Technology transfer

Partnership - Fight against the poverty - Training of the people

Solving the problems of cattle
farming under difficult conditions

Solving the problems of cattle farming under difficult conditions Pure-blood or cross-bred populations of Abondance/Tarentaise exist in many countries A balanced partnership Several approaches to achieve a single objective Technology transfer An exemplary cooperation The technical results from March, 1996 till December, 2001 of the French-Egyptian program

Solving the problems of cattle farming under difficult conditions

In many areas of the world, natural conditions do not suit cattle farming.

Breeders may face various difficulty :

Strong constraints of climate, relief, humidity and biotope (physical and chemical conditions of the ecosystem). Local breeds have low potential for dairy and beef production. Small farms often have small herds and limited fodder resources both in terms of quality and quantity. Animal breeders' Associations require external support.

Scene of ploughing in Guinea

However under such conditions, it is possible to bring some improvement by using :

Two French breeds that are both modern and hardy for crossing with local animals :
ABONDANCE AND TARENTAISE
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An organizational structure based on sound experience : l'UCEAR
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A unified project that is adapted to each situation

Milk production for the breed in 2000 : Average kg milk (305 days) : 5 955 kg Fat content : 37,5 % Proteinic content : 32,7 %

Milk production for the breed in 2000 : Average kg milk (305 days) : 4 997 kg Fat content : 36,1 % Proteinic content : 32,0 %

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Pure-blood or cross-bred populations of Abondance/Tarentaise exist in many countries

The specific qualities of these cattle distinguish them from other dairy breed. Both Abondance and Tarentaise have been used with much success in many different countries, covering a wide range of latitudes and climates, either as pure-blood livestock or as crosses in order to improve local breeds.

Herd of Gobra animals at the edge of the Rose Lake (Senegal)

Group of native and crossed animals (Vietnam)

Herd of N'dama breed (Guinea)

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	Identifying and determining needs, objectives and actions to be carried out in the short and medium term.
	Installing modern and suitable methods to improve farms : herd management, selection, reproduction and computerized data management.
	Costing and participating in the search for funding.

Crossed calves 15 days old Baladi X (Abondance and Tarentaise)

Meeting in an Egyptian village with the Counsellor of Agriculture Minister, other operators and the breeders

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The aim is to increase farmers' income, as well as the standard of living in the country concerned, by boosting the marketed quantity of milk and meat produced.

	Ehancing genetic potential for milk and beef production by cross-breeding using semen from Abondance and Tarentaise proven bulls by progeny testing.
	Improving livestock health through the use of semen wich has been strictly checked and certified.
	Advice on feeding regime and herd husbandry.
These actions are coordinated by an experienced team.

Crossed male of 9 months aged (Iraki local breed X Tarentaise)

Crossed female Iraki local breed X Abondance : 24 kg of milk per day

Crossed female Iraki local breed X Tarentaise : 20 kg of milk per day

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	UCEAR implement an adapted improvement program in conjunction with its partners.
	UCEAR makes avalaible to its partners, semen doses form progeny-tested bulls, as well as specially selected embryos.
	UCEAR promote the developement of reproduction and selection techniques using artificial insemination by organising this service with stock breeders.
	UCEAR carries out transfers of technology which enable the modernization of farming systems and the implementation of autonomous structures.
	UCEAR can supervise the program in the country using specialized French technicians and organizes the training in France of operators involved in livestock-rearing, artificial insemination and selection.

Crossed female (Vietnam local breed X Tarentaise) : 20 kg of milk per day

Crossed heifer Tarentaise and her mother. Region of Dibra (Albania)

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A French-Egypt project for the development of artificial insemination and genetic improvement of traditional animal husbandry in the Nile valley.

An exemplary cooperation

A balanced partnership management

In 1995, UCEAR and the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture signed a five-year cooperation agreement for developing artificial insemination and improving the local Baladi breed. This program is financed through the French Food Aid Counterpart Funds.
This program is managed by a Steering Commitee composed of representatives of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, the French Government and the French-Egyptian Liaison Board.
Set up in collaboration with the Egyptian Veterinary Services, this program has led to the development of a plan of action in the medium term with defined objectives, planned funding arrangements and fully committed partners.

The first crossed calf of 4-th generation (F4) with the Abondance breed (Egypt).
This male is intended to enter to the individual test station before to be selected for artificial insemination.

A trend towards autonomy

Results

The satisfaction of livestock farmers as regards the quality of the cross-bred animals obtained : Improved dairy production. F1 female crosses, born during the pre-experimental period, give a milk production of 15 kg per day as compared with 5 kg per day for the Baladi breed. Meat conformation is ehanced and animals give a higher price at sale. Good adaptation of crossed animals to general environmental conditions. Good health conditions. Reduced need for feeding in relation to observed performances.

Calf of 14 months crossed Baladi X Tarentaise : 380 kg

The satisfaction of Egyptian project managers concerning the organization of a coordinated and efficient zotechnical service for carrying out actions and monitoring results.

These trials confirm that UCEAR is clearly competent in assessing the requirements of its partners and choosing the methods and approaches to be used in the project, as well as organizing the training of the teams involved.
Although programs with such a heavy investment require strict supervision, they are beneficial for the agricultural economy and livestock farming in the patner countries.

Crossed heifer of 15 months : N'dama X Abondance (Senegal)		Calf of 4 months crossed Abondance (Senegal)
Herd of F1 crossed females Abondance X N'dama (Ivory Coast)		Progeny group of N'Damance raised from the origin herd by crossing with the Abondance (Ivory Coast)

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The program signed in 1995 for a period of 5 years, was seen out in 2001 for a period from equal duration to 2006. It is always financed by the French Food Aid Counterpart Funds.
The program was implemented on 3 regions.

Presentation at Francexpo fair in Cairo (1999) :
Baladi female (middle) : 8 kg of milk per day, Crossed Abondance (right side) and Tarentaise (left side)
Daily milk production after calving of the crossed (respectivly) : 24 kg (AB) and 19 kg (TA)

FRENCH-EGYPTIAN GENERAL PROGRAM FOR INSEMINATION AND SELECTION

General scheme

Click the image to enlarge it

PROGRESS RESULTS OF THE FRENCH-EGYPTIAN PROGRAM

March, 1996 to December, 2001

IMPROVEMENT OF THE EGYPTIAN BALADI COWS BY CROSS
BREEDING WITH ABONDANCE AND TARENTAISE BREEDS

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
(01/03/1996 - 31/12/2001 = 70 months)

	99 692 inseminated cows

Frozen semen used : 140 200 doses		Pregnancy diagnosis (90 days) : 63 900 tested cows Rate of positive cows : 69,3%
Abondance : 69 993 doses	Tarentaise : 70 207 doses

ZOOTECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
(01/12/1969 - 31/10/2001 = 5 years and 8 months)

Identification : buckling preparation by operator

Identified calf : unique number for all its life

				123 430 identified animals (cows and calves)

34 235 birth declarations (F1 & F2) easing calving : 99,7%

Distribution of F1 by sex and breed (nb)		F1 weight at birth (Kg)
F1 AB F1 TA TOTAL MALES 7 700 7 907 15 607 FEMALES 6 180 6 321 12 501 TOTAL 13 880 14 228 28 108		F1 AB F1 TA TOTAL MALES 31,4 31,1 31,3 FEMALES 29,7 29,1 29,4 TOTAL 30,6 30,2 30,4

The fertility of females F1 seems superior to that of Baladi

RESULTS OF CROSSED F1 ANIMALS

GROWTH of fattened males (tested by measurement)		MILK PRODUCTION
MALES Weight at 12 months Daily gain Pure Baladi 210 kg 550 g/day Tarentaise F1 273 kg 750 g/day Abondance F1 292 kg 800 g/day		Milk production (litres/day) first lactation during the three months after calving FEMALES Average Maximum Pure Baladi 4 à 5 L 8 à 9 L Tarentaise F1 9 à 10 L 16 L Abondance F1 11 à 12 L 19 L
F1 crossed animals are sold 3 to 4 months before pure Baladi (14/15 months instead of 18/20). At this age, their live weight is about 450 kg. This precocity reduces duration and food cost for fattening of more than 20%.		Milk production of crossed F1 animals is largely improved, as persistency and duration of lactation. Crossed animals' genetic potential is not always expressed. The optimization of production specially requires an improvement of herd management : feeding and sanitary conditions.
Bull-calf of 16 month Iraki breed X Abondance : 450 kg		Crossed female Baladi X Tarentaise (Egypt) : 18 kg of milk per day

GROWTH of males and females bred in farms (tested by measurement)

	MALES		FEMALES		AVERAGE
	F1 TA *	F1 AB **	F1 TA	F1 AB	F1 TA	F1 AB
Weight at 12 months	252 kg	269 kg	241 kg	246 kg	243 kg	252 kg
Daily gain	610 g/day	652 g/day	580 g/day	591 g/day	584 g/day	608 g/day

* F1 TA = Crossing BALADI X TARENTAISE

** F1 AB = Crossing BALADI X ABONDANCE

This program is a real success considering the zootechnical results, the satisfaction of the Egyptian and French partners and the breeders too. This success is also explained through the confidence and the competence of all the operators.


Informal meeting on the selection topic during Francexpo 1999
with the Prof. M.A. Sharafeldin (Counsellor of the Agriculture Minister),
the UCEAR's expert, the Egyptian operators and the breeders.

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