The Ugandan government is set to import improved cattle breeds from Kenya through the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) to boost national dairy output. A nine-member panel comprising experts from the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), HEIFER International, and SNV, including farmers, breeders, geneticists, and economists, will oversee the process.
Dr. Halid Kirunda, head of research at the Mbarara Zonal Agriculture Research and Development Institute, stated that a fresh dairy breeding strategy is underway to steer the initiative. He noted that NARO is setting up a composite breeding center aimed at crossbreeding East African shorthorn Zebu, Friesians, Jerseys, Gansu, and Ayrshire cattle with indigenous breeds such as the long-horned and Nganda to develop new breeds.
Kirunda mentioned that the cattle are capable of producing 25 to 30 liters of milk per day, with some yielding as much as 45 to 50 liters daily. He added that the cattle are in-calf, ranging from three to seven months, and the breeding center is expected to accommodate over 200 animals within the next seven months.
Last year, a team of cattle specialists visited ten pedigree farms in Kenya that have maintained detailed breeding records over the years to assess and select suitable breeds based on their lineage and genetic traits.
“With this breeding, we shall be having breeds suitable for the Karamoja area, this area, and the Buganda area, and this is supposed to be the center for that breeding mark,” Kirunda said.
The cattle imports, initially planned for next week, have been postponed due to ongoing infrastructure development at the facility.
Meanwhile, the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has officially registered its anti-tick vaccine for cattle, named NAROVAC. According to Kirunda, the vaccine demonstrated a 75% efficacy rate in clinical tests and achieved a combined efficacy of 97% during confined field trials conducted at MBAZARDI, Kiburara and Isimba prison farms, MARUZI, and MBWIZARDI in Karamoja.
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