in line with sustainable livestock genetic improvement in Africa. Through the training, we have planted the seed and have become ambassadors of AABA. “- Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH).

“By staying true to this vision, AABA has now grown into a movement. With an additional 48 ambassadors of the Association, we are making strides that stay true to this vision and this completed inaugural training is a testament to such works. We can all attest that we have lived up to the vision, and this is seen through the seamless transformation of minds that we have witnessed over the last three weeks.” – Prof Alexander Kahi, Director-CoELIB.

Published: 22 March 2022

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